60 minutes past Gorilla!: Its a beautiful... - Bridge to 10K

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60 minutes past Gorilla!

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10
45 Replies

Its a beautiful, sunny day in Edinburgh today and all is right with the world!

I set off to do my long run of the week and today I was going to reclaim my canal. I figured that since Covid numbers are now low in Scotland and I should now have a fair bit of immunity 4 weeks post-jag, I could risk the odd passing without proper social distancing.

It was absolutely splendid - there's no other word for it. Loads of families in the park as I ran past and folk of all ages having a whale of a time on paddle boards and canoes. I was enjoying myself so much that I completely missed my target to run to the Gorilla (at the bottom of a garden on the edge of the canal) and went way past it! Must have been in the zone.

I realised that I'd overshot when I reached the viaduct quite a bit further on and thought I'd keep an eye on the time and see how I felt as it was meant to be a 55 minute run today. But it was just one of those fabulous ones that keep us all going - so I kept on to 60 mins and 7k!

Happy days - spring has sprung, the days are lighter and it looks like the swallows will definitely still come.

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Fionamags profile image
Fionamags
Graduate10
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45 Replies
PeggySusi profile image
PeggySusi

That sounds like a wonderful run Fiona - and I’m guessing you’ve had a good week off as you give the impression of being relaxed and happy.. that’s a great omen for your plan to wind down a bit at work..Fabulous weather here too, if a tad chilly.. carry on relaxing and enjoy the rest of your weekend..😊

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to PeggySusi

Thanks Peggy. It was brilliant! And you are so right, winding down will make a new woman of me - I've been working flat out for far too long. Happy days!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate

What a lovely run and wow at that Gorilla

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun

Hilarious isn't it? I must have run past it loads of times without noticing it. But when you see the size of it, I don't know how I could have missed it.

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate1060minGraduate in reply to Fionamags

I thought it was real at first

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun

Ha ha ha that would have made me pick up speed that's for sure....

Phdgranny profile image
PhdgrannyGraduate10

Sounds wonderful!!

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate10

All I could think about when seeing that photo was the Esso Blue jingle, even though I'm not really old enough to remember it when it was originally used.

♫ Bum bum, bum bum... Esso Blue ♫

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to nowster

Sorry you've lost me. I'm going to have to google it now. I think the folk have a hot tub or something up there by the Esso sign. Would be rather exposed to the multitudes of walkers on the canal though....

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Fionamags

And I've just googled the Esso Blue jingle - God we knew how to make adverts in those days, didn't we???

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10

Nice! Sun, weather, canal path, Saturday morning and a Gorilla thrown into the mix as well! There‘s everything to love about this route! ✔️👍🏽🏃🏽‍♀️📸

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to CBDB

Yes you are so right. It's not every day you get to say that you ran to the gorilla and back. 🤣🤣

CBDB profile image
CBDBGraduate10 in reply to Fionamags

🤣👍🏽I love that! 😂😂

CaptFrey profile image
CaptFrey60minGraduate

Excellent and mighty fine gorilla action going on.

Hareshaw-Granny profile image
Hareshaw-GrannyGraduate10

Great post Fiona. Your run sounds amazing. I'm through in Edinburgh myself today at my daughter's in Balerno. The weather is fabulous and ideal for running. Glad you enjoyed yourself.🌞😁

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Hareshaw-Granny

Lovely day for a trip - hope you had a lovely time. It is such a relief when we can meet up so much easier with the weather improving. It won't be long until we can actually share a meal with our nearest and dearest! I might even wear a dress!!!!

sparky66 profile image
sparky66Graduate10

Brilliant well done, sounds like a wonderful run..and great pic!!!Lovely to see families out enjoying themselves again 🙏

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to sparky66

I know - everybody just looked so happy - it was wonderful!

