Written by: Ceri Griffiths

Welcome back Haries, in honour of Miss Rennie’s beautiful birthday I thought what better time to drop her supercalifragilistic interview. Zoe is a lovely asset to the club and I couldn’t wait to celebrate the incredible performances that she has had in her first season as a Harie over coffee. Upon Zoe’s request, we strutted our way down to Kilimanjaro after she confessed it had the quality assured stamp thanks to a previous visit with her bestie Katie Sandilands. Our interview came just before Zoe took on the mighty Sport Ball x BUCS double so prepare for a discussion of degrees, dancing, and her dream sponsor. All will be revealed momentarily…

Name: Zoe Isla Rennie

Drink order: Chai latte 

What is your degree?

I do biological sciences. I basically chose it because I’m indecisive and it’s nice and broad. It’s also quite interesting and the course here has a good reputation too.

What would you study if you couldn’t do biological sciences?

Maybe architecture. I definitely had a phase when I thought about doing it. I really liked art in school and I did it GCSE. I started doing it at A Level but eventually stopped because it was a bit much with everything else. 

How are you finding Edinburgh so far?

I’m really enjoying it. My course is good, it’s definitely quite full on with a lot of contact hours but I’m finding it interesting. Running is also going well and we have a really nice training group at the moment. It’s quite cool doing different sessions to the kind I used to do at home too.

Why did you choose Edinburgh?

It’s a really nice city and I like how it’s quite academic too. My dad was born here so I already felt like I had heard quite a lot about it.

What’s your Harie highlight so far?

The national relays were definitely a lot of fun. The course was quite hilly but I ended up quite liking them in the end. It was also a good atmosphere and fun being part of such a big team.

Goals for the season?

Running related, I think I will just try to focus on training consistently. I’m looking forward to summer sessions too. Through the winter we’ve been doing quite long sessions so it will be nice to switch it up. 

My non-running goal is probs just to do well in my summer exams (I can tell you now that she will, Zoe is in fact a very academic weapon)

If you couldn’t run, what would be your sport?

Maybe hockey or dancing. I used to do ballet, modern and tap. I started when I was 3 and only quit last summer because it was hard to balance with running and A Level revision. I miss the people so it would be nice to reunite. It was quite relentless though, we’d train on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at 7:45 in the morning sometimes. Some of the girls I used to dance with are now at dance school which is quite cool. Can confirm Zoe put her experience to good use when ripping up the Loughborough dance floor

Would you say dance is a sport or an art?

Probably a sport. It was quite physical and a strong core is important. 

How did you get into running?

We had a teacher at school who would really encourage us to run in the XC league with other primary schools in the area. I did that in year 3 and then joined my club afterwards. There’s a few different clubs in the area but I don’t think I have an option about moving from Reading AC now. Joining Blackheath and Bromley is a no go.

How is cooking at uni going?

I like cooking but I’m also not very inventive. Pasta is my go to. At home I like baking with my mum. I am obsessed with banana bread. 

Meal deal?

Tomato and feta pasta. Pineapple because it’s not something I would buy otherwise and chocolate milk #gains

Dream sponsor?

New Balance. When my dad did the New York marathon he brought me back loads of New Balance stuff.

Favourite long run route?

Portobello loop.

What’s a surprising fact about you?

I went swimming with great white sharks. Not intentionally. We were meant to be swimming with seals in South Africa but discovered otherwise once we got out. Maybe I won’t do that again.

Spirit animal?

Zoe Zebra (Peppa Pig reference apparently)

Dream dinner party guests?

1. Paula Radcliffe
2. Jane Goodall
3. Claudia Winkleman

Song?

Supercut – Lorde

Written by: Ceri Griffiths

Greetings Haries, welcome back to another installment of Harie of the Week. Poor Nancy is currently on sick leave as she is battling the plague of fourth year deadlines. However, fear not, I have been appointed as interim interrogator and promise to bring you the much needed bedtime reading I know you have all been craving.

Today’s guest is none other than my Welsh brother Huw. Alongside being a general all-round legend, he has also been extremely dedicated to training over the last few months and is currently putting in a shift behind the scenes for Braids. We stumbled our way into Summerhall, a first for both of us, and discussed all things Cardiff, calves, and character building moments which have shaped Huw into the Harie we know him as today. Let the interview begin…

Name: 

Huw Laurence George Riley (middle names = both grandads)

Coffee order and why:

Hot chocolate. Don’t drink coffee

Where are you from: 

Cardiff. Actual Cardiff. *said with sass* Something tells me this was a dig at someone

What is your degree and how are you finding third year? It’s going okay. I do medicine but I’m intercalating in data science. It’s good because it’s a break but bad because it’s a bit boring. I only have class on Wednesdays (the dream). Would recommend data science if you like coding. Would not recommend otherwise. I also think it would be cool if we could intercalate abroad. My sister who studied medicine in Liverpool did similar and it seemed a lot cooler. 

Favourite bone, muscle, tendon, or ligament: 

Calf. 

After questioning what particular aspect of the calf attracts Huw, he requested for a shout-out to Cammy who apparently regularly discusses how the calf can take up to 8x a person’s body weight while running. Excellent answer.

Huw then requested an additional question be added to the list: 

Least favourite bone, muscle, tendon, or ligament:

Hamstring *delivered with passion* 

What is a surprising fact about yourself?

I think I might be the only person ever to have done the hammer throw in a haries vest. Last year I actually threw 18 metres which I was pretty happy with. I also wasn’t that far off a medal. The guy in third only threw 22 metres with a spin – if I did a spin who knows what I could throw. I am going to practice my spin before Scottish Students this summer.

What do you think is your spirit animal and why?

Absolutely not a rat. I would like to be a monkey though. I think being able to climb trees would be fun. I’d also be able to do more than a few pull-ups which would be nice too.

This response requires a pause in the interview to provide context from an event that occurred a few weeks ago… 

Picture the scene: The Captain, the Treasurer and the Race Organiser are walking down the street. What just rubbed against Caitlyn’s ankle? A RAT. I scream, Caitlyn screams, and because we scream Huw Screams. 

Any comments about that bonding experience?

I thought we were being mugged.

Huw then kindly offered to catch a rat to provide me and Caitlyn some exposure therapy. His offer was politely declined.

Where would be your dream destination?

In my gap year I did quite a bit of travelling around South East Asia. Thailand and Malaysia were both very cool so maybe somewhere around there. 

I then queried about the very cool summer I saw Huw had in Bolivia. Little was said by this humble king on the subject but we somehow swiftly transitioned to a discussion of minibuses, speeding tickets, and the North Coast 500. I can’t really remember how this slotted into any of these questions but I was impressed to find out that Huw managed to bag a 15 year old car with only 20,000 miles. Absolute steal.

How was the pre-BUCS poker night?  Not my best but not my worst. Nice to not receive any abusive voice notes this Wednesday.

