One lone Eccleshill Road Runner, Gillian Jago crossed the borders into Scotland’s Capital City for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival to take part in the half marathon (which is as cherished as they come!) The Edinburgh Half marathon has sold out every year since 2012 and is one of the largest half marathons in the UK. Starting on Holyrood Park Road with the picturesque backdrop of Holyrood Park, this incredible city centre route takes runners past the impressive Surgeons’ Hall, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832. This part of city is a fabulous mix of history, and festival culture. Then it’s past Scotland’s premier dance and opera house, the Festival Theatre, which comes alive with a variety of world-class productions, particularly during the summer festival months. The route then turns right, and meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here, runners can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast. Upon reaching Musselburgh, they run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further East on the flat towards the historic village of Prestonpans before turning and heading back towards the beautiful finish line within the vast playing fields of Pinkie School. With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, it is believed this is the fastest half marathon route in the world.
Gillian whizzed around this ever popular course in a very respectable time of 1:47:13 nailing the blue and white insignia to the Scottish capital’s mast. Fantastic running Gillian, well done!
