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.
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)
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 onSalisbury 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!)
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.
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!
Name? Heidi Robertshaw
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.
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.
Can you read my mind? The question everyone asks, so I’ll confirm in advance: no, I can’t. You’re welcome.
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.
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.)
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 )
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.
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.
“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.
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.)
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.
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.
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)
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A non-running related fun fact about you? I’ve eaten goat brains (and kinda liked them). (speechless.)
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)
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.
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.
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.
Running route? Hermitage trails and Blackford Hills. Anywhere off-road.
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.
My first Harie of the week interview took place on a grey and windy Thursday morning. Unfortunately for Martha, I’d decided 9:30 am was the best time to meet. In hindsight, that was very antisocial of me- especially since she’d trekked all the way from morningside at such an hour! The ensuing interview, however, with a very smiley Martha did two things: first, it provided a great start to the day and offset the frankly miserable weather; second, it convinced me to pay a visit to run club on Sunday to experience the wholesome vibes for myself.
What do you love about your course? All the field trips! I love being outside and exploring. Geology is a great excuse to do both.
Coffee order? Hot chocolate. (Ahh we have ourselves a non-coffee enjoyer)
Favourite Coffee Spot?
Summerhall is a favourite spot and Lady and the Bear is another go-to. (both solid picks-extra points for the subtle nod to our sponsors at Summerhall)
Where are you from? Perth
How did you get into running? Both parents ran, so I joined when I was younger but didn’t join a club until I was 12. I started out as a 400m runner on the track and gradually moved to longer distances. (a classic Harie origin story)
Freshers’ Week recap? How did it go? So good! Everything went so well. Out of three freshers’ weeks so far, this one was my favourite. Being on committee and planning everything was just as fun as taking part.
Why did you choose to come to Edinburgh? I wasn’t fixed on a university, but when I visited I loved the city. Great for running and I’ve really enjoyed living here. (Strong endorsement for the capital and the hills)
Do you have any goals for the year? Looking forward to leading more run club sessions and meeting new people. I haven’t raced since school, so I’d love to try cross country again, although track will always have a special place in my heart.
How was the first run club of the year? It was so good and so much fun. Around 25–30 people came along (great turn-out!) plenty of new routes to explore. Last year I joined the jogging group and loved it. Thomasina took us on lots of nice routes too. Big shout out to Thomassina for the encouragement to lead this year. (Some top-tier headhunting from Thomasina here.)
If you didn’t run, what sport would you do? Climbing would be so cool. Or maybe something rogue like golf- I used to play a lot in school and might pick it up again. Living next to Bruntsfield Links makes the idea of a quick pitch-and-putt pretty tempting. (Haries X Golf society collab pending?)
If you could only race one distance forever? 3 km. I’m still not a fan of long, long running- sprinting has a special place in my heart, so 3 km feels like the perfect in-between.
Highlight of last season? The final jogging group of the year in December. We finished at Uplands Roast, and it was so cosy even though it was freezing outside. (I’m convinced that the Uplands hot chocolate solves everything)
Dream dinner party guests? Jakob Ingebrigtsen- he’s so cool, Femke Bol for some 400-hurdles chat, and Mikaël Attal- he’s a geology expert and all-round fun fact machine. (Martha elaborated that Mikaël Attal teaches at the uni and is universally considered a bit of a legend)
A non-running related fun fact?: I play the violin for fun- started when I was about seven or eight. (Multi-talented and modest about it.)
Favourites
Meal to cook: Chilli con carne
Harie: Caitlin Heggie- because she worked so hard over Freshers’ Week to get everything going.(Caitlin, take a bow.)
Place travelled: Norway- it’s so scenic.
Rock: Gneiss. It’s a beautifully banded metamorphic rock I spotted on a field trip to Inchnadamph. (Nice… gneiss… apologies for that one)
Hill in Edinburgh: Blackford Hill- less busy, great for a loop.
Running route: Up Blackford, toward King’s, then down through Morningside.
Dream sponsor: Lidl! Specifically the bakery. I have a cinnamon bun obsession.
Would You Rather
Never run a Meadows lap again or only run Meadows laps? Never run a meadows lap again. (controversial)
Run up Arthur’s Seat in a blizzard or through New Town during the Fringe?Run up Arthur’s seat in a blizzard. (anything, literally anything to avoid the fringe carnage)
Only run at 6 a.m. or 9 p.m.? Only run at 6! I’m definitely more of a morning person (respect.)