Rumour has it Huw recently received a somewhat threatening voice note after poor intelligence led two individuals to believe Huw had committed the biggest betrayal in human history. Huw was in fact cleared and all elliptical friendships remain intact. Huw kindly offered to attach the voice note to this Facebook post. For the second time in this interview, his offer politely declined.

Dream dinner party line up?

1. Gordon Ramsay (Host)
2. Russel Howard
3. Adam Sandler

Dream Dinner?

I would love to go to India and just try loads of food there.

Dream Sponsor?

Cadburys. I love chocolate.

Favourite Meal Deal?

Greggs student deal. Ham & Cheese baguette sausage roll, and a smoothie.

Hype song?

I like Tom Jones so maybe Sex Bomb.

That’s a wrap for this week people. I hope you all feel a little more enlightened on all things Huw. Stay tuned for Nancy’s grand return. But wait what is that I hear you say, will you be hearing from me again? Only time will tell – rumour has it a fierce pre-AGM publicity campaign has just been launched. For now, I would finally like to thank our guest Mr Riley. H-you are fab

Written by: Nancy Britten

Hello, hello, Haries! After a spot of winter hibernation, I’m back with another HOTW interview for you to kick off 2026. Our 9th interviewee was none other than our wonderful treasurer, Ceri! Had you been a fly on the wall in this interview, you might have mistaken it for an episode of “The Rest Is History” (with both Ceri and me being history students, it was only right that we dedicated a substantial portion of our chat to centuries gone by). Enjoy!!

Name: Ceri Griffiths

Degree (and why?):
2nd Year History.
I had a bit of a crisis and was originally going to do Geography… despite not even doing Geography at A-level. At a family gathering my cousin told me, “You don’t give Geography vibes, but you do give History vibes.” I’m really glad with my decision. The only thing I feel like I’m missing out on is the field trips.

Coffee shop of choice?
Origin. I lived above it in first year so it’s my fave. I love the coffee and the vibe, and the staff are actually friendly. Their playlist is also basically the same as mine.

What’s your coffee order?
Today it was a latte. I go through phases, but at Origin I always get a latte because they don’t put chocolate on the cappuccinos… and honestly, what even is a cappuccino without the chocolate? 

Where are you from?
Newport, South Wales. I tell people Cardiff, which is a lie. Not a lot happens in Newport. Edinburgh is definitely a lot more chaotic.

Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh?
TikTok was a big influence. I saw all the snowy, Christmassy, Harry Potter-style TikToks and thought, get me there. It snowed once last year, I hated it, and I was miserable…total scam. But even so, I love it here, so I’ll forgive TikTok.

How did you get into running?
My gran was a big runner, so she took me to my local club when I was seven and I’m still there now. She’s 92, and was still running into her mid-eighties. She was a long-distance runner, mainly 10ks, and her mileage was genuinely insane. She’s very cool.

You’re Treasurer…how’s that going, and why did you want the role?
I think it’s fun knowing all the club gossip and what’s going on behind the scenes. The club is absolutely thriving this year with loads of new members, even though in August I was extremely stressed and questioning why I’d done this.
I did A-level Maths and I like numbers (this somehow turned into an extensive discussion about economic historians)

How has racing been this year?
It’s been going really well and I’ve had a lot of fun. In my last year of school and first year of uni I didn’t run as much, so it’s been nice to be back competing.
That said, things were going great until about a week ago when I did a random treadmill session and haven’t run since. I’m currently testing the very fine boundary between what’s a niggle and what’s an injury.

Do you have a highlight of your Haries experience so far?
Isle of Man last year. I was laughing for the entire weekend. Completely unexpected as me and Heggie weren’t even going to go. Honestly, the highlight of my year.

What are your goals for the year (running and non-running)?
Running: just stay consistent and hopefully run some good road and track times in the spring.
Non-running: passing my modules is a very solid concern at the moment.

Do you have any pre-race rituals or superstitions?
I don’t think I do…
That said, I went through a concerning beetroot-shot phase in the summer. I’d read it enhances performance and the article said either have a shot or drink two litres beforehand. I couldn’t find a shot, so I drank two entire litres. I felt so awful afterwards. I’m traumatised and haven’t eaten beetroot since.

If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
Football. I quit when I was 16, but at age seven I was fully convinced I was going pro (if it wasn’t for that injury, obviously).

If you didn’t study your current degree, what would you study?
Geography… or low-key something completely rogue like engineering. I miss numbers sometimes. Words get so much of my time.

If you could only run one distance forever, what would it be?
5k. Solid distance. I think my first ever 5k was at the Isle of Man and I had a fabulous time so every 5k since reminds me of that. Also, it’s not too far.

Three dream dinner party guests (and why?):
Okay, firstly, I always think, would you not want to go back to when the Bible was written?
• So first I’m picking a Bible scribe: has to be done. I want to witness all the shenanigans. 
• If I’m going back in time, can I also meet my mum when she was my age? (Yes. Yes you can. 100 bonus points for being wholesome). 
• Khloé Kardashian. She’s my idol. Me and my mum got addicted to the Kardashians over the summer. They’re empowering, touch on women’s issues, and are always very good at talking things out.

A fun fact (running or non-running):
I hold the Newport Junior parkrun record. I was very serious about junior parkrun. (If I held the junior parkrun record, I would personally never stop telling everyone about it for the rest of my life)

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?
Can I fly? Because that would be ideal. (your wish is my command)

If you had to teach a class on anything, what would it be?
Trumpet lessons. Fun fact: I used to play the trumpet and quit at Grade 7. It wasn’t my true calling, but I do think I should’ve stuck it out to Grade 8. (another fun fact… ceri you’re full of surprises) 
Alternatively, I’ve always wanted to make pottery. Not paint it, make it.

Most used emoji?
I go through phases. I used to always use the laughing emoji and thought I’d cut back…(she proceeded to checked her phone and I can confirm it’s still her most used)
The broken heart and praying emojis were second and third.

Favourite meal to cook?
Bolognese. Pre-every race, I make a bolognese.

Favourite historical era?
There’s no time like the present…I like modern history. British history especially, because I know it best. I’m also obsessed with US history. (Justice for the medieval enjoyers please)

Favourite session?
In the summer, training for 1500s: 6 × 400 with 5 minutes rest, each one 5% quicker than 1500 pace.

Favourite day of the week to run?
Thursday. It’s almost Friday, elite vibes. It’s Thursday today …I would say happy Thursday but unfortunately, I can’t run.

Favourite place you’ve travelled to?
Canada, specifically Quebec. It’s just so cool. If I’d done a year abroad, it would’ve been McGill.

Dream sponsor?
Caitlin Heggie got me hooked on sweet and salty peanut butter, the Pip & Nut one. A 1kg tub, smooth obviously. That could genuinely solve all my problems.

Song of choice?
More Than a Woman, Bee Gees. I was listening to it on the elliptical.

Written by: Nancy Britten

Happy Sunday, Haries!! If, like me, you’ve just realised that tomorrow is the first of December and you’re mildly alarmed by how quickly this semester seems to have slipped away, please enjoy this eighth instalment of HOTW as a gentle antidote. I’d been particularly excited for this interview with the one and only Josh (of @cappuccinocrawl …and if you’re not following that account yet, get on it.). What could be better than a scheduled hour dedicated to running and coffee chat? Glorious stuff.

