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15th February 2012
The Pentland run with a Matt finish
or map
The weather looked good, mild for the time of year, the lunchtime run didn't happen, must be time to hit a Pentland from KB.
The email had gone out and as I arrived at KB spirits were high, there were a couple of new faces, but all were keen for my plan. Then Gordon arrived. "Too far" he said, well he is the President so of course we ignored him.
We set off as Matt Grove arrived on his bike, he asked for my car keys so he could put his gear in my car, "NO WAY" with his record on keys. I left the boot open for him to shut we told him the route and headed off.
At the summit of Braid we heard him about half a mile behind but headed on.
Andy and Chris turned back at Frogstone Road while the rest of us headed up Caerketton from The Steading. A stunning evening to be atop a Pentland. The descent of the screes was great and we had a fast run back to KB.
About a minute after our return Matt turned up, and so did Matt (Grove and Davis). The second Matt had been even later and they had followed us round all the way, though hidden by their torchlessness.
A great run of some 10.4 miles (and a very respectable ascent in total of 2100ft) and a lot of happy faces at the end! Where we went - map
Willie Gibson

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1st December 2011
Wednesday Training
Last night's run was less earth wind & fire than mud, wind & headtorches. Not many turned up, whether because the weather was foul, or because Willy couldn't send out the usual email, we don't know. We squelched off to do a reverse Mortonhall, which sounds like a move out of Mornington Crescent. Michael Nowicki joined us for the first time as a fledged Carnethy; he's about to run from London to Edinburgh, so we look forward to reports on this major undertaking. Worn shoes let him down twice - literally - and I also fell on the golf course, as the ground inexplicably disappeared from under me. Heading back towards the driving range, whose lights could easily be mistaken for Jonathan's torch, two huge black Baskervillainous hounds emerged from Meadowhead farm red eyes flashing, or maybe it was collars, to have a jolly good bark & menace - but fortunately it was just wind & fire. Oddly the wind was blowing a hooly on the north side of the Braids and funneling up the Braidburn Valley, but hardly noticeable anywhere else. Where we went
Digby

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24th November 2011
Wednesday Training
Some swithering about routes as there was a sports shop opening with inducements to temp us away to Hermiston, including a £300 prize for the club with most members attending. There were certainly a lot of Carnethies there, so fingers crossed. In the end Willy opted for a normal run and I alone zoomed back from the jamboree to join the gang on a visit to the Craiglockharts, going contrarywise and along the Braid Burn instead of through the old hospital grounds at Colinton, which induced a feeling of newness to those disoriented. Returning, James Hardie and I cheated and chose the road at Greenbank Drive instead of the long, dark & slightly treacherous mystery green alley. We rebelled again as Willy decided some mortification of the flesh was in order to gain Blackford Hill so we took the steps and circled the trig point wondering where the rest were. Some time later voices and the sound of man on gorse was heard and a tattered and sorry group emerged with difficulty from the snarly hillside. So back to KB for soothing potions. Where we went - map
Digby

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3rd November 2011
Off Road On Road - A Different Wednesday Run
After a run up Scald Law at lunchtime my hill legs fancied a rest, so selfish as ever I suggested a less hilly route than usual.
We headed for Inch Park and past the allotments towards Craigmillar and then on towards Craigmillar Castle. The tracks were a bit more tarmaced than I remembered but with a bit of weaving around we managed to pass the castle mainly on grass and decended to the Royal Infimary.
Aftrer a discussion on distance we headed up Moredunvale Road to Ellens Glen and then all the way to the A701 where we did a recce of a bit of The World Famous International Club Pub Run (23 December this year!), heading across crunchy stubble fields to Mortonhall and The Stable Bar (not stopping) and on to KB. 9.5 mile in about 1hour:50minutes.
A bit faster and longer than usual but it was almost a road run, apart from the mud and the fields.


Willie Gibson

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12th January 2012
Bonaly Night Run

The forecast was for mist & 40mph gusts of wind, an unlikely combination. I had thought that mist was a calm milky substance but the forecast was right, and when mist comes at you at 40mph it makes itself felt. Bob's (inaugural?) night run started with a comprehensive briefing on the route, but we all just followed in the usual fashion and head counting ensured that no-one needed to remember anything much. If you thought our head torches were bright a group of cyclists encountered at the head of Maiden's Cleugh lit up the track with super bright lights much to Willy's disgust. Jess the dog chased something that turned out to be Cody – "I thought that great furry lump was a sheep" said Kate frantic from trying to call Jess off. So a good time was had by the large turnout. If you had any idea where we were you were probably Bob, so here's where we went.
Post run food in Dante's Italian Restaurant, including the ones who arrived late and did their own run!
Digby

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18th December 2011
The ESKapade

The great thing about organising an event is when you end up with a great group of like minded souls enjoying a wonderful day out.
46 runners (at the last count) took part in todays run. 32 runners set off from Goose Green Crescent at 8:40. Penicabs did a good job getting the Carlops lot to the start more or less on time.
We ran a steady pace to Lasswade with the alternating appearance of Andy or Chris McLeod, met Bill Gauld, and headed for Penicuik.
9 runners left and 14 joined as we set off for Carlops.
The underfoot conditions changed from frost to 5 inches of snow over the run. The weather was fantastic.
Thanks to Nick Macdonald and Joel Sylvester for their help with the event. But a bigger thanks to all for turning up and making it such a grand day out.

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8th December 2011
Night Run Swanston

As a new member of Carnethy I was really looking forward to running in the Pentlands in the dark. So my opportunity came at the Swanston Night Run. Myself and Mandy Calder met everyone at the carpark, it was so cold at the start, but that's nothing compared to what was going to come. We set off and suddenly there was all this ice, which we avoided. Then we started going slightly higher and down a section. I was caught out by this sheet of ice and landed heavily, where Jim Hardie and Andy Millard helped to my feet. I just carried on running and the scenery was getting better. When we started to go up there was slightly more snow especially up Allermuir. Then the downhill in the soft snow was so nice even though it didn't last long. We all reached the car park all in one piece, maybe not entirely. During the run I found it hard to talk to folk as I was concentrating too much, but thats just me learning to run in the night. Overall I really enjoyed the run as it was so different. I would like to thank Gordon and Willie for organising it and Mandy for the lift. The day after the run I had to go to hospital for xrays on my injuries I sustained during my fall, it turned out that I damaged my wrist ligaments. Oh well at least I can run. Happy Christmas and New Year to you all and see you guys when we get back from Poland. Map
Michael Nowicki

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9th November 2011
Cramond night run

Quite a nice night though the full moon was not visible as we set off up the Cramond river path to Cammo where we played at spooky houses. Winding our way back to Cramond we caught up with the ladies who had taken a shorter route I know not where, and Willy, who just can't manage to stay on his bike and has evened up the rib damage by denting the other wing, though he managed to avoid the tree stump this year. Then it was the slippery causeway out to the island, or ned party central, crunching over the broken glass and wading through the tinnies. Sighting of a seal on the sands. Or a rock. One or the other but my money's on rock. Other lights out on the flats turned out to be collectors of either bait, or an unwise seafood platter. Great food (not collected from the foreshore) and beer at the Cramond Inn served by a hugely cheery girl. Thanks to Phil for organising. This is where we went map and photos on Alan Hogg's Picasa page
Digby