Rat Race ultra tour of Edinburgh tomorrow

Rat Race Adventure Sports will stage the second edition of The Ultra Tour of Edinburgh, tomorrow. It’s a 55km (approx. 34 mile) ultra distance run in the Scottish capital; a tough, fully waymarked, mixed terrain route of tarmac and off-road trail running, with 2800 feet of ascent and descent.

Up to 500 runners from all over the UK will take on an achievable ultra distance trail running challenge (but will have just ten hours to complete the course).

Runners will travel through the streets, alleyways and parklands of the city centre, onto hills, up crags, along rivers and canals and past monuments, museums, seats of Royalty and Government; from the occasional sojourn totally off road to enjoy the hill top views of the Pentland Hills to the coastal waters and harbours of Newhaven and Leith in the east.

https://youtu.be/VxTd9PXUZgo

Whilst being both a challenging and completely engaging running experience the UTE delivers an unparalleled and all encompassing vision of Edinburgh, showcasing hugely evocative locations and historic and iconic landmarks, the rich urban heritage of the city centre and the stunning wilderness environment of the outlying countryside. The UTE is the ultimate runner’s sightseeing tour of Scotland’s capital city that few will have experienced.

See below a full spectators guide to the event with suggested locations and timings, etc.

YouTube preview (from inaugural 2017 event) – https://youtu.be/VxTd9PXUZgo

What

The Ultra Tour of Edinburgh (UTE) is an iconic running journey round Edinburgh, from the Braveheart charge down the Royal Mile beside St Giles Cathedral – EH1 1RE – at 07.30 on Sunday morning to the finish at The Royal Commonwealth Pool – EH16 5BB (finishers from 11.45 / 12.00 to 17.30).

Members of the Rat Race Adventure Sports team will also be available for interview at various points during the day.

When

Sunday 21 October 2018

Start at 07:30 from St Giles Cathedral (EH1 1RE) – with a massed Braveheart style charge down the Royal Mile (closed to traffic

Where

The route for participants – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27564022

The route for spectators – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28674895

Start from the Royal Mile at St Giles Cathedral with a massed Braveheart style charge down the Royal Mile (closed to traffic); past The Scottish Parliament and The Palace of Holyroodhouse and then into Holyrood Park
Climb the Radical Road, a steep rocky path at the edge of (under) the Salisbury Crags set against the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat with stunning views across Edinburgh at the top
Past the entrance to Holyrood Park, near the Royal Commonwealth Pool and Pollock Halls, and through the Innocent Railway Tunnel, onto the Innocent Railway
On to Craigmillar Castle Park – running past Craigmillar Castle
Past The Inch
Up onto Blackford Hill past the Royal Observatory and on to The Hermitage
Through Braidburn Valley Park and White Lady Wood
Pit Stop 1 – Swanston Golf Club – EH10 7DS – 16km
Past Lothianburn Golf Club and Midlothian (Hillend) Ski Centre
Up into The Pentland Hills, summiting Caerketton, Allermuir and Capelaw hills
Down into Bonaly
Picking up the Water of Leith Walkway at Colinton, through Colinton Dell
Up onto The Union Canal Towpath, over the aquaduct and then back down onto The Water of Leith Walkway
Pit Stop 2 – Saughton Park – EH11 3HB – 30km
On past Murrayfield Stadium and on to Roseburn
Up Garscube Terrace, over Ravelston Dykes and on to the Roseburn Path, Telford Path, Ferry Road Path and Trinity Path cycle ways, all the way to Newhaven Harbour
Through Western Harbour and on past Ocean Terminal and through Leith Harbour and Newhaven
Pit Stop 3 – Dock Place, Leith – EH6 6LU – 42km.
Picking up Water of Leith Walkway at Sandport Place Bridge
Along Water of Leith Walkway and on to Water of Leith Path and Warriston path cycle ways
Through the Rodney Street Tunnel into Canonmills and along Glenogle Road, onto The Rocheid Path and through Stockbridge and the Dean Village
Along Belford Road and Past the National Gallery of Modern Art One, picking up Water of Leith Walkway and the Roseburn Path cycle way
Onto to Union Canal Towpath, passing the Lemington Lift Bridge at Fountainbridge, then on through Tollcross and The Meadows and back into Holyrood Park
Finish at The Royal Commonwealth Pool. First runner expected 11.25/12.00 (last runner expected 17.30). Course closed 17.30.

For spectators

The Ultra Tour of Edinburgh provides a perfect opportunity for spectators and supporters to take on this special tour of Edinburgh as they follow the runners round. They will be able to visit some of the key tourist sites and attractions on the route in between cheering their participating friends and family on their way.