We made our way to Origin, only to be met with shock and horror: it was FULL. Devastating. But fear not, never one to let an oversubscribed coffee shop derail my plans, we ambled along Newington Street in search of alternatives and stumbled upon the ever-reliable Cult Coffee, where, to our delight, two seats were poised and waiting just for us. Huzzah! Enjoy the interview…

Name: Josh Hardern 

Degree: Psychology, 2nd Year

What made you choose to study Psychology? I like knowing and understanding people’s thoughts, and I just like people.

Interview Location: Cult Coffee

One of my favourites: aesthetic, good coffee bean and close to uni so it’s a good study vibe (I would like to add that cult coffee is officially endorsed by the @ scrummy mummys too). 

Coffee Order: Cappuccino. Always.
I just like the foam. I love the chocolate. There’s something about it. Just everything about it. They make them differently every time: the foam changes, the chocolate changes, there’s lots of variants that come into play compared to other drinks… it’s always a surprise. (Future interviewees: take note. This is the level of passion I want when you describe your beverages of choice.) 

Cappuccino Rating (today): Good aeration, big improvement on the last time I came. The last one must have been pulled badly.Let me try to describe the flavour… no, I just can’t. But it’s an all-round good flavour. 9.5/10. 

Where are you from? Hertfordshire

Why did you decide to come to Edinburgh?The city is beautiful, the course was good, and it just kind of felt right. 

Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for… please tell us all about the Cappuccino Crawl™. How did this come about? Well, I love going to cafés and catching up with people. It’s a good conversation every time: present, one-on-one, not forced. I always get a cappuccino, so I decided to document every single one. I’ve been doing it since September.

What is the worst cappuccino you’ve ever reviewed? Edinburgh Coffee Lounge. It just did NOT sit right with me. The flavour was bad, it felt like water, no foam. Just horrible. Also had a horrendous Starbucks one once. Awful. 

How did it feel being featured in The Tab? I’m loving my media era. Interview with the Haries, article in the student newspaper this week, and I’m on the student news radio too. (The pinnacle of campus celebrity status has been reached). It was funny because The Tab needed a hook for them so they put a sort of positive, inspirational student-focused spin on the story, but this is such an unserious thing I’m doing, just yapping about cappuccinos.
However, after the interview I actually had a revelation… it made me realise how many sober social interactions I’ve been having, and how refreshing that is. It framed my social life in such a nice way.

How did you get into running?

I ran a bit during lockdown, but it was a struggle. I wasn’t super involved with the Haries last year, but I went to a couple of social runs and they definitely taught me how to pace properly. That’s when I realised I’m actually pretty good at running and really enjoy it. I trained most of last year for the Edinburgh Half in May and really loved getting into it. Hopefully, in Semester 2 I’ll make it to more sessions.

Describe the Haries in 3 words: Social, wholesome, fun.

Goals for the Year (running and non-running related)

Running: I’m doing a full marathon in April. Brighton Marathon. I need to actually start training for that. (this is major! We will all be cheering you on)

Non-running: Get better at Spanish. I did it at GCSE and I’m doing Foundation Spanish 2 now, Foundation 3 next semester… so I’m locked in. 

If you didn’t run, what sport would you do? Badminton. It’s probably what I’m best at, and I used to play a bit. 

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be? Painting. It would be so cool to just whip out a paintbrush and be genuinely good at it. I like it, but I’m not that good. (I agree, this is a fantastic skill to be able to master). 

If you could have three dream dinner party guests, who would they be and why?

• Eva Longoria: She’s my favourite person. My favourite celebrity ever.
• Ariana Grande: She’s thriving, she’s having a great time, it’s mental.
• James Acaster: He’s hilarious. My favourite comedian.

A non-running-related fun fact about you? I suppose that I run a cappuccino account. It’s the most interesting thing about me at the moment.

Favourite…

Meal to cook: A homemade burger, with potatoes of some sort and some vegetables

Place to run in Edinburgh: Portobello, the Leith–Stockbridge loop 

Favourite distance to run:10k

Favourite day of the week to run: Saturday. I feel so accomplished if I go for a run in the morning after a night out and I feel like it cleanses me into the weekend.

Favourite spot on campus: 4th floor library, east wing. (this is my idea of hell)

Most used emoji:
*Josh did an impression of this emoji about 4 times and tried to verbally describe it and on not one of these occasions did I have any idea which emoji he was talking about. This is the emoji of choice:  and although I have never used it myself, I can safely say I’ve been adding it to my repertoire since the interview. I love it.

Dream sponsor: Bar Salsa. My favourite place on earth.

Would You Rather…

Run the same route forever or never repeat a route again? Never repeat a route again.

Coffee always slightly too hot or slightly too cold? Slightly too cold. A hot coffee ruins the consistency; it goes watery. A cold one can still feel right.

Speak every language or play every instrument perfectly? Speak every language.

Song of the Week? Midnight Sun by Zara Larsson! It just gets me hyped up.

Written by: Nancy Britten

Hello, hello, Haries! I’m back with your seventh (yes, seventh!) HOTW interview. This week, I caught up with Will at Kilimanjaro Coffee to chat all things biathlon, half-marathon goals, his love for Arsenal, and his superb run at Nationals. We met bright and early at 9 a.m., another morning interview for the books (though Abigail’s 8 a.m. coffee remains unbeaten in the earliness department so I shall open this up as a challenge for future HOTWs!) Will’s song of the week for this week’s interview was Superstition by Stevie Wonder as both he and his dad are fans of the song. Enjoy the interview! 

Name: Will d’Arcy
Degree: 1st Year Sports Science

What made you choose to study Sports Science?
I didn’t really know what else to do, but I’ve always loved sport, so it just felt like a good fit.

Interview location? (and why?) Kilimanjaro Coffee. My friend who’s in second year brought me here during the first week.

Coffee order? Big coffee drinker… probably too much! Always a latte or a flat white- they’re basically the same. (no Will. No they are not.) 

Where are you from?
Just below Oxford.

Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh?
I visited the city a while ago and loved it. My mum went here too (she studied Medicine), so she was pretty keen on me coming as well.

How did you get into running?
When I moved schools, I wasn’t doing much sport but started running and realised I was good at it, so I stuck with it. Apart from a two-year break, it’s been about 13 years now.

How did you get into biathlon?
I saw an ad on Facebook saying any endurance athlete should try out. My dad sent it to me, I thought he was joking, but I went through all the testing and got into the junior national team. It’s a lot of fun and you get to travel loads. I was 16 at the time. I’d only ever done downhill skiing before that, not cross-country, and I’d never shot either!

Can you describe your race at Nationals in three words?
Fast, hilly, unexpected. 

I hear you’re an Arsenal fan, any comments? 

