Bob Hayward & Nick Baldock have now run 23 consecutive marathons out of the 34 it will take to get to John O’Groats from Land’s End and in doing so have covered over 450 miles. This is all in aid of Podge the 13 year old boy who was so badly burnt in an attack last May.

Running into Edinburgh was interesting, the residential areas took over from the open country from some way out but hid the jewel, Edinburgh Castle, for about five miles and then they reach a particular peak, that’s right AAH (always another hill), and there it was in the distance. Even at a distance of 3 – 4 miles it still looks imposing. It was fascinating to run in rather than fly in as they had done before, for once the sheer size of the rocks surrounding Edinburgh was revealed like Arthur’s Seat that stands out proud and strong shadowing the Commonweal Pool from the Commonwealth Games held in Edinburgh back in the 60’s.

The run took them onto the Royal Mile and down Princes Street, by now they’d done over 10 miles and began to feel hungry. They’d decided today would be a solo run to allow the motor home to stay on the by pass, so they sort out an internet cafe. Coffee, hot ham & cheese panninis, danish pastries and a computer wired for the web – what more could a man ask for? (answer = the love of a good women. Fair point Reg, fair point)

40 minutes later (Ooops a little too long there guys, wonder why?) they ran down Princes Street. The looks they got, I mean why? What is unusual about two blokes running down the main street of Edinburgh, in running shorts, trainers, Give The Lad A Chance T–shirts and fluorescent yellow bibs? Well, the locals were definitely amused by the sight.

Their focus was now on running across the Forth Road Bridge, it seemed like a major landmark, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street and the Forth Road Bridge. They truly had arrived somewhere they would not consider driving too. No, to come this far you’d fly or take a train – you wouldn’t drive. And theyd run it.

It was sheer hell getting out to the bridge, the A90 has to be one of the busiest roads in the country, unforgiving hills, unrelenting traffic and unhappy runners – head aches, leg aches, seriously peved. So dejected they were that even with the bridge in their sights, they took solace and comfort in the Tesco’s nearby. Tea, sticky buns and a chance to meet up again with Ian and the motor home, set them up for the crossing.

It felt superb to jog across this awesome structure and look across to the Forth Railway Bridge with it’s distinctive red metal arches. And then bliss a quiet A road!

Their stop for the night was the services at junction 2 of the M90. Here they met up with Tisha Sunderland and her husband Mark. Great massage, great hosts and great publicists. They managed to get them into two local papers, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline, gave them a generous donation and helped set up some more massage sessions for later in their run where cover was a little thin.

Thanks people