New route under fire as 10,000 tackle run in sun

Published on Sunday 3 May 2009 22:11

A RECORD 10,000 runners took to the streets of the Capital yesterday for the fifth Bupa Great Edinburgh Run.

Competitors from across the world converged on Edinburgh for the 10km event, which was televised live for the first time this year.

Changes to the route saw some runners complain of being slowed down by bottlenecks at Princes Street Gardens and on the Mound.

Jim Campbell, from Edinburgh, who completed the new route in 48 minutes, said: "At one point a guy behind me said if it got any narrower, we'd be running in single file.

"But there was a great atmosphere with it being televised, and on the whole it was really well organised."

Another runner, Adam Mahoney, agreed, saying that despite the bottlenecks the event proved a good showcase for the city.

A spokeswoman for the run organisers said: "We always conduct a full review with all the partner organisations, and we will take all the feedback on board and make appropriate changes if they are needed."

From athletes to hen nights to fire fighters running in full protective gear, the city streets were dominated by participants in the 10km run.

The annual event, which normally begins in the Meadows, was moved this year to begin on George IV Bridge.

In part, the aim was to give the Meadows a rest, as the grass there has suffered from hosting too many events in the past year.

The organisers said the new start point was chosen to bring the event into the heart of the city. However, runners trying to beat their personal best were forced to slow down at narrow sections. "We were standing there for two minutes," said one runner. "It was frustrating."

The men's race was won by Micah Kogo of Kenya, with a time of 28.13 minutes.

The women's title was won by Deena Kastor of the United States, with 32.38 minutes.

Organisers last night estimated the event, now one of the largest road races in Britain, had raised about 1 million for various charities.

Former Hearts, Hibs and Scotland star Darren Jackson set competitors off. Competitive athletes joined celebrities such as Coronation Street star Vicky Binns, and a team of 250 pupils, staff and parents from Edinburgh's Merchiston Castle School raised more than 40,000 in support of rugby charity Hearts and Balls, after a pupil was injured in a rugby accident last year.

Andy Mitchelmore of event organiser Nova International said: "I'd like to thank everyone who took part for making it the most successful Bupa Great Edinburgh Run yet."