Yeah, massive Arsenal fan. This year’s going pretty well. I’m enjoying the lack of losses and goals conceded! Also very happy that one of our club captains is an Arsenal fan too.

Do you have any goals for this year?

Running: I’m doing the Leeds Half next April and I want to go sub-1:10. It’ll be my second half as I did Leeds last year, and the crowd was amazing, so I want to go back.
Non-running: Junior World Champs for biathlon. (casual and understated goal-setting here)

I’m intrigued, how does one go about training for a biathlon when living in Edinburgh?
I do a lot of roller skiing, basically long roller skates, and go to Fife on Mondays to roller ski (it’s a four-hour round trip…this is dedication!). Then gym work like the ski erg. I spend a lot of time on that frustratingly, but the running fitness correlates well. I spent the summer in Font Romeu training at altitude.

If you didn’t run or do biathlon, what sport would you do?
Football, definitely. I love team sports and miss them a lot. That’s what’s so nice about Haries, it almost feels like you’re doing your sport as a team.

If you didn’t study your degree, what would you study?
Probably Geography. I’m actually trying to switch to Geography now. Neither really lead to a direct career, but I like both!

Do you have any pre-race rituals or superstitions?
Nothing major. I’ve just done the exact same warm-up since I was 12. Apart from that, maybe just complaining a bit before the race. (this a personal favourite pre-race ritual of mine too)

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?
Darts. I’d love to just be able to bang out a 180 every time, seems like a useful skill to have.

If you could have three dream dinner party guests, who would they be and why?

• Eliud Kipchoge: very wise man, great human being.
• Thierry Henry: Arsenal legend.
• Stevie Wonder: I love his music, and my dad does too. 

(I think all bases have been covered with this selection, I approve)

A non-running-related fun fact?
I can name every country flag just by looking at it! (wow)

Favourite…

Meal to cook?
Not a huge cook, but when I’m away training, I have to. I love making carbonara. (I then put will on the spot by asking him the recipe, and stunningly he was able to deliver this off the top of his head. So for all those wondering, the ingredients are: spaghetti, eggs, a bit of pepper, pasta water, parmesan, lardons, and garlic. Method: “just add them in whatever order”)

Place in Edinburgh (besides a running route)?
Cramond Beach is my favourite non-running spot. I also love the braids (though that is my favourite running spot too)

Day of the week to run?
Sunday. I’m not hungover, it’s a chill day.
As a follow-up… can you describe your Ideal Sunday? Wake up around 10:30, have breakfast, go for a run about an hour later, come back, chat with friends, go for a walk, and then watch football. I’m a big NFL fan, so from 7pm onwards, I’m watching NFL with my friends, sometimes at Potterrow.

Place travelled?
Peru or Guatemala. I went backpacking for four months after finishing school. The sights were amazing, and both countries are beautiful.

Spot on campus?
Levels Café by Moray House, it’s really nice and good for getting work done.

Hill in Edinburgh?
Arthur’s Seat. It’s just nice to look at, to be honest. (valid)

Most used emoji?
(*pulls out phone) This one:  (yes, I’m branching out with my questions this week)

Dream sponsor?
Running would be Nike. Maybe Salomon or Scott because it crosses over with skiing too.

Would You Rather…

Run uphill for 10k once a week or sprint the last kilometre of every run?
Sprint the last kilometre. 10k uphill sounds horrible.

Run without music or without a watch?
I never used to listen to music, but I’ve really gotten into it. I’d say without music, but I think music is definitely underrated.

Teleport anywhere at any time or time-travel just once?
Teleport anywhere! If I could right now, I’d go to Japan …or to an Arsenal game if one was on.

Written by: Nancy Britten

Happy Monday Haries! We’re back again with another Harie of the Week, and this time it’s none other than our Social Sec, Caitlin Hall! We chatted about all things socials, study abroad dreams, and solo travel adventures, with some minor detours into beerienteering-related injuries…it happens to the best of us. Caitlin’s coffee spot of choice? Black Medicine, it’s her favourite in Edinburgh and she’s a regular here. Enjoy!

Name: Caitlin Hall
Degree: 2nd Year Interdisciplinary Futures

What made you choose to study Interdisciplinary Futures?
I didn’t really want to go straight into either humanities or STEM. I wanted something real-world based and new. No one’s graduated from the course yet, so it felt like an exciting option. I also find the variety interesting: last month we were analysing data from the Russia-Ukraine war, and this month we’re doing film analysis.

Interview location: Black Medicine (Caitlin’s favourite Edinburgh coffee spot , and according to her, “the best coffee in the city!” A popular choice among Haries it seems) 

Coffee order:
Hazelnut latte. Normally just a latte, but I like to switch up the flavour. They do a really good biscoff latte here too.

Where are you from?
Lincolnshire Louth specifically, a small town (We bonded over the Lincolnshire connection and my excitement at finally finding a fellow East Midlands resider… Twins!) It’s so flat there, so I’ve been loving the hills in Edinburgh. When I went home, it actually felt weird not having any!

Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh?
I came up for the open day and just loved it. I told myself, if I’m not going to Edinburgh, I’m not going to uni.

How did you get into running?
I’ve always done a bit of running at school, but never been part of a club until uni. I actually used to be a competitive swimmer for about six years, and running was just something I did at school cross country.

What made you pick it up again at uni?
Running has always been a stress relief for me. I loved it at school and really enjoy the competitions, so I thought I might as well get properly into it here.

You’re the Haries Social Sec this year! How’s that going?
Really well! We’ve had great turnouts and loads of positive feedback. I wanted to be Social Sec because I loved the nights out in first year, the club felt like such a fun community, not just about running. It’s been amazing helping to keep that vibe going.

Can you give us an inside scoop …what socials can we expect for the rest of the year?
We’ve got a family social in November, a Bonfire Night trip to Portobello, Christmas dinner, and plenty of classic pub nights and potlucks. What’s not to like? (I’m personally very excited about the beach bonfire)

How did East Districts, Nationals and FRAs go?
East Districts went really well, it was my first race back after five months off injured, so I was just happy to be back racing and running well after only three weeks of training.

I ended up spectating Nationals and thought we’ve got cardboard, we’ve got Sharpies, let’s make signs.

FRA’s was a last-minute entry. I’d never done a fell race before, but I said absolutely yes! It was a tough one to start with, but I loved it and definitely want to do more fell running in the future. (major respect for this!)

Injury update?
It happened falling off the top of a pyramid at beerienteering (a classic). I thought it was fine, but then during the fell race, with a 500m descent, I fell over four times, once into a bog, and kind of collapsed at the end. The knee’s doing well now though, I’ll be back this week and ready for Nationals short course! (thats the spirit…nothing keeps a Harie down!)

Goals for the year:

• Running: I’d love to do a sub-19 5k. I was really close before I got injured so would love to build back up to that. 
• Non-running: Work more on my travel blog. I started it a year or two ago and love writing about my trips. I did my first solo travel this summer and loved it! Would recommend it to anyone. I’m currently writing about the Balkans (go and read the blog, it’s so fab! You can find it here: https://wanderlustandarucksack.com). I’d also love to do a study abroad year in Australia or New Zealand!

