Doctor Who

Took the train through to Glasgow for the Doctor Who Exhibition.

Orienteering Weekend

Headed off to Stirling University on Saturday for the British Sprint Championships. Nice courses round the uni grounds although the weather was a bit nippy. Did OK with one big error on the second course.

On Sunday we all headed off to Auchingarrich Wildlife Park for SOL1. Max and Colin took part while the girls enjoyed the animals. Max came 6th on the orange. Colin had a long slow run round the brown on a very challenging course.

On the way back we stopped at the beautiful village of Culross for a look at the palace and gardens and a walk round the rest of the village.

Berlin

Colin went off to Berlin for the Watson Wyatt European Chief Actuaries Conference. Not a lot of free time but enough for a quick run round some of the main sights in the centre. Very nice city.

Bought new kitchen furniture from Ikea on Sunday.

Chapelgill

Colin ran in the Chapelgill Hill Race on Saturday. A real out of the way race deep down a valley in the Borders. The race was a very hard and steep up and down the hill. Placing and time weren't too great.

Bristol Weekend

Cherry was off to Bristol for a girls weekend leaving Colin and the children at home. Went orienteering on saturday and sunday. Holyrood park on Saturday and Binning Wood near East Linton on Sunday.

Happy Birthday

Colin hit 43 yrs old. Out racing in the morning on the KB 5 mile race. Not a great performance.

We all went to Riverdance at the Playhouse in the afternoon which was excellent. Followed this with pizza at pizza express.

ESOC Sprint-O

Colin and Max were out at Hopetoun House for the annual ESOC sprint-O event. Colin ran reasonable well over the two courses coming 28th of the 60 runners. Max had a good run on the first course and decided to practice his parkour rather than do the second.

Cambrills and Barcelona

Pleasant week at Cambrills on the coast south of Barcelona and then a few days in Barcelona. Trouble with suitcases which had an interesting trip from Edinburgh to London, Barcelona, Gerona, Cambrills before finally catching up with us in Barcelona the day before we left. Apart from that a nice week away.

Carnethy 5

The hills were covered in snow for this years Carnethy 5 - one of the biggest races in the Scottish Hill Racing calendar. Temperates were fairly pleasant at a few degrees above freezing with lots of boggy marsh at the foot of the hills and frozen ground and snow at the top. Climbing was difficult in the slippy conditions. Descending was like going down a ski slope with one section being a 10 m bum slide.

Overall a good run. Felt quite fit and certainly not too tired at the end. Time was poor but this was the same for everyone given the conditions.

Hotel Du Vin

Colin and Cherry had a nice dinner out at the new Hotel Du Vin on Bristo Place on Friday night. Very smart and a very good meal. The blue cheese ice cream wasn't such a good idea though !

Colin was orienteering on Sunday at Normans Law in Fife. Lots of mistakes to come 12th on the Blue course.

Boundaries of Edinburgh

Colin was out for a long run round the outskirts of Edinburgh on Saturday covering some 21 miles. Didn't do the full circuit. Report here.

On Sunday we all went to Dalmeny estate for orienteering. Nice location at edge of town and everyone did reasonably well.

EUOC Big Weekend

Colin was out running on Saturday and Sunday on one of the best orienteering weekends of the year. Saturday was the city race through Edinburgh Old Town and South Side. Pretty poor navigation led to a fairly low placing. Better result on Sunday in Holyrood park coming 15th in a big field on Blue.

Hannah won her football on Saturday and she and Cherry ran the yellow on Sunday.

Max was laid low by a cold.

SOSOL 4 - Drumpellier Park

We all headed out to Coatbridge and Drumpellier Park for a cold and windy morning at what was probably quite a nice park on a warmer day. Max had a reasonable run on Light Green coming 15th of 23. Colin was 13th of 37 on Blue. Hannah was 5th of 9 on yellow. Max had a very good run-in coming fastest in his class and beating Colin by 8 seconds.

Pentland Panorama

Colin went for a long run from home to the summit of Caerketton and back. Picture of 4 directions from the summit.

Ratho

Colin took Hannah to the climbing wall at Ratho on Sunday. It was very busy due to the horrible weather outside.

On Saturday Colin & Cherry had a nice dinner, with the kids!, at Toast.

Carn a Gheoid

Max and Colin headed North for a winter munro. It was a lovely day for a 3 hr 30 minute walk on high ground near Glenshee. Snow all around with temperatures well below zero.

Happy New Year

Colin started the year with the Portobello Promathon 4 mile race. Ran well to get a personal best at both the race and distance of 28 min 46 secs.

Festove Frolic at Beecraigs

We all headed out to Beecraigs for the annual Boxing Day run. Max, Hannah and Cherry had a nice walk whilst Colin did the 14 k all-terrain race. It's an excellent event with a 14k and 7 k race happening at the same time with self declared handicaps meaning you are passing and being passed by runners of all speeds and abilities.

Colin got a good time beating his time of 2 years ago by almost 1 minute. Total time of 1 hr 11 min 48 sec.

Queens Drive 5k

Colin was out for a 5k race round Arthurs Seat on a very stormy Sunday lunchtime. A reasonable time of 25 min 28 secs give the climb and high winds.

Club Champs

A trip to Riccarton Campus for the Club Champs. Max unfortunately fell and hurt his leg at an early control. Hannah and Colin had a nice walk round the yellow course.

Joan as Policewoman

The busy festive season continued with the Marchmont Community Christmas Tree Lighting and Carols. Cherry was one of the chief organisers and Hannah was singing in the JGPS Choir. Colin went to a concert in the evening to see Joan as Policewoman at the Liquid Rooms.

Glasgow Parks Championships

Max and Colin headed off to Glasgow for this event which involves a mystery tour round three Glasgow Parks. Colin did quite well coming in 13th on the Male Vets. Max did very well on the first two courses but blew out on the third and didn't finish.