Edinburgh half marathon gets weather boost

ORGANISERS are hoping the weather will give a boost to tomorrow’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon, which will see around 5000 runners pounding the streets of the Capital.

Forecasters are predicting one of the warmest days of the year for the charity race, which gets under way in Holyrood Park at 9.10am.

Bands including headline act Franco will perform at one-mile intervals along the route, culminating in an explosive festival finish-line party for runners and supporters.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon originated in San Diego in 1998 and is the world’s largest running series, attracting more than 500,000 runners each year with its “rock meets running” concept.

Tomorrow’s event is the second held in Edinburgh.

Race organiser Mike James said: “At the moment the weather is forecast to be between ten and 12 degrees, one of the warmest days of the year so far – perfect running conditions. However, there is storage available for bags and jackets and we would advise runners to prepare for adverse weather just in case. Make sure you at least bring a jacket.”

There will be extensive road closures for the race.

Mr James said: “We’re hoping to hold back on road closures for as long as possible so the first ones won’t be implemented until about 8.30am and some will have reopened by 11.30am. All closed roads will be back open by 1pm.”

The event will start and finish in the park, heading down to Seafield and Portobello Promenade before making a loop around the city centre through the Meadows, The Mound and on to the final stretch which leads down the Royal Mile.

Cancer Research UK is the official charity for the run, which will also support Scottish charities including Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, the Anthony Mundell Memorial Foundation and Children 1st.

Carly Wotherspoon, 23, of Tranent, and Kathryn Wesley, 51, of Livingston, are running in aid of The Michelle Henderson Cervical Cancer Trust. Michelle, 28, passed away in October last year after a long battle with the disease.

Carly said: “I’ve known Michelle’s father for a number of years so when we decided to run in aid of a charity it really was the obvious choice. I’ve done other half marathons in the past and some 10Ks, but I’ve still been training hard!

“Kathryn and I both run regularly, but we’ve stepped it up a bit. So far we’ve raised about £300 but we’re hoping to get up to £1000.”

Details of road closures are available at http://uk.competitor.com/edinburgh/road-closures