20 Capital gains tracks SET SIGHTS ON SUNSET streets aheaD UTE route includes Edinburgh’s Royal Mile Have SUNset off On Salomon series run you The Salomon Sunset Series arrives tried? in Edinburgh on Saturday, June 3. The 10km run starts at 8.30pm and includes an ascent of Arthur’s Seat before finishing as the sun sets on the event village. There will be pre-race ULTRA TOUR OF workshops and talks from experts including one of EDINBURGH Scotland’s top running coaches, Donnie Campbell. (UTE) A spokesperson said: “The JUMP Sunset Series aims to reconnect What is it?: The UTE is a new STREET runners with the sights, sounds Ultra Tour of and smells of nature.” FIONA 30 mile (50km) urban ultra Edinburgh n For info on the event, which RUSSELL running race. runners costs £25 to enter, see www. When is it: The UTE takes place have a trial salomonsunsetseries.co.uk in and around Edinburgh this run around year on Sunday, October 22. city sights Get on your Tell me more: The UTE is the ahead of brainchild of Rat Race Adventure big race bike week’s marks for the new Sports, who organise a host of 30mile running exciting events. Ultra runners the few cities where an event of heading into New Town, JUST THE JOB will follow a waymarked city this nature could take place. It is Stockbridge and Dean Village. People are being encouraged to race through tour on a mix of terrain, including a major capital city but in scale it The finish is pitch-side at get on their bikes for this month’s tarmac, cobbles and trails via is not huge and doesn’t feel too Murrayfield Stadium. annual Bike Week campaign. Edinburgh in a maze of streets, alleyways, urban. It has a lot of historical There will be three pit-stops at This year’s event, from June October, which tunnels, riverside paths, canal landmarks, places of interest approximately nine, 18 and 27 10-18, has a special focus to get towpaths, parkland and coast. and tourist attractions. miles. Pit-stops one and three people to cycle to work. Whether takes in all kinds of The race includes more than “It also offers a great mix of will have water and isotonic you cycle all the way each day, a 3000ft of ascent and descent urban areas with lots of parks drinks with some sweets. few times a week, or use a mix of terrain and sights. and passes many iconic dotted around and a good Pit-stop two will have some car and bike, there are benefits to capital attractions, such as the network of footpaths and more substantial food and your fitness, as well as your wallet. Scottish Parliament, Palace cycleways, which means you can hot drinks, including flapjack, A Bike Week spokesperson of Holyroodhouse, Royal get around many parts of the city cakes, sandwiches, tea and said: “We want to get many more Observatory and Edinburgh Zoo. without being on public roads. coffee. There will be toilets people cycling, whether it’s for The ultra journeys from high “Another plus point is the here too. fun, as a means of getting to the points such as Arthur’s Seat, undulating terrain, so it’s possible office or school, as a way to go to Post-race there will be a hot Blackford Hill and three to rise above the city at several meal for finishers, kit bag return, the local shops or visit friends.” summits in the Pentland Hills n See www.bikeweek.org.uk points and get some fantastic showers and a bar. for events in your area. Regional Park, to the coast at views, as well as challenging Who’s it for?: The UYE is an Newhaven and Leith. runners with hills. open participatory event and Rat Race Adventure Sports “And, added to all this, the an achievable step up from a founder, Jim Mee, said: “The UTE council is very receptive to marathon into ultra-running GEAR OF is meant to be a very ‘doable’ events and new ideas.” territory. However, Edinburgh ultra distance run and also with The UTE route:From the is not flat so it’s important that the aim of taking runners on a Royal Mile, the route heads into participants put in the training, THE WEEK special guided tour of the city. Holyrood Park and then on to especially on hills. “The route will showcase the Radical Road, passing the Icebreaker MerinoLOFT The event is also a great rich urban heritage of the city Commonwealth Pool and then opportunity for spectators Ellipse jacket centre together with the stunning The new Ellipse jacket is a hybrid to the Innocent Railway Tunnel. and supporters to follow friends construction offering an countryside of the outlying area.” Next up is Craigmillar Castle and family as they run, while outer layer or a mid-layer Anything else to know?: Park, then Blackford Hill and visiting a number of capital depending on the weather. Unlike other city-based runs, the the Royal Observatory before attractions too. Icebreaker are UTE starts and finishes in the reaching the Pentland Hills and Cost: Entry is from £109 for a city. Runners will set off at 7.30am renowned for three hills of Caerketton, solo entry and £104 for a team of environmentally- from St Giles Cathedral with a Allermuir and Capelaw Hill. Braveheart-style charge down five to the full prices of £135 and conscious merino wool The route travels to the Water of £130 respectively. products. The jacket the famous Royal Mile. They will Leith next, then passes Edinburgh features zoned cross the finish line inside the The event has partnered with Zoo and goes on to Corstorphine the charity Children with insulation with chest BT Murrayfield Stadium, which Hill before dropping to the coast panels using 70g is the home of Scottish Rugby. Cancer UK. Rat Race aim to at Granton and Newhaven. raise £1 million for the charity MerinoLOFT – a Participants have 10 hours to Runners pass Ocean Terminal natural alternative to complete the event. over three years and are already and head to Leith then they join over halfway to their target. synthetic insulations. Jim said: “Edinburgh is one of the Water of Leith trail again The body and arms boast a super-soft, Join me on my adventures in Scotland’s great outdoors by checking out my award- winning quick-drying blend of website at www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk. You’ll find lots of great information about walking, Advice merino and polyester. cycling, running and other outdoor activities, as well as kit reviews. and ideas.