Only run when it’s pouring with rain or when it’s boiling hot? Only when it’s rainy!
10 keen Edinburgh Uni Students made our way down to London to compete in the 2nd addition of Ekiden! The race was contested over a 114km course from Windsor to Reading and back along the thames, with the distance shared between all 10 runners. As this was the clubs first time competing in this sort of competition, none of us knew what to expect when we signed up, but it’s safe to say that the weekend was all round brilliant!
With this being a race during the university summer, we were all scattered across the UK and had to made our own way there. Catriona and Katie were our sole travellers from Scotland and caught an early flight into Luton, where they made the most of the day by exploring on some of the city bikes! They safely made their way, along with Georgia, Freddie, Huw, Saskia and Grace to Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in time to settle into the accommadation before the opening ceremony and pre-race dinner! Unfortunately, despite living in London, Joe and Ross got stuck in the rush hour traffic and missed the dinner, taking longer to arrive than Huw who travelled from Cardiff! I also sadly missed the evening meal and had to settle for a tesco meal deal on the train, but thankfully the 3 of us were happy enough to hear the meal was not particularly memorable! However, the team did get a picture with Scottish icons Eilish McClogan and Beth Potter! Huw, who clearly hadn’t done enough travelling for one day, very kindly came and picked me up from Maidenhead train station saving an hour off my journey. In search for some late night food, we ended up getting lost in the labyrinth that was sainsburys multi story carpark, but thankfully escaped and returned safely to Bisham Abbey. With all 10 members finally assembled, we headed to bed before a big day!
The race took place on the 2025 summer solstice, Friday the 20th June and was one of the hottest days of the year. With this being a long-distance relay, each of us had to navigate the complicated bus timetable to ensure we made it to our individual start lines on time. The race began at 8.30am in Windsor, with the iconic castle in the background. Catriona kicked things off for the Haries on leg 1, where she ran the 10.4km course to Maidenhead in a flying 43:11, being the first ever harie to wear the famous Tasuki Sash, customised into Haries green! She handed over to Huw, for his 14.2km leg to Bisham Abbey in which he remarkably completed in 53:26 despite his massive carbon shoe induced blisters (do not check his strava!). He handed over to Grace who carried the Tasuki 14.1km from Bisham Abbey to Henley-Upon-Thames in a speedy 58:35. Next up was Ross, a member of the Atheltics club who stepped up for his longest ever race, completing his 12.8km to Sonning in 52:21! Hopefully this experience will lead him to join the haries next year :). Then came the injured boys– Joe and I – each taking a 5.4km leg, with me taking us out to the farthest point at Kings Meadows in Reading and Joe beginning our journey home. Peculiar circumstances led to me having to race it without any shoes due to a painful nerve pinching, while Joe was suffering from a sore knee but wouldn’t let anything stop him from completing his last race for the club. We both pushed through for the Haries and the team to complete our legs in 22:33 and 21:24 respectively. Georgia made the first big dent in our Journey back completing her 12.8km back to Henley-Upon-Thames in a blistering 53:45, before passing over to Saskia. Despite originally wanting to do the 5km, due to the team injuries, she made a massive effort to complete one of the 14km legs, and smashed it 1:05:28. In fitting fashion, she handed over to club legend Freddie, also completing his last race in green. Continuing his fine form this year, he signed off in a blistering 51:04 over 14.2km. Our final athlete of day, Katie showed remarkable character to keep running after fainting mid-run and waking up on the side of the course with 2.5km to go. She was supported by the team all the way in as we finished the day in 10th place in a time of 8:22:22.
We definitely had the best team finish of the day as can be shown in the photo, and Ross’s celebratory champagne was very well deserved! The thames (much cleaner than expected) was the perfect setting for some of us to cool off post race.
So that concludes the Ekiden 2025 Race Report. It was an epic race to take part in and to farewell both Joe and Freddie :( . We hope to be back again next year, but perhaps without all the antics!
Veganism is a hot topic at the moment, so to bust some myths and tackle some FAQs, we thought we’d put your top questions to some of the club’s fave vegans (past and present!). We’ve got the famous Emma Gill aka Fruits & Routes, first year athlete and physics-whizz Becky Nisbet, plus beloved alumni Sarah Douglas, GB international hill runner Beth Hanson and recent veteran of a 24-hour turbo ride, Hannah Havelock-Allan! Sarah’s sister Hannah has also dipped her toe into some of the questions, so there’s plenty of wisdom to be found.