If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
I used to swim competitively but don’t think I’d go back to it. I got a bit sick of staring at the bottom of the pool. Before that I did gymnastics and fencing, so maybe one of those, or a team sport. But if I had to stop running, maybe I’d find my way back to swimming (with a big mindset shift!).

If you didn’t study your degree, what would you study?
Probably Spanish and International Relations. I do Spanish as an elective and really enjoy it, although we’re currently studying medieval Spanish ballads and they are slowly killing me off. (As a history student who’s read her fair share of medieval ballads in English, and frankly understood none of them, attempting them in Spanish is nothing short of heroic.)

If you could only run one distance forever, what would it be?
5km! You can do it flat and fast or hilly and technical…it’s such a good balance.

Highlight of your running/ Haries career so far?
Nationals Cross Country last year, I loved that one. We also got team second, which was amazing.

If you could have three dream dinner party guests, who would they be and why?

• Emma Watson- she’s just really cool!
• Victoria Aveyard – my favourite author. (It was between her and Sarah J. Maas and she said she would highly recommend both.)
• Jessica Ennis-Hill – she’d have such interesting stories from all her events, and it would make for a really varied table!

A non-running related fun fact?
I got evacuated from a campsite in South Korea. (No context given- and honestly, I have questions.)

Favourite…

• Meal to cook? Moroccan tagine: classic uni meal, easy to make. I’m trying to do a new meal every month or so (impressive!)
• Session? Intervals, but after FRA’s, I’ll definitely be adding more hill reps.
• Day of the week to run? Tuesday: no idea why, just good vibes.
• Place travelled? North Macedonia: super underrated, very cool, very cheap (cocktails for €3 while lying in the middle of a lake). Also Costa Rica: amazing wildlife and rainforest vibes.(say less)
• Harie? Georgia! She was amazing at FRA’s when I was stressing the night before. So lovely and helpful, even lent me the kit I needed!
• Hill in Edinburgh? Arthur’s Seat. My favourite run is definitely a Seat lap.

Dream sponsor? Nike: shoes and shorts always Nike.

Written by: Nancy Britten

Greetings Haries and happy Monday! I’m back again with your 5th Harie of the Week, Sam! In this interview we discussed all-things East Districts, Canada antics and a potential football/ tiktok career on the cards. The choice of coffee spot this week was an Edinburgh classic, Black Medicine, which Sam told me felt like a full circle moment because this was where his first HOTW interview was (with Jess) too. Wholesome. Enjoy the interview…

Name: Sam Griffin
Degree: 4th year Economics and Accounting

What made you choose it?
I had no idea what I wanted to do after school, still questioning it now to be honest. Basically I quite like maths but didn’t want to study pure maths. I felt like it could be a good degree for opportunities after uni.

Interview Location: Black Medicine 

Coffee order:
I don’t drink coffee regularly. I try to limit caffeine until I really need it. Might have a coffee before a race, bog standard instant. Went for a “yellow submarine” smoothie today. (the smoothie choice may have also been an attempt at restoration after the previous night’s beerienteering). 

Favourite lunch spot in Edinburgh:
Mosque Kitchen. The underground one, not the corner spot. Get whatever curry of the day is on and the garlic naan. (if I had a pound for every member of the haries who has recommended mosque kitchen recently, i would have £2)

Where are you from?
Aberdeen (aberdream).

Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh?
Mainly for the running. I wanted to stay in Scotland and I knew Edinburgh had some nice hills.

How did you get into running?
My parents always ran. I did a charity race in school and won, but mainly played football at the time. I realized I wasn’t going to go pro in football, so I sacked it in for the running. Actually on an IM football team this year (in goal, so I don’t get injured). Maybe when I hang up the spikes I’ll go back to football.

How was your study abroad experience?
It was amazing, definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made, no regrets. The lack of work made it feel like it was basically a gap year. I did a lot of skiing too. My second year in Edinburgh was rough so it was good just being somewhere different and having a change of scenery. Might consider moving to Canada for a few years, not long-term. 

How did East Districts go?
Really well actually! Bit of a shame we didn’t medal as a team, but the field was stacked. I thought I ran well, committed early, and held on. First cross country in a while so it was good to get it out the way. 

Goals for the year:
Running: Race as much as possible after a break, maybe try for a Scotland vest, enjoy uni racing for the last year.
Non-running: Get through fourth year, start some side hustles. Possibly post-uni influencer work is on the cards, maybe start hustling TikTok. (An unexpected pivot into influencer territory here but I can see it)

What is the next race on the cards?
National relays

If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
Lawn bowls. Less effort, more chill. My grandad plays it. I’ve never played it but full kit, pub after, seems like a good laugh. The dream. (possibly the most confident answer of the entire interview, zero hesitation whatsoever here.)

If you didn’t study your degree, what would you study?
P.E. teaching, seems fun, and I’d get to play sport all day.

If you could only race one distance forever, what would it be?
100 metres. For longevity purposes, I’m not running anything longer than that when I’m 80.  (thinking long game- sensible answer). 

Highlight of your running career so far:
Finishing the beer mile this year. I did finish in second year but my performance this year was much better. It was really terrible in first year. 

How was beerienteering?
Heavier than I intended for it to be but as always, a good night. It was probably my last one too.

If you could have 3 dream dinner party guests, who would they be and why?

Michael Rimicans and Mark Roland. I’d be interested to see their interaction. (*Sam specifically requested only two guests so he could be the third “as a fly on the wall.”)

A non-running related fun fact?
I can ride a unicycle. I got one for my 10th birthday and eventually learned. I can’t say I get to use that skill a lot.

Favourite…

Meal to cook? Lasagne. Time-consuming but great for dinner parties and easy to make vegetarian.

Place Travelled? Langdon Beck (Pennines trip). It has a good pub, a proper English pub.

Harie? “After last night, Oliver Morrison.” (I did not ask any further questions here)

Hill in Edinburgh? Viewforth. It may be a street, but it’s also technically a hill. (and more importantly for Sam, the location of the cottage. How very outside the box) 

Favourite running route? Canal. When it branches left to the WOL path, it’s heaven. Perfect for Sunday mornings.

Dream sponsor: Tron. Even though it’s O’Neills now it will always be Tron in my eyes.

Would you rather:

• Run all XC races in road shoes or all road races in spikes? Cross country in road shoes.
• Every long run as Meadows laps or up and down Innocent Railway? Meadows laps.

Only run Seat laps again or only Meadows laps again? Meadows laps. The Seat is closed currently. (as of this interview being published, I can now confirm Arthur’s seat is now open!!! yay)

Written by: Nancy Britten

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all having a wonderful week so far. I’m here to deliver your fourth Harie of the week interview, this time with Jamie! He’s here on exchange from Melbourne for the semester and has already become a brilliant addition to the team. Our catch-up took us to Uplands, an unorthodox interview set up in the great outdoors which, in the aftermath of some stormy weather, saw us having to briefly pause at one point because I poured half of my hot chocolate down myself mid-conversation. Classic. Anyway- enjoy the chat, and let this serve as a warning: for those among you considering attacking an overloaded hot chocolate on a windy day… it is not for the weak.

