Water of Leith

I decided to trust in the weather forecast and optimistically stuffed running gear into my workbag in the morning. As I opened the door I nearly collided with a mini snow plough. Hm. It was still dark, and the sidewaks were glistening with snowy mush. More hm. At least the view from the office was nice.

Snowy hills. I joined the grooming ritual of weather talk, but always keeping an eye out for a spot of blue. And the weather did improve. Long live the BBC, trainers on!

It was four o'clock exactly when I waived the security guy goodbye and stepped out into the cold. The grand plan was to follow the Water of Leith which conveniently passes close both to my office and my appartment, and the distance is just right, and the weather was perfect, and I was so excited about the whole idea, and there it was, quick and bubbly, bubble bubble along, and oooh wait where did it go? I could not bring a map with me - running with a camera was uncomfortable enough - so I was doomed to goinging in circles. I ran around the Murrayfield stadium twice trying to locate the riverbed. In the end friendly people with a dog pointed it out to me, amused.

Keeping next to the river turned out to be more difficult than I planned. I ended up doing twice the distance, just to make sure it was still there - just a street away, or a fence away. There were some things to keep me motivated.

The lack of orientation did lead to some unexpected sightseeing. And to running uphill, which is certainly not the way water tends to flow. After a bit of mad and winded dashing about, I finally slid down a muddy bank aaaaand... there it was, looking all smug - the Water of Leith walkway. And it was gorgeous.

A bit graveyardy, and bare, but really, really nice. And full of unexpected greek statues, half-ruins, exciting weirs, massive bridges, a perfect, perfect route.

Belford bridge.

Dean village, possible the cutest place in Edinburgh yet.
The path was very exciting, it even had the cheek to end abruptly, and continue on the other side as if nothing happened.


By the time I was running under Dean bridge I was jumping for joy (yes, that's me)!

So, a little video below, just to give you a taste.. ah it was great. And now my calf hurts.