Wonderful post Fionamags, I love your hopeful note at the end, very poetic, so glad you had a happy run today 🤗

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to

Thanks - I had been letting the old self doubt gremlins get at me a bit as I hadn't run for about 10 days but it was a cracker today. Sadly, I can't claim to have invented the phrase about the swallows - a friend's husband did a beautiful print of swallows with that phrase on it. I think it might have come from a poem but haven't found the source.

in reply to Fionamags

Those beastly gremlins, they’ll never win 😉, we’ll keep on bouncing back, just as those swallows will keep on returning, whoever penned it well worth sharing and passing on, and perfect timing 🤗

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to

Yes I must ask my pal where he got it from. He designed the print back during the first lockdown so it was very poignant.

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to

Hidden I got a message back - it was his own thoughts.

in reply to Fionamags

Inspired ❤️

GigglyBFC profile image
GigglyBFCGraduate10

Sounds like a lovely run Fiona, it’s definitely warming up when the gorillas start to appear 🤣

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to GigglyBFC

Ha ha ha hadn't thought of that side of it. As long as the brute stays on it's own side of the canal....

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10

Well done Fionamags on your run. Great weather for running . Thought at first you were at the zoo🤣 but thought I can’t be there with canal. Where in Edinburgh is this run ? It looks like it could be a good walk as well😀

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Doris8

The canal basin is just off Gilmore Park/Leamington Bridge and it goes all the way to Glasgow. Its a lovely place to run or walk and is very popular. It feels like a little oasis of nature in the middle of the city, which is why I love it. That and the fact that it is as flat as a pancake....😉

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags

I don’t think u will be running all the way to Glasgow or unless ur feeling fit. Thanks for info will look on mr google

Doris8 profile image
Doris8Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags

Oh yet I get your flat as a pancake not like Arthur’s seat🤣

BaddieThePirate profile image
BaddieThePirateGraduate10

Fantastic. Well done. Sounds like the perfect run.

Gwenllian1 profile image
Gwenllian1Graduate10

Sounds like the perfect run and you have got to 7k!! That’s great. I managed 6k yesterday so I’m on my way but still only had one of those lovely flowing runs since I got back to it. But one is enough to know they are out there!

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Gwenllian1

Yes it keeps the spirits up and helps to remind us why we do this.

Scruff55 profile image
Scruff5560minGraduate

😊 lovely run for you Fiona so glad the 🦍 didn’t chase you. Happy running 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️ and so looking forward to the swallows returning.

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Scruff55

Thanks. Knowing that I can get back to the canal is fab.

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate10

I love the idea of running as far as the gorilla! How many people can say that?!

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Oldgirlruns

Ha ha ha I know - great isn't it?

Frenc profile image
FrencGraduate1060minGraduate

Fab run! You sound super chilled and you reclaimed the canal to boot! And what would a run be without a gorilla to cheer you on 😄. Well done 👏🏼.

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Frenc

To be fair, the gorilla looked pretty chilled as well. 😂😂😂

dijep profile image
dijepGraduate10

Whoop whoop 🙌🎉 that's fantastic news Fionamags. It's such a wonderful feeling when everything comes together and you ate trashy in the zone 👍

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to dijep

Thanks Dijep. Not sure what the last bit means though.... "ate trashy in the zone"???? 🤔😂😂

dijep profile image
dijepGraduate10 in reply to Fionamags

Ha ha 😂🤣dyslexic fingers and phones that auto correct have a lot to answer for."are in the zone". The zone could be trashy if you want it to be 😂

Peter44 profile image
Peter44Graduate10

Sounds a nice 7k, it's great when everything feels good like that, i did a 7k last night, but not so comfortable, as it was still quite hot, but this spring weather 🌞 really gives you a boost!!! 😃

Fionamags profile image
FionamagsGraduate10 in reply to Peter44

Perfect temperature here - rarely ever gets too hot. The sunshine really does lift your spirits though. That and easing restrictions....

9weeks2Run profile image
9weeks2RunGraduate10

Aww what a beautiful read and run. I so love that all is right with the world, that is so lovely.

You are doing amazing. Loving the Gorilla 🦍

Bring on loads of Happy Days for us all x 🤗

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