1. Name?
Jamie Blackburn 

2. Degree?
Business, second year.

3. What made you choose it?
It was between Business and Geography. It was hard to get into Business, so when I got the grades, I decided to stick with it and hopefully get a job out of it. Lots of thought and passion went into that decision. I’m very dedicated to my studies (there was a touch of sarcasm here).

4. Coffee order?
I like coffee, but it gives me a headache. I want to meet up with people and have a coffee, but I regret it for the rest of the day (drinking the coffee, not meeting the people I’m going to assume.) Sometimes I fall into the trap of getting a latte to feel grown up, but as I mature, I’m leaning into hot chocolate. That’s why it’s great here at Uplands, hot chocolate is their thing so I don’t feel self-conscious ordering it.

5. Favourite coffee shop/ uncaffeinated beverage spot in Edinburgh? 
The first night we arrived, we didn’t know where to go, so a few exchange friends and I walked to the closest pub near Pollock (after some stalking on google maps we confirmed this was called “The Drouthy Neebors”). No one was there, but the locals were lovely. It felt very authentic and was a great way to start off. We were very pleased with ourselves and our beers.

6. Where are you from?
I’ve been in Melbourne for the last eight years, but I’ve also lived in Sydney, Adelaide, and Singapore. Melbourne’s definitely my family’s favourite.

7. Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh?
I’ve told myself a few different stories about that, but the most common one is: I wanted to be in Europe without having to learn a new language. America seemed a bit intense, and since I have a British passport, I didn’t need a visa, which was great because I’ve had some traumatic visa experiences. I just rocked up, and they wanted me!

8. How are you finding Edinburgh so far?
It’s been lovely. I’ve fully committed myself to the Haries (great decision). Living on campus is great too! In Australia, it’s more common to live at home, so this is a new experience. Loving hanging out with all my friends.

9. How about the weather…is an Australian winter colder?
It’s about the same as winter in Australia. I’m hanging in there fine, but I know I’ll suffer in about a month. I’m mentally preparing …and layering up. Can confirm I have some good gloves too.

10. How did you get into running?
When I was in Singapore, my class was really small. I wasn’t very good, but I was the best of the worst, which meant I somehow won a cross-country race in Year 5/6. I’ve kept running since then. My lovely principal even said on the microphone, “Jamie, you’ll go to the Olympics one day.” And I thought, “Wow Miss Humphries, I didn’t know that was a possibility for me!” 

11. Goals for the semester in Edinburgh?

Running: Represent Hare and Hounds. The uni cross country scene looks great, and I’m keen for the Easts.

Non-running: Travel a lot and pass my courses, ideally not fail anything. I want to make the most of the Scottish experience. I’ve already been to the Highlands, the Pennines, Belfast, and soon the Baltics. We’ve got our free weekends locked in.

12. Are you looking forward to East Districts?
Yes though I’m worried Scottish cross country might be a different ball game. Excited to embrace it though! I’ve got some spikes to borrow, so that’ll help. Don’t want to let the team down. (As I type this retrospectively, I can confirm it was a great run!)

13. Tell us about the Pennines trip… something about a cardboard box? Any tips?
I’d never played the cardboard box game before, but it turns out it’s my new calling in life. Hoping to go professional, just haven’t found the leagues for it yet. It came down to me and President Caitlyn; she performed valiantly, but I turned out to be a bit more flexible and grabbed the final shred of paper. However lame it sounds, I felt quite victorious and cool. I told my exchange friends, they loved it and want to play too. 

14. If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
Cycling, definitely. I have terrible hand-eye coordination, so ball sports are out. Whenever I get injured running, I do a lot of cycling. It’s a constant cycle (pun intended?) of either breaking a bone cycling or getting back to running.

15. If you didn’t study Business, what would you study?
Geography. I like the idea of teaching, that’s the backup plan. I’d love to be an Economics or Geography teacher.

16. If you could only race one distance forever?
5km. Hopefully when I’m old, I’ll still be able to whip around a parkrun and zoom past the young kids. That’s the dream, to be the impressive 70-year-old everyone writes news articles about. 

17. Highlight of your running career so far?
This summer I won the Australian Uni 10,000m, (Jamie tried to be humble and preface this by saying it’s held on the Gold Coast, so most people go to the race to party- but let’s be clear, this is seriously impressive!) 

19. A non-running fun fact about you?

I played Bill in mamma mia for my final high school musical. 

(I will say that the original fact provided was an unfortunate anecdote about tripping over some concrete, aged 11, breaking his wrist and having to miss out on all the swimming pool fun on the family holiday the following week. After deciding that this was neither fun, nor a fact he opted for the mamma mia moment. I thought i’d leave the story in just for extra context hehe)

20. Favourite meal to cook?
A burrito, but it has to be overstuffed. A really big warm burrito that is an experience to eat. We made them while we were travelling, definitely a top ten life moment in my life. 

18. Dream dinner party guests?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Could go soppy and say to my mum. (wholesome) I haven’t seen her in four months. But if it’s anyone ever, I’ll have to think about it.

*After thinking about this for a while he came back with: I guess just my friends and some burritos. 

21. Favourite place you’ve travelled?
Vietnam, my first trip without my parents. It was so memorable, and I went with one of my best friends.

22. Favourite hill in Edinburgh?
After a very windy and rainy Pentlands experience, I’ll settle on Salisbury Crags. Great view, close to Pollock, and not quite as tall as Arthur’s Seat, so you’re not dying when you reach the top.

23. Dream sponsor?
ON Running. I’ve never worn their shoes or bought any of their gear in my life (this sounds like a risky decision), but they seem like a cool brand with great training groups. Everyone looks like they’re having fun and enjoying themselves on their teams. 

Would you rather…

Run every session in Edinburgh drizzle or 35°C Australian heat?
The drizzle. 35°C is awful. You just feel ancient, like, “What’s the point?” You have to wake up early to avoid it, and you still end up dying anyway. Maybe I’m being naïve, I haven’t had too much of the cold here yet.

Marmite or Vegemite?
Vegemite. I’ve never tried Marmite, but I’ve heard terrible things. They’re apparently very different. I’ll commit to Vegemite. (did say that if someone brings it as a post-race snack he will try it. I think we should make this happen.)

Hill reps up Arthur’s Seat or sand sprints on Bondi Beach?
Hill reps up Arthur’s Seat. I don’t actually like beaches that much. I don’t surf either, the national pride just isn’t there. (how very un-australian!)

Written by: Nancy Britten

Hello, hello Haries! Somehow it’s already week 3 (time flies!), which means it’s time for our third HOTW. This weekend, other than blown away by storm Amy, I had the pleasure of chatting with Abigail Campbell to get the ins and outs of all things marathon running and all things fifth-year medicine. The interview took place at 8 a.m., and perhaps it was the effect of having a flat white so soon after rolling out of bed, but our shared enthusiasm for peanut butter, baking, and coffee meant that a good half an hour of the conversation was spent monologuing about just that. Great vibes. Enjoy the read, and enjoy the rest of the week!! 

