Great Edinburgh Run adds Toddler Dash and Family Mile

TWO new events have been added to the programme for next month's Great Edinburgh Run, giving people of all ages the chance to take part.

Three-year-olds Blair Dalgeliesh and Sophia Mallinson get some practice with Cormac Mitchelmore. Picture: Jon Savage

A Toddler Dash and a Family Mile will be included in the schedule for the first time.

Children up to the age of five will be able to enter the Toddler Dash, along a short route of around 100 metres, accompanied by a parent or guardian.

And the Family Mile – a course in Holyrood Park – is open to adults aged 16 or over along with children aged between three and 15.

Both the new events will take place after the main run on April 17, which sees thousands of people follow a ten-mile course through the streets of Edinburgh.

Most participants aim to raise money for charity, while others take part in a bid to improve their fitness levels.

The Toddler Dash and the Family Mile replace the Junior and Mini Great Edinburgh Run and give children up to the age of 15 the chance to take on a shorter-distance running route.

Entrants to the Toddler Dash will receive a medal and water when they finish, while Family Mile participants will be handed a medal and a finishers’ bag.

Race director Andy Mitchelmore said: “The addition of the Toddler Dash and Family Mile makes for a fantastic day out for all ages and all abilities.

“After the mums and dads have run in the morning, hopefully the kids will take their first steps towards running and an active lifestyle.

“And the Family Mile means everyone has a chance to run together.”

Starting and finishing in Holyrood Park, the route for the Great Edinburgh Run takes in many of the city’s most iconic sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriars Bobby and the Scott Monument.

Many of those taking part in the run bring their families and make a weekend of it every year.

A total of 5000 people took part last year. Entries for this year’s run are still open.

A spokeswoman said: “The Great Edinburgh Run is an amazing opportunity for locals and visitors alike to take over the streets of the Capital and run past some of the city’s most famous landmarks.

“As well as historic streets and fantastic views, the course will be packed with entertainment, with everything from bagpipers and bands to Capital FM DJs.”

The Great Edinburgh Run and the two new events are all part of the Great Run series, billed as the world’s favourite run with over 280,000 people a year taking part across the UK from Glasgow to Portsmouth, and offering a full range of distances from 5k through to a marathon team relay.

For more information about the event, or to sign up, visit: www.greatrun.org/ednews.

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