Seven Hills of Edinburgh Race & Challenge

------------------------------------------
Event organiser : Alan Lawson
07708 011 649
------------------------------------------

What is the Seven Hills of Edinburgh ?

Every year since 1980, on a Sunday in June, a few hundred hardy individuals take part in one of the most unusual running events in the country,
The Seven Hills of Edinburgh
— a combination of road-running, cross-country, hill-running, and urban orienteering... 14.3 miles in length and with 2200 feet of ascent/descent.

It attracts runners of all ages and all abilities — from the leading distance-runners who get round in 100 minutes, to the more modest performers who may take up to 4 hours. But they all enjoy the satisfaction of completing one of the most scenic and challenging of sporting courses.
[Course Information]

An event of great character, and with a tremendous friendly atmosphere on the day, it's THE event that everyone — Edinburgh-based or otherwise — should do at least once!

* * * * *

Which Event to Enter?
The seriously-fit should enter "The Race". Those of more modest ability (above 1 hour 40 for a half-marathon, say) can enter "The Challenge" (starting half an hour in advance).

* * * * *

2020 : virtual event

After 40 years of continuous operation, The Seven Hills of Edinburgh race will not now take place this year: observing social distancing with over 500 runners − plus supporters and workers − is just not feasible. And any attempt to do so would compromise the attractive mingling / picnic atmosphere of the event.

Instead, a virtual event will take place throughout the month of August, with competitors running the course solo and sending in their time for results. Full details below...

Dates-window
Participants are to run the full course – solo -- within the dates-window Saturday 1st to Monday 31st August (both days inclusive).

Course notes
You must visit the 7 checkpoints, but you can start-and-finish at any of them. And you may run the course clockwise (normally anti-clockwise).

Calton Hill’s checkpoint is the trigpoint.
At the Castle esplanade, the checkpoint is just before you turn left down the steep steps onto Johnston Terrace.
At Corstorphine Hill, the checkpoint is Clermiston Tower.
At Craiglockhart Hill East, the checkpoint is the metal bench at the hill top.
Braid Hill / Blackford Hill / Arthur’s Seat : trigpoints.
[Do not touch any of the markers]

Competitor notes
Participants are responsible for their own safety and health. And toileting arrangements. And food & drink supplies (there is an outside water-tap on your right at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre as you run through between the two buildings). Rhubarb tart: bring your own.
Scottish Athletics advise that you tell someone when you’re going out to do the run, and that you should carry some Id.
Maintain 2m social distancing at all times.

Entering
After doing your run, send an email to the virtual organiser, Alan Lawson, on
aylawson@btinternet.com
putting ‘7Hv’ plus your name as the Subject. In the Text, put:-
   Your Name
   Club (optional)
   F (if female)
   Age (years, on day of run)
   Time (in format H.MM.SS)
   Comments (optional)
   Photos (optional)

Competition rules
There is no entry-fee.
There is no Race/Challenge division.
There is no maximum time limit.
Competitors can make more than one attempt.
Prizes: certificates will be awarded to podium placers and age-group winners (but it’s really for the glory!).
Coaster: when you send in your time you will be sent the coaster design to make your own coaster (from cardboard or similar).
An updated ‘Results-to-date’ will be made available on the website every day throughout August.

* * * * *

MapRunF : Some runners may want (it's entirely optional) to make use of an App for iPhones called MapRunF, which records your times and ensures that you visit all the checkpoints (it goes bleep when you get to within about 10m of one). 7 Hills enthusiast Martin Caldwell (Corstorphine), with the assistance of ESOC, has added this event to the large list on MapRunF. So,,,

1. Download MapRunF (it’s free)
2. Fill in your personal details.
3. Select this event (Scotland / Edinburgh / 7Hills).
4. Choose your starting-point.
5. It’s a rolling start: as soon as you come within 10m of a checkpoint it will bleep for your start and you must go!

Note: if you run the course clockwise, MapRunF will record your run normally but will declare your efforts a 'Mispunch',,, but you don’t need to worry about that (it’s an orienteering thing).

= = = = =

2019 event : report

RACE: The winner was Sam McCutcheon (Corstorphine) in 1:37:21, with Dessie Flanagan (Carnethy) 2nd, and James Dunn (HBT) 3rd.

The women's trophy was again won by Nicola Duncan (Carnethy) in 2:05:46, with Elizabeth Leason (Carnethy) 2nd, and Eilidh Yates (Edinburgh Tri) 3rd.

The M50 trophy was taken by Peter Buchanan (Portobello) in 1:55:27.
Alan Hogg (Carnethy) took the M60 prize in 2:13:06.

The Women's vet trophy (over 45) was again won by Rhona Anderson (now F55) (Dunbar RC), with Kathy Henley (Carnethy) best F45.

Team event: Hardly Bothered Training (geddit?) were the winning team , with Carnethy being the best all-female team.

Number of finishers: 513.

COLLAPSED RUNNER: Thanks to all runners who sacrificed their own times to stop and help the collapsed runner on Arthur's Seat; he is now ok, and appreciative of attention received.

Results of Race / Challenge / Teams here

Superheroes of The Double (Edinburgh Marathon and Seven Hills) here

Photos from the allotments, by John McCurdy here

High-speed video of Corstorphine here

Event video by the Sheach family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-fQcqX3tfU