Edinburgh Marathon Festival

I have a few friends who are attacking the Edinburgh Marathon / Half Marathon tomorrow, and just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone competing and running all the best of luck.

There are a good few doing it from Team Wesham, and we are immensely proud of everyone of you, go out and wear the vest with pride, enjoy yourselves and give it your all.

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a fantastic weekend, and one which I have been fortunate enough to have experienced myself in the past. Back in 2013, when club Chairman of the time,  Graham Vickers, unfortunately broke his foot and had to give up his number for the marathon.

I took it on, seen as I was already in training for Manchester, which was about 6 weeks before. I picked up a hamstring injury at Manchester though and ended up struggling for form as Edinburgh came around, so decided to just try and enjoy the course.

All I can say is what a wonderful place Edinburgh is. Prior to that weekend I had never been to Scotland in my life - but this experience left me eager to see more! So much so that I ended up returning the following February for a short (run free) break with Molly.

The race itself was ran on yes a very flat, but also sparsely supported (in places) course, and I personally wasn't overly keen on the out and back countryside loop, that saw you run into seemingly no-mans-land for a good few miles between approx. 14-19 miles, but other than that the rest of the race was fantastic.

Starting close to the City centre, and finishing at the race track, both the start and finish were well supported, and some of the scenery as you ran along the coast was unbelievable. I managed to get around in 2:59:36 for 107th place.

I learned a few valuable lessons from my visit, firstly make sure that you have booked your hotel properly (I ended up roomless and begging for a place at a hostel on the Saturday night!) and also to try and do as little as possible in the 24 hour run up to the race (I travelled up and even went to the gym the day before! Rookie errors...) I was also especially grateful of Graham and Louise who took such good care of me in the aftermath of the race, when I couldn't even pick myself up off the floor!

I would love to return for another go one day, we shall see...

But final message for everyone taking part: as long as you have trained hard, ate well and are focused, I am sure you will all smash it. Above all enjoy it. Have fun guys x