**As a quick note: Food and body choices are entirely personal, and you should never feel compelled to make choices about what you put in your body or how you train based on what other people are doing. This article is meant to help you make informed choices, not ones that are unhealthy for you!
Why did you turn vegan?
Hannah
H-A: Curiosity really, I admit it wasn’t to save the animals or the planet. But
I did want cowspiracy and I have watched a fair few Earthling Ed videos and
he’s really hard to disagree with (thoroughly recommend). I also think it
helped me have a more positive relationship with food – that is not say
veganism is healthy! And you can make it as unhealthy as you like- but it
definitely gets me eating a variety of nourishing foods!
Becky
N: For animal welfare and for my health.
Beth:
This question is asked a lot and I often struggle to answer this, despite being
a vegan for nearly 6 years now. I had
been vegetarian since the age of 7, and couldn’t justify the reasons I was
being a veggie and not be a vegan. The number one reason is the unnecessary
suffering of animals in both the meat and dairy industries. As I got more into
veganism, I realised that there are many more reasons that I am, and will
continue to be, vegan, such the ability to reduce my environmental footprint,
and the health benefits of living off foods such a veggies, nuts, fruits,
seeds, wholegrains etc.!
Sarah:
I had thought about it for a while but grew up in a real foodie- family where
being a fussy eater wasn’t an option and I didn’t want to be ‘the awkward one’.
I think in the past it wasn’t recognised as much either so it would have been
harder to eat out etc. My sister then turned vegan, despite being the biggest
lover of cheese I know, and so I thought if she could do it I could too. My
family have soon adjusted, and I enjoy having someone to share all the new
tasty vegan things I find with!
In
terms of was my choice for health, environment or animal welfare, I would say
mostly animal welfare. I slowly started going more and more vegetarian and then
realised that if I was going to be veggie I should really be vegan as the dairy
industry is just as bad for the animals. However, I definitely like how it is
better for the environment too.
Hannah Douglas: A lot of people I followed on instagram and respected had started going vegan so I wanted to give it a try for a month. During the month I read up on veganism and watched documentaries to educate myself. Then the moral, eco and health benefits seemed apparent. I think for me they are in that order of importance: morals, then eco then health!
Sarah Douglas, NHS Hero and one of the happiest Haries!!! @bright_copper_kettles for top content.
Are there any club vegans not supplementing their
iron? Do you think it’s necessary?
HHA:
Unaware of numbers, but I’d presume Emma Gill (other vegan in the Haries) is. I
think it is possible to get enough iron on a vegan diet, dark leafy green e.g.
spinach etc are high in iron, but you really have to focus on it an know your
sources and portions which can be a bit intensive. I think for females as well
this can be particularly challenging so it supplementing with a B complex is
wise.
BN:
I don’t supplement my iron – and I’m a regular blood donor so I know my iron
isn’t low! I’d never suggest to anyone to take iron supplements unless their
doctor recommends it because excess iron has side effects, it’s not like
supplementing other vitamins.
Beth:
I do supplement my iron after being tested to be low at the Doctors, but I’ve
always had low irons levels even before I was vegan. I don’t believe all vegans
should feel the need to supplement, but it’s something to be thought about and
conscious of as it is easy to miss out on some of the vital nutrients.
Especially as athletes who do high training hours, I think everyone, vegan or
not, should be aware of what is needed for a balanced diet.
Sarah:
I have written a whole document on this which will be posted on the website!
Iron is really important to be supplemented if you are deficient but is not and
can be dangerous to supplement to excess so always get a medical opinion on
this based on bloods tests. Being vegan doesn’t necessary mean you will be iron
deficient as it can be found in lots of other foods not just meat. My iron is
actually its highest ever since I have become vegan (even when I used to take
supplements too!)
Becky
Hannah (HA) – endurance queen!
Do you supplement your B12? Do you think it’s
necessary?
HHA:
I take a multivitamin and vit D3, so no B12 in isolation. I used to supplement
B12, but have been working with a dietician to help me with endurance sports
and her recommendations were just eh vit D3 (which I think is wise whether you
are vegan or not!) and a multivitamin.
