A weekly speed session at the Bush Estate, catering for the thousands of Vets, Scientists, Technicians and Engineers (plus whatever Willie Gibson calls himself) that work in the Bush, Easter Bush and Pentland Science Park area. I say weekly, this can depend on the mood of the participants, and the condition of the lawn. If there is a race in the evening then often we will do something less tiring. Occasionally the lawn can become waterlogged after prolonged rain. “I’ve never won a sprint finish before – it must be the lunchtime sprint training!” – Joel, Caerketton Doonhiller 2013. |
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What is it?Back in the dim and distant past, Willie Gibson was exiled from the fleshpots of Kings Building out into the wasteland of the SAC at Bush Estate. Missing the pain of the KB lunchtime running torture, he created the Bush Sprint, or Laps on the Lawn, or usually just refered to as “I suppose we’d better do sprints again”. The route is an unmarked loop around the lawn in front of Bush House. Starting at the huge tree in front of the house, you head for various trees which will be pointed out to you on your first appearence. Turns are made at drain covers, divots in the grass and some strange depressions that may well be graves. If you go wrong, you get shouted at, but only if its a short cut. It’s been measured as somewhere between 450 and 480m. When is it?Wednesday lunchtime, 12:40 under the big tree. I can’t wait… |
Where is it?On the lawn in front of Bush House, Edinburgh Technopole. EH26 0BB |
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The Protocol:The clock is started, and every five minutes you start a lap. You complete eight laps, so that takes 5×8=40 minutes. For a typical 1:40 lap, you get 3:20 recovery, which is plenty at first but seems horribly short on later laps. The first and final laps are an easy jog. The middle six are the core of the session. The laps are as follows
We then gather under the tree and moan about how much it hurt but how much good it is doing us. Then back to the office for lunch, once you stop feeling sick. Honest, its really good fun. |
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The Results: Personal Bests
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