The 6th of May started with a state of quiet excitement at Robert's Run headquarters near Selkirk. Team Run enjoyed a photo opportunity in the garden and a quick wake-up cuppa before heading out into the chaoatic weather. As the city loomed on the horizon, the skies turned black and ugly and it seemed Robert was in for a soaking.
Conditions improved as our hero blagged his way straight over the starting line with his car and into the city's most advantageous (and surely illegal) parking spot. How he got away with it is still a mystery. With a 10 second trek from car to the start, Running Ron was certainly able to conserve energy!
He didn't have to wait long as the waves of runners headed off every couple of minutes to great cheers from the supportive crowd. As group D was called to the starting line, there were happy tears shed and pom-poms a'wavin'. He certainly was doing it and Team Run was so proud we could have burst.
The angry skies threatened the entire time, and the wind gusted brutally across the city, whipping the crowds waiting at The Meadows, but the rain held off until most of the runners had come across the finish line. The cool temperatures seemed to benefit the runners, but Team Run whinged about the lack of cuppas and thanked their lucky stars for the insulating properties of pom-poms.
Run highlights included a man dressed as a tin of Spam, a man dressed in full bridalwear, an army of people wearing daffodil headgear running for Marie Curie Foundation, one of the leading male runners competing in full Royal Stewart kilt (bet he was warm!), and the largest group of runners in Edinburgh Great Run history - approximately 10,000!
Robert reported later that he enjoyed himself very much, found running down the centre of Princes Street strange and the hill at Holyrood a bit of a monster, but that he was pleased and not especially knackered afterwards. As Team Run saw him cross the finish line and come straight to them, the tears really began to pour (in fact, he seemed to leave women weeping in his wake for several days). From the Team's perspective, he looked as though he'd had a stroll around the garden, not run a grueling 10k in a hilly city. He completed the Run in 1:11:28 although it took him over a week to believe the official time. He was 6,144th.
It took Robert minutes to check in, return his official ankle strap and get his medal and goody bag and return to the Team for hugs and more tears. Because of the ridiculously good parking space, Robert and the Team were probably on their way back home before the official run winners were even handed Lucozade!
Over £1,650 was raised for The Prostate Cancer Charity and The Edinburgh Male Cancer Centre at The Western General Hospital and a great personal goal was reached. Robert enjoyed himself so much he thinks he may participate next year as well. If he does, Team Run will be there shouting and crying - but next year we're going to insist on the lycra shorts.
XXX