BN:
A B12 supplement is a good idea for anyone, not just vegans, it’s absolutely
vital to supplement B12 if you’re vegan if you don’t consume fortified plant
milks regularly or use nutritional yeast. Even if you do drink fortified plant
milks, it’s still a very good idea to supplement to make sure you’re getting
enough, because there are very bad deficiency side effects to the nervous
system that can be critical.
Beth:
Again, I do because I was tested to have low B12 levels. Really the same as
above, but if you are feeling more tired than normal, struggling to recover
from sessions as quickly or anything other than tip-top, definitely get a blood
test done at the Doctors to make sure you are not missing out on anything.
Sarah:
Yes I take Vitamin B12 Supplements and Vitamin D supplements. (but often
forget). Basically, everyone in the UK should take VitD as we are all very
likely deficient and is important for bone health.
In
terms of Vit B12, it is the only vitamin that you cannot get from a
well-balanced plant based diet so it does need to be supplemented. However it
is great that many vegan products such as cereal, milk, some soya products and
nutritional yeast can have added Vitamin B12 in them! The body has large stores
of it so symptoms of deficiency wouldn’t show for a very long time but would
run out if you were vegan and didn’t supplement and could lead to problems
later in life. Some people also have genetic medical conditions where they
don’t have the enzyme in the body to absorb VitB12 from the diet and these
individuals need to have it in possibly higher doses and sometimes different
forms such as injections.
Best pre-race vegan meal?
HHA:
Oh hard, depends when the race is! I’m a big fan of anything oat based/porridge
for the morning and if it’s general carb loading I think sweet potato is a
must. I usually have more thoughts about what I am having after rather than
before!
BN:
Pizza! Vegan cheese, tomato, maybe some tofu for that protein hit. Fact, all of
my half marathon PBs have been achieved when I’ve had a pizza the night before.
Coincidence, I think not…
Beth:
Porridge!!!!!!!!!!! If that counts as a meal….. I’m loving all the porridge
Instagram accounts. My go to is oats with almond milk, raisins, banana, cinnamon
and a (probably too big) heap of peanut butter. The night before a race I tend
to have pesto-pasta or pizza, always followed by some kind of dessert….
Sarah:
Porridge. I am really bad at eating just before a run as it makes me feel sick
when running but porridge a few hours before a race is always reliable. I like
to mix it up with some different toppings, but banana, PB and dried fruit
always works well!
Is it more expensive?
HHA:
It’s as expensive as you make it. I think for people that are still heavy
omnies, then all the fake vegan stuff like fake meats, and ‘mimic’ foods can be
really enticing but they’re so expensive. I personally love veg, beans, pulses
etc. and it’s super easy to make up a simple stew, curry, salad, etc. with
stuff like lentils or chickpeas and some fresh veg. Beans and pulses are
definitely a cheaper way to go to get protein in than tofu and fake meats!
BN:
For me, definitely not. But if you’re buying every meat alternative and dairy
free cheese under the sun, it can. I bulk buy dried beans (literally in packets
of like 5kg) and soak them and cook them for an hour and a half rather than
buying tins, and it’s so much cheaper. All the staples of a good vegan diet –
beans, rice, pasta, fruit and veg, are dirt cheap. Veganism doesn’t have to be
expensive if you know what you’re doing.
Beth:
No! There’s a lot more vegan products out now than when I first became vegan,
which is exciting but can be expensive if you eat that kind of stuff all the
time. I tend to have basic ingredients such as beans and legumes with a carb,
and leave the fancy exciting stuff for a treat or special occasion. It
definitely doesn’t have to be expensive.
Sarah:
It can be, depending on if you are a #basicvegan and love shopping in whole
foods/ real foods and trying all the cool vegan food, It can be! But equally
basic vegan staples like beans, pulses and vegetables are super cheap and even
meat alternatives can be roughly the same price as meat or fish would be! I
think vegan baking is more sometimes more expensive if you use vegan chocolate
etc, so I spend more on that but in terms of my weekly shop, its probably
cheaper.
HD:
It can be if you eat all the meat
and dairy replacement stuff but it can be cheaper if you eat more whole foods.
I think all in all my weekly shop is about the same price as it used to be!
Do you feel it’s positively impacted your
training?