Name?
Abigail Campbell

Degree?
Fifth year Medicine.

How is that going so far?
It’s going well! I’m currently on week two of placement in the Borders. I still don’t know what I want to do (so please don’t ask!)

What made you choose it?
I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do at school but I did some work experience in a hospital and enjoyed it. My mum was a nurse and didn’t want me to do nursing. 

Coffee order?
Today: oat flat white

However, my ideal situation is when I make my own at uplands – half long black, half steamed milk. (think: flat white with extra water. I later discussed this with my resident coffee expert Miss Amelie Dryer who tells me this is called an Americano Misto. Very cool.) Sometimes oat milk, sometimes normal. depends on my mood. 

Implement of choice to make coffee?
Instant coffee at home (It’s important to stay humble). At work in Uplands, I make it there with this espresso machine. 

How is working at uplands?
Really good! I worked full-time there for two summers and now one day a week during semester. It means free coffee and being sociable. Dreading the cold winter days though. Last year I think I got a permanent burn mark from my hot water bottle and it used to take me 15 minutes to get dressed in the morning with all the layers I would wear. 

Favourite Coffee Spot?
Uplands (officially) but honourable mentions to Machina and the Supper Hall.

Where are you from?
Glasgow, though I lived in Edinburgh until I was 11. I’m also half Irish!

What brought you back to Edinburgh for uni?
I wanted to do Medicine, live in a city, and move out. Edinburgh ticked all the boxes.

How did you get into running?
I mostly danced at school. My PE teacher loved cross country and if you did even moderately well, he pushed you to take it further. I started properly at 16/17, ran for a year before uni, probably overdid it and got injured in first year. I did triathlon for a while, but now I’m back to running and injury-free (at this point we touched every wooden surface in the vicinity so as not to jinx an injury into existence).

Favourite triathlon discipline?
Running, then cycling, then swimming.

You’ve just run a marathon!! Tell us all about it!
I just ran one! Loch Ness with a couple of medic friends. It was really fun. I’d always said I’d do one when I was older, but last semester I was running good mileage without injury, so I thought I’d better make the most of it. One hundred percent would do another!

Did you enjoy the training?
Loved it! I enjoy running, so doing more of it was great!

How was your summer?
Started strong with Harie Holiday – amazing group, amazing place. Long runs in the morning, chilling in the afternoon, happy hour in the evening. This was my first ever happy hour- two glasses of wine for €4… what’s not to like? After Chamonix I mostly worked, but I went to South Uist with my dad and brothers. Gorgeous but freezing, didn’t get above 5 degrees!

Do you have any goals for the year?
Running: more cross country. Starting with East Districts, hopefully National Relays too.
Also I want to be able to do a pull-up (been a goal for 5 years). Non-running:I want to make a croquembouche -not with choux, with macarons. Planning a croquembouche party with party hats, so hold me accountable for this please, it needs to happen 

(this is literally the best answer anyone could have given me to this question. If you don’t know what a croquembouche is: firstly, you need to watch the Bake Off more ardently, secondly google a picture- it’s spectacular. I don’t see how any goal could surpass mastering a croquembouche.)

How are your baking skills?
Love baking, though not much at uni. Better ingredients at home. I always make granola when I’m back ( with pecans, fruit, seeds) then give half to my mum and keep half (which I usually eat in a day). You have to keep an eye on the granola as it bakes though… it burns easily. (from experience, I can testify this is a wise, wise piece of advice).

Favourite granola ingredient?
Peanut butter. A friend gifted me a kilo of boujee Maillefer crunchy PB after my marathon. Life-changing. I even tried making my own, but Lidl’s was better. Want to try Pip & Nut sweet and salty.

Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Crunchy all the way.

If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
Probably dancing, especially ballet. I stopped during Covid. I also played netball at school.

If you didn’t study medicine, what would you study?
Something language-y. Maybe French or Gaelic-related. I’m fluent in Gaelic, went to a Gaelic school, and can speak some French. (Mega kudos for the gaelic speaking ability)

If you could only race one distance forever?
Maybe 10 miles. I’ve never actually done one, but it seems manageable -not too fast, not too long. Half marathons might feel a bit far when I’m 70 years old.

Kilometres or miles?
Kilometres.

Highlight of last season? 
BUCS in Cardiff. Amazing weekend, amazing night out. Cardiff Union was great- think Big Cheese on steroids. I agreed to do a run with Grace Tindall at 7:30 a.m. the next morning before the bus, though I think I was still drunk. (impressive)

Dream dinner party guests?
One of the Off Menu guys: James Acaster or Ed Gamble (settled on James Acaster). Claudia Winkleman, she’s hilarious. And maybe someone serious to balance it out. Olivia Dean, I’m a huge fan of her album and would also like to borrow all of her clothes. (3 excellent choices)

A non-running fun fact?
I speak Gaelic (I decided that repeating this fact was more permissible because it’s frankly a fantastic fact). Also, I have four brothers.

Favourites…

• Meal to cook? Prefer baking, but love cooking new themed dishes for potlucks.
• Day to run? Every day is a running day! (I also asked for the least fave day to run… refused to answer as every day has its own run, how can she possibly choose?!)
• Harie? No comment… but shoutout to my friend Kitty, who finally joined after four years of wanting to and so I am excited for her to get the Haries experience. 
• Place travelled? The Western Isles. But Chamonix has something special too …that alpine air.
• Hill in Edinburgh? Braids – quieter than Blackford. Though the Edinburgh “7 Hills, 7 Shots” day was great (described filling her running vest with everything to make DIY baby guinness shots – iconic.)
• Running route? Hermitage (Total disgust when I admitted I hadn’t been yet this year.)
• Dream sponsor? Saucony. I’ve been on the Saucony train for 18 months. Used to be big into ON, but Saucony just works for me.

Written by: Nancy Britten

Hello Haries and a very happy Saturday to you all! It’s the second instalment of Harie of the Week and this time the spotlight’s on the lovely Heidi! Heidi has a strong start to the semester in her role as Wellness and Inclusion Officer, already pulling together some fantastic Friday sunset runs. We met at Kilimanjaro for a catch-up that started, naturally, with some running shoe chat (Heidi explained that she had spent her morning doing the far more important job of running-shoe shopping instead of studying). From there we segueed into dissecting the Celebrity Traitors line-up and decided that if we were ever famous, Traitors would definitely be our reality TV show of choice. Once we’d finished all of these pressing discussions, we got down to the official interview. Enjoy!

