5,000 take part in Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh Run

Over 5,000 participants took to the streets of Edinburgh to take part in the Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh Run on Sunday (23rd).

With a brand new five mile option for 2017, runners took in some of the capital’s best sights including Holyrood Palace, Arthur’s Seat, Greyfriars Bobby and Edinburgh Castle.

It was a Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh Run double for New Zealand’s Daniel Wallis and his new wife Hillory Wallis, who sealed victory once again in the men’s and women’s race. The two were the event’s 2016 champions and returned to the city as newlyweds to once again cross the finish line first.

Dan was first over the finish line in the 10 mile, completing the route in 50:23, closely followed by Andrew Douglas in a time of 50:41 and Michael Crawley in a time of 52:23.

First woman Hillory came in at 1:03:42, with Mia Lutsch runner up in 1:04:42 and Victoria Riddell third in 1:06:33.

Dan said: “I found the race a lot harder than I did last year but I wanted to do my best to try and win again.

“I really wanted to be able to relax and run around at a marathon pace but Andrew who came in second just wouldn’t let me.

“I managed to pick the pace up and luckily it was just enough to take first again.”

Hillory added: “I felt a little bit of pressure going into the event as a previous winner.

“I expected to be able to handle the course a lot better this time but it was just as hard, it’s a tough course to run and the hills are not easy to tackle.

“Last year was so fun and I enjoyed it just as much this year, but it’s nice to cross the finish line first as a Wallis.

“It’s special for Dan and I to both finish first together.”

The 5-mile top three were Barry Paterson in a time of 28:53, followed by Jimmy McIntyre in 31:22 and Keith Doyle in 31:30. They were joined on the winners’ podium by the female top three, Rachel Newstead in 32:51, followed by Emma Davis in 36:48 and Andrea Cobo Ibanez in 37:15.