HHA:
I’d say my recovery is great, and my energy levels are good. I had a long
summer of doing my first 100k run and then doing 7 days running in Africa
within July and August, all of which were plant-based fuelled. I don’t think I
would have been able to without (a) eating enough food (b) eating a plant-based
diet. I also don’t get afternoon slumps from digestion of food.
BN:
I mean I’ve been vegan for many years and I can’t remember being a runner
before I was vegan so I can’t really comment. But I mean, I did win my first
ever half marathon in the Female Under 20 category when I was 17 and I was
vegan then, so I don’t think it’s made my running bad…
Beth:
Hard to say really. I’ve had some really good periods of fitness whilst I’ve
been a vegan, but I don’t put that down to my vegan diet really. I think eating
healthily and fuelling properly is really important to any athlete, and this is
something I’ve always strived to do.
Sarah:
It’s hard to say as I can’t really compare the two periods of my life but it
definitely hasn’t negatively impacted it. I think it has made me ensure I have
a more well-balanced diet and I get a lot of fruit and vegetables too! I have a
lot on energy and can do all the training I want to do, including strength
training.
HD:
Yes, I definitely feel fitter now
than I used to but I wouldn’t solely attribute that to veganism as I gym / run
more now than I used to too.
Do you think it encourages restrictive eating? Or
do you find it helpful in achieving health and a balance with eating?
HHA:
I think there is a definitely a trend (as seen on Instagram) of many ex-ED
girls turning to veganism. That is not to say it is a bad thing though! I think
an outside view is that it is restrictive or you ‘can’t eat this, or that’, but
really no one focuses on what you can eat. There is so much more to food than
just meat and dairy. It has allowed me to be creative and also try some amazing
vegan food. Admittedly the nice stuff does require more effort to make! But I
don’t feel restricted in the slightest, especially with all modern supermarkets
being far more accommodating to vegan options.
BN:
This is a difficult question. I don’t think there’s a yes or no answer to this,
because it really depends on the person and what they like and don’t like. I’ve
been vegan for many years, and then a few years ago I developed anorexia, but
I’d been a happy and healthy vegan long before that and never really thought it
played much of a role in my eating disorder, except in using it an excuse to
avoid going out for meals. I’ve recovered from that now and I’m still a vegan
and I think I have a good relationship with food – but I think that’s down to
the fact that I am very used to being vegan so I don’t miss anything, but I’d
certainly tell someone in recovery from a restrictive ED to avoid going vegan
whilst they’re vulnerable because it could just become a tool to relapse. I
feel like the people in whom it encourages restrictive eating are those who use
it as a tool for weight loss, rather than people wanting to choose a cruelty
free lifestyle and way of living.
Beth:
No, I don’t think it encourages restrictive eating. I’ve gone through many
phases of disordered eating, and it is nothing to do with the vegan diet but
more my mindset into eating well. A vegan diet does mean you do have to think
about food more, and how to adequately achieve nutrient goals, but for me this
has only allowed a healthier balance with eating.
Sarah:
This is a difficult question. Being vegan itself doesn’t lead to a restrictive
diet, especially now ( in bigger cities/ towns) where it is very well
accommodated, but if you are someone who has restrictive eating tendencies it
could provoke/worsen them as it does limit some things you could eat. It was
something that I was worried about, especially because I was injured at the
time I became vegan, so this did cross my mind but I was in a better and
stronger place mentally so hoped id know what to look out for if things were
tending towards that.
What really helped me was 1) trying to cook and bake vegan things that other
people would like and enjoying these with them, gave me a focus to make good
meals and 2) trying out new and interesting vegan options and supporting small
local start ups and cafes’ etc to help promote veganism and increase its
availability in shops. This helped me think that I wasn’t just doing it for
myself but by eating all these things I was supporting the promotion of
veganism.
HD:
I think for some people it can be a
way to restrict their eating. However, thankfully I have never had problems
with disordered eating so I find it a helpful way to be healthy as it is about
so much more than just me being healthy.
Is it actually better for the planet?
HHA:
Aha, well short answer I would say yes, but the scientist in me says it’s best
to go research the evidence. Even the best at Oxford have published data about
water usage and emissions related to different diets. I am not one to preach
data or an agenda so I think it’s best for people to do their own digging and
decide. Ultimately any little change that someone can contribute to the planet
helps, a vegan may be vegan but drive their car to work every week, so what’s
the point? A meat eater may only have eco energy at home – so there’s many
factors to consider.
