With Helen not having been home for Christmas it was decided that we would go and visit her in Edinburgh in January. When we found out that the Edinburgh City race combined with the Burns Weekend was to take place over the weekend of 21/22 January we agreed that would be the time to go.

So we set off on Thursday 19 January staying with friends in York on the Thursday evening arriving with Helen on the Friday evening after a wonderfully scenic drive through the Northumberland National Park and as we crossed the border into Scotland we were surrounded by snow.

We awoke on the Saturday to a bright sunny day but it was somewhat breezy. We cycled from Helen’s flat the 2K down to the Pollock Halls where the Registration and Finish were domiciled and then it was a 10 minute walk into The Meadows for the Start. It seemed as if the Start was in the windiest position possible but once we were off and running (or in my case walking) and amongst the buildings it was fine.

My first 5 controls were around the central University Area just north of The Meadows with some tricky route choices and I did waste some time going round the outside of a fenced park having failed to notice that were only 2 entrances. It was then a long leg right into the centre of Edinburgh which encountered the roads in this part of the City on two levels with control 6 just off the Royal Mile alongside St Giles Cathedral. From here we used the alleyways (wynds) off the Royal Mile for the next three controls and then it was into the Housing Estate alongside Holyrood Park and near the Scottish Parliament. This was a maze of paths, different levels, steps and fences that meant you had to keep in touch with the map to avoid running further than needed.

With controls 15 and 16 out in the Park it was nice to just briefly experience the open hillside before it was back into the Pollock Halls which is University Accommodation blocks for the last two controls and the finish.

All in all it was a fantastic experience with over 400 competitors taking part this year and although I was disappointed with my position on my course taking 53.01 for the 3.225K I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Helen had a good run finishing in 3rd position in the Women’s Open and in the evening we attended along with 250 others the Ceilidh where we enjoyed some traditional Scottish Dancing and of course the piping in of the Haggis.

Sunday we gave the event on Arthur’s Seat a miss rather electing to cycle from the centre of Edinburgh along the Firth of Forth coast for 25 miles to Aberlady before catching the train back into Edinburgh.

As always a great weekend in Edinburgh and our trip was completed with a visit then to Kendal to see Madeleine’s daughter Fern and visits to friends in Billericay and Aldershot on the way home. 9 days away, 1200 miles driven which must be a record to take in an Urban event.

Trevor Bridle