Off-road running 44:56 [3] 3.18 mi (14:08 / mi)
I ventured out on the Monday Arthur's Seat handicap today, along with Gordon Cameron who was the only other runner. I didn’t really know when to set off as no one else was there, but gave Gordon a head start of a few mins, mainly because I was not sure of the fastest route and could do with someone ahead. I had the advantage of wearing my dobbs, and reeled in a slipping Gordon by the foot of the gutted haddie. The haddie was snow covered, and rather unnervingly the previous person to have gone up seemed to have been wearing crampons. With Gordon behind me I was sure of a soft landing had I fallen, so scrambled up with only a few nervous moments. The top was covered in a thick mist, and I could not make out Netherhill at all, merely heading off in the approximate direction. Netherhill was snow free and good running, Crow Hill (also very hard to spot in the mist) was bizarrely knee deep in snow. Dunsapie, I didn’t really know where the top was, so took a guess at the middle of the plateau. Then on to Whinny Hill (route East of the loch) the top of which I would always call the promontory East of the small marsh, but Gordon tells me the top nearer the bog is used. On down to Haggis Knowe, and my big navigational error. Could not for the life of me find the little path through the gorse (I was going for the one that came out at St Margaret’s Chapel). The snow was thick, crags were covered, I was nervous, so I gave up and ploughed back up the hill to take a different route. Haggis Knowe was fun, and on to the finish. Great to be out in the mud and snow! 44:56, and room for improvement.