Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club

June Social 2013 - Skyline RunMonday 3 June

A warm sunny evening running along the Pentland Skyline - perhaps the best skyline run yet.

There was a great turnout earlier this week for the skyline run with about 25 walkers and runners enjoying a lovely warm, sunny evening in the Pentland hills. The conditions were ideal with good dry paths and calm conditions – certainly the best we have had in recent years. About 15 runners set out from Nine Mile Burn and at various speeds completed the entire skyline back to Flotterstone. Rachel and I were really pleased with our time – the same as in previous years, but this time with the addition of South Black Hill – for once we talked ourselves into the ‘extra’ hill, not out of it!

A good-sized group walked from Silverburn back to Flotterstone over Carnethy and Turnhouse Hills, and some walked up towards Glencorse Reservoir. The usual geocache couple located their hidden treasures and, I believe, introduced another orienteer to the fun of geocaching. Late arrival Mark set out from Flotterstone on the reverse skyline route, and had a lovely sociable run passing everyone else going in the opposite direction!

I presume the youngest runner Andrew L ran the quickest time – he certainly seemed to have the bounciest, fittest legs as we set off from Nine Mile Burn. But I’m sure, regardless of times, we all felt a great sense of achievement for what we individually accomplished and a great feeling of satisfaction at being out in the hills on such a lovely Monday evening.

At various times we all arrived in the Flotterstone Inn and it was lovely to relax and chat over a drink and bar supper. Far better organisation this year to ensure that the chef hadn’t gone home early!

Alison Cunningham

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