BN:
I definitely think so. More animal farming means more land is also needed to
grow crops to feed them, which leads to more deforestation, greater global
warming, water scarcity and species extinction. By being vegan you’re reducing
the demand for animal agriculture and eating the plants directly, rather than
using animals as a “middle man”. That’s not to mention greenhouse gas emission
from particularly beef farming.
Beth:
Yes!!! For many reasons. The animal food industry causes deforestation to make
land for livestock, the vast volume of water needed for animal agriculture, the
pollution of the water systems from the pesticides needed for animal grains,
the huge generation of animal waste and pollution, and the transportation of
animals and meat to get to the supermarkets…….to be brief!!!
Sarah:
Yes. It is now well known that the vegan diet is better for the planet. Animals
themselves release greenhouse gases and keeping them causes deforestation.
Despite a lot of vegan products being made from Soy, which is notoriously bad
for deforestation and demand on the land, the majority of Soy is made to feed
animal and actually only a very small proportion is for human consumption.
There are however those who are ‘vegan’ purely for the dietary choices they eat
but also those who follow the lifestyle that is associated with ‘veganism’.
This encourages using local and ethical produce, recycling/ upcycling and low
plastic waste, which is definitely much better for the environment, and
something that we should all try to follow, despite eating vegan or not.
HD:
Yes, it definitely is.
Fave vegan scran in Edinburgh?
HHA:
Brekkie has to be Brochan- I still miss that porridge so much! For lunch/other
food- Beetroot Sauvage.
BN:
Giant nachos in The Auld Hoose pub… they’re giant, and unbeatable.
Beth:
Oh man, herbivore kitchen was just the BOMB when I was there, I literally lived
above it for 2 years and I was known as the cinnamon bun girl as I went in so
often for one…………….nothing has compared to them…… I also loved Paradise Palm
(the best vegan burger ever)….. and Lovecrumbs do such amazing cake. On my most
recent visit to Edinburgh I literally did a vegan cafe crawl…. So many good
places.
Sarah:
Hula, Brochan or Beetroot Sauvage (I love
a brunch :D) Also good to know that many of Edinburgh’s top restaurants
offer Vegan menu’s ( Castle terrace, the Kitchen, Timberyard etc!)
HD:
Paradise palms!!
Top vegan influencers/ instagrams?
HHA:
@fruitsandroutes for sure – an a Harie nonetheless! @lucybartholomew (not
strictly influencer but amazing vegan runner)
BN:
I love @DeliciouslyElla on Instagram. Also, check out @thehappypear,
@wickedhealthy.
Beth:
Ofc @fruitsandroutes!!! Also really enjoy the influencers @stephelswood
@zannavandijk and @gracebeverley.
Sarah:
Venetia Falconers. And of course our fav local celebs @Scran-in-the-city and
@Fruitsandroutes (and @bright_copper_kettles if I am allowed to plug myself!!)
HHA:
No, you have to be a bit of a weirdo I’m afraid. (Who wants to be normal
anyways? Normal is boring!).
BN:
I’m vegan and I’m a highly abnormal nerd so I don’t think I can comment… but I
know many vegans who are just quietly vegan and are pretty “normal” people!
Beth:
Can anyone be normal? I think being vegan shouldn’t change anyones life too
much- especially now there is so many options. Even the main chain restaurant
has amazing vegan options- so no need to miss out on the fun!!
Sarah:
I have been told I am ‘the least annoying vegan’ by my friends and work
colleagues as I actually don’t really like talking about it as, as bad as it
sounds, I hate the stigma it has. I
would love others to be vegan but I think showing them life isn’t much
different and it can be easy is the best way rather than going on about it and
preaching it to them every day! However I wouldn’t have become vegan if I
didn’t see some posts and films about animal agriculture and the dairy industry
etc so I think it is important people are informed of these things as we do
live in a very blinded society, but preaching and posting about this daily
isn’t the way to do this as it may just put people off instead. We need to
appreciate every little change or vegan meal someone makes is better than
nothing and is a step in the right direction😊
Do you crave meat? What do you think of meat
alternatives? (original question: How can you live like that? I need steak pie.
Also: How do you resist caving for a greenmantle burger after 3 days of veganism?)
