Remember when... Sporting prowess runs deep in the Capital

IT'S proving to be something of an energetic week in the Capital, with thousands of people donning their trainers to take part in charity races.

More than 7,000 runners turned out in Holyrood Park for the Cancer Research Race for Life on Sunday, and tonight 10,000 are expected to take to the streets for the 26-mile MoonWalk, to raise money to beat breast cancer.

Perhaps these women in their striped socks and shorts could offer some training advice? After all, in February 1978, they joined 200 people for a fun run in Inverleith Park, sponsored by the Evening News.

Despite poor weather, along with toddlers, teenagers and adults from all walks of life, the women from Granada Engineering put their best feet forward for the event.

One year later, in March 1979, Scottish sprinter Allan Wells started runners off in the Evening News fun run, a two-mile jog, again held in Inverleith Park.

In July 1983, all eyes were on Holyrood Park as it was taken over by hundreds of athletes – and cyclists – all keen to show their support for Health Race 83, where Glasgow cyclist Jamie McGahan, 23, become the first Scot to win the event – following a gruelling 570 miles of racing.

Edinburgh is certainly a sporting city, but there were no bikes or trainers to be seen in June 1979 when pensioners from Dalry House and Stockbridge House took part in a sports day at Donaldson's School for the Deaf.

Nor were there any recognisable Olympic races, with competitors instead giving it their best on obstacle courses and in egg-and-spoon races.

Of course, Edinburgh has hosted some remarkable professional athletes, both local and from further afield, over the years.

That includes the popular Kenyan runner Kip Keino, who trained with his team at Meadowbank ahead of the Commonwealth Games in July 1970.

Tommy Finkle, a 24-year-old civil engineer from Jedburgh, had his turn in the limelight in January 1989 when he won gold on the famous Carlsberg New Year Sprint, also at Meadowbank after a dramatic re-run.

Lord Provost Eleanor McLaughlin took centre stage in May of that year when she carried the "flame of peace" as part of an international pledge by more than 100,000 runners in the Sri Chinmoy Peace Run, inspired by the Indian Peace leader.