Boxing Day Run 26/12/08
This is something of a tradition though not one I had shared before: Graham and a few Porties turn out on Boxing Day to work off some of the excesses of the season with a hike over the hills starting from Hillend car park. Getting up in the dark is not a holiday treat for me, but I wanted to be sure I had enough time to cycle to Hillend and in fact overdid it arriving 20 minutes early to an empty car park. However Alan Aitch, Ricky and Graham arrived shortly and we set off, going up hill but turning left almost immediately, to run on a small track nearly parallel to the road and heading towards the attractively named Boghall.
I have to say the going was tough, wet and rutted and within 15 minutes my feet were wet and filthy and we had yet to pass anything scenic. However it began to make sense as we then made for Allermuir and Castlelaw, beginning to trace out a large circuit.
Graham wasn't hanging about and the gap between us and Ricky and Alan began to widen. So much so that when we got to the top of Castlelaw we couldn't see them following and so began to retrace our steps. After a while it became evident that they hadn't come the same way we had. Either something bad had happened and they had returned to the cars or they had taken a different route. It would be wrong to suggest they had dodged the summit bid and headed downhill out of workshy indolence. We took a route that skirted round the firing range in case this was the way they had come. Stopping to admire the still water and reflections of Turnhouse, we caught sight of them on the road round the reservoir and called to them. We met half way on a path that contoured up and round towards Allermuir - and one I had never been on before.
When we got up to the brow of the hill I was surprised to be met with a view of the Forth Bridges not realising the amount we had turned around the long corner. Graham suggested that after the summit of Allermuir we descend by way of Swanston and the thatched cottages. Again new ground for me and group of very pituresque houses, before returning to the car park and a brisk cycle home. 2hrs run, 9 miles. Great stuff.
Photos and report pb
