Memory Lane

I enjoyed a good long run last weekend which took in the western end of the Union Canal near Falkirk. This put an idea in my little old head, a jog down memory lane to the very beginning of running for me, at the eastern end of the canal in Edinburgh. This was my "school run". Junior and I would take the bus from home to his old school in Tollcross, and after the school bell had rung, I would try to run back.

So this is where it all started for me, in March 2011, right here at the Lochrin Basin, the eastern end of the canal, with pretty canal boats and colourful bunting today. There are several bridges over the next mile or so of the canal, I used to attempt to run from bridge to bridge. The towpath to the right is cobbled, I never much liked these first metres over the uneven hard stones. The first bridge ahead of me is the Leamington Lift Bridge which goes up to let the canal boats through entering and leaving the basin. I would stop here for a brief stretch and some breath training. The second bridge, a stone arch over the water, is only about 200 metres away, but when I started I always had to pause here for a breather and then walk a little. I guess I made the common beginner mistake of trying to go too fast, at a pace which I was not yet able to sustain. I did not know about C25K back then. It took me a little while to figure out for myself that what I had to do was run even slower.

The beginning, at the Lochrin Basin

The first bridge where I would pause to stretch and breath

The old stretching place

The third bridge, bright blue and red painted, is visible about another 400 metres ahead. I would run what I could and walk what I must in this section. The water here is peaceful and popular with swans and ducks.

The colourful third bridge ahead of me here ...

... the peaceful waters popular with swans ...

... and ducks.

The fourth bridge is about 700 metres away and out of sight as the contour canal bends to the left and then the right. This fourth section was always difficult for me in the early days and weeks and it was a relief when the parish church came into sight around the bend as I knew it would soon be done. In time I learned to step off the hard towpath here onto the softer ground along the edge of playing fields. The fourth bridge, another bright painted affair coming into sight through the trees as I left the playing fields to rejoin the canal, relief this section done and I would often walk the next 50 metres before I turned to leave the canal behind.

Fourth bridge out of sight as the canal bends to the left ...

... the parish church always a welcome sight in those days

Brief respite from the hard towpath ...

... and the fourth bridge is in sight, at last the fourth section is almost done.

I almost always enjoyed the next couple of hundred metres for two reasons. First, this part is a little down hill so easier going and welcome relief after the fourth section. Second, I am running on the grass through the trees in Harrison Park. This morning the carpet of autumn leaves is delighting me. Alas so soon I am done with canals and parks and the remainder of the run is a little boring along the roads. Crossing the railway bridge on Slateford Road I can make out a few of the Pentland Hills in the distance ... how little I knew about the fabulous adventure ahead of me in those beginning days and weeks.

Always lovely running down through the park on the grass ...

... with gorgeous autumn carpet today.

The remainder of the route is a little boring along the roads ...

... crossing the railway I can make out Pentland Hills in the distance.

I can no longer remember the date when I first tried this short three kilometre run. I can remember how surprised I was that it was so difficult, impossible for me. I can no longer remember the date when I first completed the run without stops or walks. I can remember how happy I was that this was now possible for me. It had taken me several weeks to get to this point. I can remember that over the next few weeks there were days when I could not complete this as a continuous run, but very slowly I grew stronger, I could do this run a little bit faster, I could run a little bit further. So I kept adding on a little more distance, exploring, enjoying. Since those early days I've done a lot of runs which have been very hard, for me anyway, but honestly I think the beginning was the hardest part.

Enjoy!