My first race of the year (2025, that’s THIS year!) was a bit later than usual. Normally I’m at Mad Dog 10k in February but this year I’d already used up my holiday entitlement at work so waited for a race that fell on my days off, and even luckier – it was local!

The Meadows Marathon (clicky) has been going on since 2007 and is organised by the Edinburgh Students’ Charities Appeal. They have a 5k, 10k, half and full marathon option and the races are run in laps around the Meadows in Edinburgh. I’d signed up for the 10k which consists of four laps of the Meadows (the full is a dizzy-inducing 18 laps) and is mainly flat but has a quick up/downhill section at the end of each lap.

Handily, Claire lives on a street right next to the Meadows so it was her flat that I invited myself to use as a base. Myself and Finn got the bus into Edinburgh just after 9am because my race wasn’t starting until 1120am. We went to race HQ after getting off the bus (imagine if we’d tried to take the bus through) and the number pick up only took a few minutes. We then made our way to Claire’s (10 minutes walk) and got my boy settled in for a visit. (He’s six so a bit young to cheer on by himself).

At 11am I said my goodbyes (they were staying in until about 12pm, no need to watch the whole race when you live next to the course) and I made my way back to race HQ for the start. Quick toilet visit then made my way to the start (right outside HQ) and saw a couple of people from work, so wished them luck (I’m nice like that) and did a bit of the warm up. Then it was go time!

The marathon had started at 1020am so there were already quite a bunch of people on the route. The Meadows is always a popular place for (non event) runners and cyclists (of which there were plenty) so that all added to the atmosphere of the race. From what I’ve read over the whole event there’s about a thousand people running.

First lap went by quickly enough, I used to live near the Meadows myself so I’m well used to the route. There were two water stations (seemed a bit close together) but as it was 1.5mile laps you weren’t ever too far from one.

On the second lap I felt myself flagging a bit, which I put down to a poor training month in February. January went well, 74miles total, but picked up an injury at the end of the month so Feb only had about seven miles run, and I could tell! BUT, I’d already told myself that this was a race just to get the year going and had no dreams of PB’s. Anything around an hour, I’d be chuffed.

On the third lap I dropped in behind a couple of people and used their pace as my own (I’m horrendous at pacing myself) and stuck with them the whole way to the uphill, on which I had a bit of a walk and a bit of a rest.

Final lap! I’d asked Claire to set off with Finn about 12pm because I figured I’d see them just as I started the last loop, and I did. Love it when a plan comes together! I saw them as they saw me and Finn ran up to give me a hug and a “super boost” and then I was on my way to the end. Water station. Play park. Water station. Tennis court. Final uphill. They were waiting at the top of the hill and on the way down Finn started running next to me shouting “I’m faster than you!” (thanks) and as I turned towards the end of the race I told him to come hold my hand and we ran over the line together to a load of cheers (bet not one was for me).

And… DONE! Claire caught up and we went into HQ to collect my medal (86th) and then we went back to Claire’s so I could get a shower (and less smelly) then headed out for recovery pizza. What a Sunday!

My first time doing any of the Meadows events but I’ll definitely be putting it on my calendar each year. Very well organised, well supported, and mainly flat. What’s not to love! Told myself I’d be happy with about an hour and finished in 1hr and… 51 seconds. Can’t complain with that.

Next Up:

Wakefield 10k on the 16th March. Two days after my birthday… Gonna have to stay off the beer until then! See you at the start line?