Pentlands 19

The forecast for today was sleet early afternoon so we decided to head for the Pentlands at about 9.30am to get there as soon as possible without getting entangled in rush hour or the Morningside ladies' school runs. Hmmm. We actually left the flat at about 10.30 and were up at Pentlands and ready to run by 11 am. Fortunately the weather had again relented and the proposed sleet was replaced with a thickening of the cloud and a tiny spray of snow as the afternoon wore on.

We thought - for want of a better idea, that 2 X round the Pentlands low-level route would add up to a good long day out. This consists of running from Flotterstone up to the Howe and between the hills on the cycle/walkers path - then running down to Threipmuir, along the road a bit and back up and down the other side between Black Hill and Harbour Hill to rejoin the road. For the 1st part of the day the sun was out and the day was enjoyably still and we both thought that the ground-frost and ice still in evidence here and there was reminiscent of somewhere like Finland rather than Scotland. The route along the side of Threipmuir reservoir turned out to be getting worked on and there were big fences up intended to discourage the likes of us, so knowing when we were not welcome we decided that 2nd time around we'd cut round the back of Black Hill on a slightly shorter route which would avoid all heavy machinery. Besides, it was more interesting to vary it a bit.

Today's eating experiment consisted of chocolate coated ginger biscuits and some Lees "Scottish" fudge. The ginger biscuits were pretty good but too hard and crunchy to be ideal for eating on the move. The fudge was good and sugary but had a nasty under-taste, I had a wee look at the ingredients and it was full of all that is unholy in eating including hydrogenated vegetable fat. I'm not buying that again. I'm beginning to think I'm going to have to make fudge cos I can't find it to buy anywhere. The day greyed over and there was a stronger icy wind blowing down from the Howe on the 2nd time around. The run at the side of Black Hill was spiced up by a good drift of unmelted snow. It was good to go a different way. Monotony is really the enemy on this long stuff - or so I'm finding.

By the last ascent to the foot of Black Hill and Harbour Hill I was babbling an almost constant stream of nonsense with Peter running ahead with his fingers in his ears. That and singing badly just to keep myself entertained. We were very embarrassed when we rounded a corner to see a man standing there at the top of the hill. He politely pretended he couldn't see or hear us.

Then it was but a short canter down on tired legs to the car waiting patiently in the car park. Just over 19 miles and we were out for ages = 3hrs 41 including walking breaks for eating etc.

When we got home we realised we were extraordinarily hungry so we've had massive plates of toast and fried eggs, beans and mackerel followed by toast and honey and jam... I better not have put on weight today or I'll be pissed off.

photos - Peter