We have started a beginners walk-jog group, meeting at 10.00 am on Sunday morning. Pass the word around if you know of anyone who would like to join up.

Running route & distances: The first sheet of basic routes, (covering Water of Leith, Blinkbonny, Harlaw & Thriepmuir reservoirs & Colinton), plus extremely accurate approximate distances has been put together and will be published soon. This will be extended considerably over the next couple of months.

Short-sleeved Running tops: We've ordered our initial stock of lightweight running tops for those who wish to be identifiable in road races etc. These will be in Red / Green diagonal with "Harmeny Pentland Runners" emblazed across the front and back. It makes spotting ourselves a lot easier than the ubiquitous white / grey t-shirts (and often gets people chatting during races - ask Iain!)... Sizes ordered are 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44

Thought for the season: If there is sufficient consensus we could award small trophies, M & F, for each major age group (eg U40, 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; etc) plus most improved runner based on best times over a range of 10 k races (eg best 3 times to include at least 2 from: Grangemouth, Dunbar, Rigg, Granton, Cap City Challenge, Linlithgow).
An awards night would make a good social function next December.....

... An outing to Dunbar? Lat's have a big turnout (with our new kit!) at Dunbar on Saturday 3rd April. This is a pleasant, relatively flat course with a range of scenery.

The entry form (pre-entry is essential) is at http://dunbarrunningclub.supanet.com/Brform1.htm but I will be handing these out over the coming weeks.

I'll try to maintain a stock of race entry forms and posters on the Games Area Notice Boards at Balerno HS & Currie HS

Membership of Harmeny / Pentland Runners
It's good to see so many folk joining / re-joining. A copy of the Membership form is available at
www.pentlandrunners.org.uk
Members are entitled to a 10% discount on all goods (except sale items) at Run & Become.
(I did notice that Edinburgh Leisure charge £2/ night or £18/10-week block for their jogging groups, so I think we're very reasonable at £22 / year.)

Results
There have been a few folk out and about over the last couple of months..
Andreas Wilhelm did the Stranraer 10k and Pitmedden Forest run ("Muddy, but fun")

Catherine Barr persuaded several friends to do the New Year's Day triathlon, and also improved on her own time from last year by several minutes. Official results from these events haven't been published (or found) on-line yet.
 

The Roslin Trot - PRAMM 2004 – 7 Feb

It was time for our annual social Sunday Morning run to a hostelry for lunch and Iain Morrice planned a challenging run to the Old Original Inn at Roslin as the target. The route instructions were sent out, the table was booked and in the week leading up everyone was psyching themselves for the whole or part of the 10 / 11 mile yomp over the hills (with a minor twinge of trepidation at Iain's mileage estimates, which have a reputation for being optimistic..) Cometh the weekend and cometh the snow, (It was the weekend the Clyde - Dunfermline game was abandoned.) and on Sunday morning the thirteen runners who turned up were in several minds as to what to do. The braver chaps ("nutters") decided to go for it. The girls brought their walking boots and decided to walk from the Red Moss to Flotterstone, and some decided to do a low level run and then drive round. Bob drove around the place trying to keep track of this lot – talk about herding cats. But the conditions over the top were not as bad as feared, and with the sun out parts of the route on the Roslin side cleared of snow fairly quickly. Everyone got to the destination, one way or another, and enjoyed the warm glow of satisfaction that the hot food brought. And those with a driver organised enjoyed even more refreshment.

The route description, with some historical notes, is given below.

Starting at Balerrno High School, former site of the coal yards of Balerno and the termination point for the Balerno goods trains. Bavelaw Road (know as the Balerno bypass), old access road for Bavelaw House. Mansfield Road,
opposite the junction to Harlaw and Balleny farms is the old farm house for Deanpark Farm which the new housing estate takes its name from. Keep going up Mansfield passing the old horses refuge, now owned by the SSPCA At the
fork with the rigg junction take the left branch past Red Moss Nature reserve which is one of few deep peat bogs left in which certain species of moss grows. Rumour has it that remains of Covenantors who fought at the famous battle of Rullion Green ( Penicuik ) were found in this moss. Bavelaw/Red Moss car park, made famous by modern thieves who steal anything from the cars parked so if you are leaving your car keep things out of site.

Over Redford Bridge which has ruins to left as you run, these farm house ruins were used as stables for the horses during hunting trips within the Bavelaw estate which were frequented by Robert the Bruce, and on past Threipmuir reservoir. The origin of this name comes from a situation between Bruce and one W St Clair of Roslin who staked his heid against his hounds and threeped the dogs in pursuit of a white deer, the notes of encouragement were successful and he was able to keep his heid. He also received a grant of the forest of Pentland from the King.

Run up the pleasant (and seemingly vertical) avenue of beech trees known as the gate to the Pentlands and take in the views if you dare look up!!. At the top don't stop!! But take a left fork up past Bavelaw Castle the 17th century residence of the owner of the famous Edinburgh store Jenners. This castle has had many famous visitors, Mary Queen of Scots used to Hawk here on trips from Lennox Castle at Lymphoy. Cross the stile and head left down into Green Cleugh which is owned by a local worthy of Balerno who some of you may know.

The track passes darkly between Hare Hill and Black Hill and widens out to reveal the Logan burn. Few spots in the Pentlands can be more romantic and exciting as you pass the waterfall on your left, the 16th century Howletts House should soon come into view which is situated at the head of Loganlee water.