1. Name?
   Heidi Robertshaw
2. Degree?
   Psychology, 3rd year. I love and hate it. I hate the statistics and RStudio (If, like me, you have no idea what Studio is, it is in fact to do with coding). It’s horrible, it’s evil, but we push through. My actual psychology modules though, I’m loving.
3. What made you choose it?
   I’ve always been fascinated by how the mind works and how people think. I used to listen to a lot of true-crime podcasts and was set on forensic psychology for a while, though I’ve moved on from that now.
4. Can you read my mind?
   The question everyone asks, so I’ll confirm in advance: no, I can’t. You’re welcome.
5. Coffee order?
   Iced mocha when I’m rinsing the club bank account. Coffee + Chocolate is an unbeatable combination. (I should add that it was uncharacteristically sunny on the day of our interview, and I also felt an iced coffee was the only option on such a day). If I’m paying myself: a classic flat white.
6. Favourite Coffee Spot?
   This one! My dad and I came here on the Edinburgh open day. We’d stayed in a hotel the night before, then had a full Scottish breakfast here before visiting the uni. Partly sentimental, partly because the full Scottish is genuinely amazing. (This was the most wholesome reason for a favourite coffee spot ever. On the downside though, we discussed the lack of charging ports in this establishment. So Kilimanjaro, if you’re reading this: the people need more charging ports.)
7. Where are you from?
   Sheffield. And for the record… it’s Yorkshire, not the Midlands. Don’t even try to argue otherwise. (For context: I made the mistake of incorrectly labelling this as the Midlands, thinking I had found some common ground. Heidi told me this was blasphemous. Many, many apologies for this )
8. How did you get into running?
   My dad’s a runner and had me doing cross country for as long as I can remember (there are some VERY cute photos to prove it). He ran a lot at uni and still does, and we sometimes go for runs together in the Peaks and the Moors when I’m home.
9. How was your summer?
   Chamonix was incredible. I’d go back in a heartbeat and hope we do this year. I ran more mileage in a single week there than ever before. Then a bit of travelling with Saskia and her school friend Hannah: the Balkans and Greece. Plus some chilled time at home, pub nights and, of course pub quizzes.
10. “Pub quizzes?!” I excitedly exclaimed, “Tell me about the pub quizzes!!”
    We are terrible. We’ve never won, though the girls’ team always beats the guys.
11. Best pub-quiz fun fact/ question?
    What food was banned from conclaves and why? Whole chickens because people were smuggling in bribes. (Fantastic. I’ll be dropping this fact into every conversation I have for the foreseeable future.)
12. Freshers’ Week recap? How did it go?
    So good! I only went out three times and it still wiped me out- I’m still recovering. Haries freshers events were brilliant with an insane turnout for the well-being run. Huge thanks to Heggie and Caitlin for helping me lead such a big group.
13. Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh?
    Psychology degrees are similar everywhere, but when I visited Edinburgh I instantly knew it was the one. I love how it feels small and big at the same time: a massive city with a tiny, friendly feel. The running and scenery sealed it. So easy to escape into the Pentlands, a bit like the Peak District back home.
14. Do you have any goals for the year?
    Running: Edinburgh Half in May is the big one. I’ve only done a couple of road races, so I want more of those while keeping up with cross country.
    Non-running related: Save some money, figure out what’s next after uni… and not fail my degree. (I fully concur with these)
15. How was the first wellbeing run of the year?
    Blackford Hill last week was unreal. Great turnout and the most ridiculous sunset by pure luck. Tomorrow (the interview was on a Thursday, so Heidi is referring to the Friday wellbeing run here) we’re heading for Calton Hill. The plan is to target all the hills of Edinburgh. And maybe a Portobello swim-run on the cards!
16. If you didn’t run, what sport would you do?
    Rugby. I only ever played a bit in school PE but loved it. I’d like to try a proper team sport. Also inspired by the men’s team winning varsity this week, it was a great watch.
17. If you didn’t study psychology what would you study?
    Is neuroscience too close? (Yes. Pick again). I’d go for biology, my other top choice when applying.
18. If you could only race one distance forever?
    5 km. Because any shorter and I think it’s too fast. Any longer and I feel like I’m dying. Longer cross countries are the bane of my experience.
19. Highlight of last season?
    Isle of Man. (I was then treated to a very entertaining recount of the trip, so in case you weren’t there, here’s what you need to know…) I slept through ten alarms and missed the bus despite Saskia banging on my door at 4 a.m. After some frantic Googling I realised the trains couldn’t get me there in time. My dad came to the rescue helping to organise a flight (legend!) So despite missing the 10km race, I arrived in time for the first evening, and raced the hill run in a bee onesie as a forfeit- hardest race of my life, absolutely roasting. We may have also “liberated” a keg from Manchester who hid it in the woods and poured pints before a swift escape. I’ll be back this year and I promise not to miss the bus.
20. Dream dinner party guests?
    I’ve been thinking way too much about this since I saw the question in Martha’s interview. This response is very much swayed by me watching all of the athletics last week.
    Femke Bol – happiest person alive; I need that energy.
    Georgia Hunter Bell – so happy for her PB and would love a chat.
    Sabrina Carpenter – guaranteed fun chaos.
21. How do you think the conversation would go?
    I think Sabrina would be quite confused by her presence there. Femke Bol would just be so happy. I think we’d all just have a great natter and get along really well. Would ask for training tips from Georgia and Femke and free tickets from Sabrina.
22. A non-running related fun fact about you?
    I’ve eaten goat brains (and kinda liked them). (speechless.)
23. Favourite …
    Meal to cook? A very elaborate curry. When I say I’m making curry, it could either be simple curry or, the main event: a whole curry night. A full feast. This involves a curry, maybe even two curries, deffo a dahl, naan bread, bhajis. (I will be requiring an imminent invite to curry feast night please and thank you)
24. Harie? This is going to sound biased because she’s my flatmate, but I’m going with Maya. The sheer number of kit-related emails she’s sent in the last two weeks is heroic. I’ll forgive her for filling our flat with Harie’s kit.
25. Place travelled? The Balkans: Dubrovnik, Kotor, Split, and Tirana. Amazing food, lovely people, quite cheap- Game of Thrones fans take note- lots of filming locations in Dubrovnik and Split. Saskia was very excited.
26. Hill in Edinburgh? Arthur’s Seat. During exams last year, when revision was going horribly, I ran up it and instantly felt better- tourists aside.
27. Running route? Hermitage trails and Blackford Hills. Anywhere off-road.
28. Dream sponsor? Hoka! I need new shoes and theirs are gorgeous. Colourful shoes make me happy.

WOULD YOU RATHER…?

• Have every long run detour through the Royal Mile crowds or have to dodge cyclists on the Union Canal path every single session? Royal Mile tourist dodging.
• Race a mud-soaked Braids XC course in road flats or do a 10 km road race in full spikes? Muddy Braids XC.
• Do all your Sunday long runs as endless loops of the Hermitage or only on the Innocent Railway tunnel out-and-back? Hermitage.
• Run the full Seven Hills race every month or never be allowed on Blackford Hill again? Never be allowed on Blackford Hill again 
• Have to finish every run at the top of Arthur’s Seat or finish every run with a dip in the sea at Portobello? Dip in the sea.