Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Forth Road Bridge 5k
by Russell Turner - 12:57 on 04 November 2024
The Forth Road Bridge 5k, staged by Supernova, came to my attention in December last year. Initially I dismissed it as an expensive gimmick – £38.50 for a 5k? – but on reflection decided to give it a go. After all, when do you get the chance to run across the old road bridge, at night? Being accompanied by Matchgirl would be an unexpected bonus.
We departed The Rural Retreat at 9.30am on Saturday, leaving behind two cats whose dishes were overflowing because a minder couldn’t be found for the evening. The journey to the South Gyle Travelodge was smooth until we reached the new bridge when, despite the assistance of Google Maps, a couple of wrong turns added to the arrival time. Muting Mrs Google may have been a mistake. Despite that, we arrived in plenty of time to unpack, relax and change for the run, even taking into account Matchgirl’s indecision over what to wear for an evening run over water.
The Travelodge was chosen not for budgetary reasons, which was another bonus, but because it was only a few minutes’ walk from South Gyle Shopping Centre where the runners were to assemble before being bussed to the start line at the bridge. Making your own way there was strictly forbidden. This meant that baffled shoppers were treated to the sight of hordes of runners wandering around in search of their particular bus stop (there were six) and frustrated shop managers asking runners to move away from their shop fronts so would-be customers could see what was on offer for their purchasing delight. Tag Hauer watches at £3,000+? I doubt we cost them many sales.
Either by chance, or because we’d signed up early, Matchgirl and I were on the second double-decker to make the trip from shoppers’ paradise to venerable bridge. It was opened 60 years ago, supposedly the reason for this athletic celebration. Before entering the bus, we were each handed our exclusive Supernova head torch – one of the reasons for the pricy entry fee – and urged to wear it at full brightness when we ran. If you already owned a head torch was not considered.
Twenty minutes later, we disembarked outside what I later learned was Traffic Scotland HQ at South Queensferry, where we made use of the baggage tent and portaloos, then stood shivering outside some temporary barricades until the time came to let us through. By now, the buses had left to collect the next wave of runners: waves would set off at intervals all evening; we just happened to be in the first. A brisk warm-up, accompanied by Sixties classics, took place before the wave of maybe 200 participants (I’m a poor judge) organised itself into runners, joggers (the distinction wasn’t made clear) and walkers. Matchgirl and I settled for mid pack. The final countdown took place around 5pm, when we shuffled through the Start gate, down and around a pathway, then on to the bridge at last.
By now it was full dark. Head torches streamed ahead and behind; the chill wind I’d expected on the bridge wasn’t there; rather than the steep gradient on the bridge that I’d also expected, the ascent was gentle and weather mild. Conditions were perfect for an easy saunter across the bridge, lit up for the event and with 60-year-old recordings of workers and locals adding to the atmosphere.
After around 12mins we saw the leading runners returning on the opposite lane (the fastest took 15:39); not long after that we made the turn ourselves. Really, this should have been a 6k run because we had to turn before reaching the end of the bridge. Shame. There was a slight crosswind on the way back – and lots of head torches still on the outward leg – but nothing to affect what turned out to be a good progression run, finished in 34mins – a modest time, but this was a fun run, not a race (for us, anyway).
We received our medals (a chunky one featuring the bridge), and a goody bag containing water, a flapjack and a buff – very disappointing. Photos were taken, then it was time to queue for the bus back. Beyond the barricade, the next wave was getting into the Sixties classics.
A decent dinner was taken in the pub next to the Travelodge, although wine may have been a mistake as sleep was hard to come by. The Travelodge breakfast was unexpectedly good (although Matchgirl didn’t get the proper pancakes for which she’d pined) and the trip home free of problems. Cats were still alive, unconcerned, and bowls still contained biscuits. A useful discovery.
Would I recommend this event? Yes. Would I do it again? No, because it would no longer be a novelty. The same company does an evening run based around the Kelpies, which would be tempting if I wasn’t running the Alloa HM next day. And I don’t need another head torch.
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