Runners brave icy conditions
Over 1500 runners braved snow, ice and freezing temperatures to have some real fun at the 2010 Bupa Great Winter Run.
The annual mass participation race, now in its sixth year, was run on a 4km route instead of the usual 5km circuit around the Scottish capital’s Holyrood Park because of the icy conditions.
When the race got underway the temperature was a testing minus three degrees.
First across the finish line in the men’s Bupa Great Winter Run was Neil Renault from Edinburgh, it took Neil just 12 minutes and 41 seconds to complete the shortened 4km course.
The women’s Bupa Great Winter Run title was taken by Helen Thomson from Biggar in Lanarkshire in a time of 16 minutes and 41 seconds.
But that didn’t stop anyone from making the most of what turned out to be a pretty unique staging of the event, with people sledging on the nearby slopes cheering on participants.
Because of the difficulties of clearing the traditional route along Queen's Drive, runners were redirected close to Holyrood Palace anti-clockwise beneath Salisbury Crags, running uphill on snow-covered grass, before turning back downhill on the gritted road.
But, on a weekend when most of the sport in the UK was halted by some of the heaviest snow - and lowest temperatures - for decades, it was a real triumph that the Bupa Great Winter Run was able to go ahead at all – thanks to everyone who helped ensure it was able to take place!
If you enjoyed this weekend make sure you don't miss-out on next year's Bupa Great Winter Run by registering with our Reminder Service. When entries open we will email you.
Register with the Bupa Great Winter Run 2011 Reminder Service