Mystery Edinburgh runner strikes again with new ‘Strava artwork’ animal

The runner, known only as Peter, has added an enormous crocodile to his menagerie, which already includes a giraffe, a snail and a unicorn.

The 31-year-old from Liberton most recently hit the headlines after Strava users were treated to his festively-themed reindeer depiction in December.

His latest piece, which runs from Roseburn in the West to Leith Walk in the East, comes complete with a crocodile’s open mouth and sharp teeth.

“I planned it at the same time as the Rudolph,” he explained, “though I think my partner actually spotted [the crocodile].

“I tweaked his idea to make the upper jaw along Leith Walk - the teeth were definitely something I wanted to add.

Creating the dental details meant “just running for 20 seconds up a side road,” he said, before “turning around” and running back onto Leith Walk.

“I daren't imagine what I looked like to the people who I ran past - then back past - having turned around in the middle of the road!”

The runner, known only as Peter, has added an enormous crocodile to his menagerie, which already includes a giraffe, a snail and a unicorn.

Peter, who lives in Liberton, said his “biggest worry” was whether he would be able to complete the crocodile’s tail.

He didn’t know “whether the gate onto the Water of Leith under the Modern Art Gallery would be open or not” - thankfully it was.

Explaining how he comes up with his creations, Peter told the Evening News in November: “Once I've decided on a recognisable animal, I plan a route on both Google and “onthegomap”.

But Scotland’s fresh lockdown rules have presented even greater challenges to his artwork.

An anonymous athlete, famous for using the exercise-tracking app “Strava” to map the outlines of animals along Edinburgh’s streets, has struck again.

“I think everything I've done is within the rules,” Peter said. “I've always gone to and from home, and all of the crocodile is within five miles of home.”

Indeed, getting to and from the start point for the image meant that, in total, he completed a half marathon to finish it and make it home safely.

Asked what he has up his sleeve next, Peter demurred, but said his next artwork might arrive in February.

“I’m making no promises that I can keep it up though,” he added.

The 31-year-old from Liberton recently created a unicorn in the streets of Edinburgh.

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