A cool breeze, a bit of drizzle. Perfect. Lots of people, lots of banter, lots of Japanese tourists looking on. The 7 Hills is such a fun race. Tick-off the 7 hills at the Castle, Corstorphine, Craiglockhart, Braids, Blackford, Arthurs Seat and back to Carlton Hill. Take your preferred, researched, pre- recee’d, (over)heard about, secret route with few restrictions. There were about 35 Carnethy shirts about plus some other members and several supporters along the way. 155 finished the Race and 277 finished the Challenge. Ian Whiteside flew off with Dessie, Mike and Stewart in tow but decided to pull out once he’d given them a good start. I thought I’d chase them at least to the top of the steps down Carlton Hill which I succeeded in doing (just) then settled into as fast a pace as I could as Olly Stephenson flew off into the distance down Johnstone Terrace. Six hills later and lots of place changing had us back for some nice food and a table mat trophy. Lots of banter again at the end of the race as route choices were discussed with those about you and the winners congratulated.
Dessie Flanagan (Musselburgh, sometimes Carnethy) won in 1:38:31, with Michael Reid (Carnethy, bridesmaid again) 2nd (1:38:47), and Stewart Whitley (Carnethy) 3rd in 1:46:32 and winning first V50.
Carnethy won the team prize with Olly Stephenson having a cracker coming 7th. ~7 Carnethy’s were in the top 30. I got 28th.
Results are here: http://www.seven-hills.org.uk/default.asp
Mark Hartree