Seven Hills "The challenge"

By Jan Anderson & Anna Cormack

With some trepidation, Anna Cormack and I set off for Calton Hill to take part in the annual Edinburgh Seven Hills race.  We had opted for the challenge rather than the faster race as neither of us had taken part before. The earlier start time took the pressure off and allowed us to take in the atmosphere and appreciate the day.

After bumping in to a few other WERCer’s, we hit the start line and we were off!  Flying down Calton Hill was a great start,  but with no road closures in this race, our first test awaited us at the bottom navigating through traffic to approach North Bridge!  You really had to keep your wits about you throughout the race as cars and tourists passed by!!   

The first hill was up to the castle esplanade, searching ahead for the first check point where you have to stamp your number. After doing so, we scurried down the steps and hit the road running to our next destination.  Feeling good, we headed through Murrayfield to take on Corstorphine Hill.  We were greeted by a piper, friendly faces with drinks and sweets.  We stamped quickly, heading back down the hill.  The pace quickened here and we faced some perilous road crossing again,  approaching the Chesser area en route to Craiglockhart Hill East.  

I must add that you choose your own route, so although most people followed a similar route, there were times people would split off in another direction, making you second guess if you’d chosen the right or best route.

 We were about to face that test as we entered the grounds of  Craiglockhart Sports Centre - head right for a nice steady climbing hill run, or head left and face a steep and sheer rise through the trees- we chose left and had the filthy hands to prove it. By this point, pace was non-existent, as we grabbed tree roots to pull ourselves up. At one point, physically helping push up the person in front who was slipping!  Regardless,  we made it to the top and with another stamp, we were off to Braid Hill.  

All seemed ok on the relatively steep rise, but we took a wrong turn somewhere after the top and had to double back to find entry to Blackford Hill.  Crowds here were great with lots of cheering and horns blaring as we faced some monstrously huge steps up the side of Blackford Hill!! Great camaraderie from the other runners made all the difference here as this bit was tough.  

Arthur’s seat was now in sight as we stamped at the top and made up some time flying down the hill past the Observatory.  Another run through town led us to Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat looming above us!  Real fatigue had now set in and as the rain pelted us in the face I wondered why on earth we had willingly paid for this () but one step at a time and more great support from Anna we managed to reach the trig point to bag the final stamp!! One final descent hurtling past tourists (who must have wondered what on earth was happening), and  we were passing Holyrood Palace, only minutes away from Calton Hill.  After our last ascent we were met by a great friendly bunch, presented with a  coaster for a medal and some of the best quiche and fruit pies ever! Not to mention the extraordinary sense of achievement which came along with completing this one - extra special was seeing ‘West Edinburgh Running Club’ beside our final time for the first time with our new official club status! 

All in all a fabulous and quirky race which I’ll definitely be signing up for again!