HHA:
At the beginning I did for sure, but there are substitutes. If you are feeling
fancy, you can go and have a vegan burger, there are some decent ones out
there. But I mainly got over the craving and found it was more a craving for
salt – which I strongly substitute with marmite!
BN:
I used to eat meat every day because that was just “normal”. After about a week
of being vegan I just stopped craving it and I’ve now been vegan for nearly 4
years and I genuinely never walk past a sausage roll van and think “damn I want
a sausage roll”, I just don’t feel I need or even want meat anymore, I’m very
averse to the idea of eating meat now, and don’t think I ever will
(intentionally) again.
Beth:
Nope not at all…………….!! I’ve been a veggie for so long I don’t know no
different. I do enjoy the fake meats, but see them more as a treat than on the
regular as they are a little more expensive. I do love a vegan burger!!
Sarah:
I loved chicken and fish. I would literally eat cooked chicken as a snack…. But
then is started cutting down on meat and then became vegan and I have never
looked back. I joke that I would have been vegan ages before if it wasn’t for
my love of Greek yoghurt! I don’t miss anything really and enjoy trying more
things and also cooking vegan for others and showing them it can be tasty and
not just leaves! There are some great meat alternatives out there. I haven’t
tried that many of them as I prefer to not have them as they are slightly
‘processed’ but I am a fan of some of the fake chicken and of course Linda
McCartney anything basically!
HD: No I don’t crave meat at all. Its been 2.5 years now and now knowing what I do about the meat industry I find it quite frankly gross. I like meat alternatives, I never stopped eating meat because I didn’t like the taste of it. However, I am trying to limit how much of these I eat from both a budget and health point of view as obviously these are more processed food items.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our virtual relays this week! It’s encouraging to see so many runners get behind this and staying healthy in these difficult times.
We had an incredible 132 teams enter with a total of 540 finishers!
This included some very rapid times with Grant Sheldon taking the fastest male leg in 13:38 and Beth Potter taking the fastest female leg in 15:23! 👏
Big well done also to the winning teams with Dundee Hawkhill Harriers taking the Men’s title, Metro Aberdeen Running Clubclaiming the Women’s, Wuhan Clan coming first in the Mixed category and Bearsden’s Little Potters winning the Open category! 🏆
(We will endeavour to give these four teams, along with the fastest legs, their pineapples at the earliest and safest convenience, but can’t guarantee this will be anytime soon. 🍍)
A round up of the top 5 in each category and individually, along with some interesting stats about the event are shown below.
We hope you enjoyed our event and hopefully see many of you again at more of our events in the future!
Floating to the surface of consciousness, battling with the urge to fall back into a sweet slumber for another 30 minutes, but knowing you have to summon the strength to peel back the covers and get ready for… oh… wait, nothing.
Perhaps you are working from home, possibly you are one of the country’s treasured and vital front-line workers, but just as likely, you find yourself at a loss with what to do for the next 3, possibly more weeks ahead, of uncertainty. Regardless of what your new role is during this world pandemic, the following might help lighten your load, literal or metaphorical.
It’s very easy to
flounder with a lack of routine, especially when there’s an overwhelming
sentiment that the world around you is crumbling. Many of us foster our identity
and sense of self from the things we do each day; our job, our hobbies, our
friends; with these elements of our daily routine removed it’s perceivable that
we might feel a little lost.
However, this is an
opportunity. Let us not dwell negatively on the things that have been taken
away, but to appreciate the opportunity to learn new skills and take a step
back to appreciate the things once taken for granted. Devise a new routine for
the time being, follow government guidelines and marvel at the endless
prospects now available to you.
Never been one for
yoga? Always thought you weren’t flexible enough or that you couldn’t
concentrate? Well, now is the time to use it to try and vary the “workouts from
home” videos that are crowding your Instagram feed.
Put on some music, nothing too loud, something that makes you feel calm or positive; perhaps some Jack Johnson, or Juke Ross, just to fill the void. Get a space that you are able to move around in freely, and get read to limber up. Starting is a daunting prospect, try watching Youtube videos for some basic yoga positions (I can recommend Yoga with Adriene). Don’t set yourself a time limit or expected duration, just do it for as long or short a time that makes you feel good; stretch away that anxiety in child’s pose, feel the stress dissipate with downward dog.
Don’t feel the
pressure to try and connect to some higher spiritual field, or even feel
expected to hum and Namaste at the end; yoga is yours, do with it as you
please.
