The EMF 10k presents quite the challenge for anyone wanting to take on a shorter route. The race starts and ends in the shadow of Arthur's Seat and after a relatively easy stretch it's not long before you have your first big, long and steady, climb round Arthur's Seat itself. Watch out as you start this strech as space can sometimes be at a bit of premium.

Relief, of a sort, comes just before kilometre 3 when the course levels out a little. As you round the corner the views of the Pentland Hills are fantastic and after a short climb it's not long before you get a view of Edinburgh itself and you're heading round Duddingston Loch. 



Just before the 6km mark you'll find the only water station on the course along with toilets. There's a short cobbled stretch through Duddingston Village before going round the other side of the Loch. Watch out at kilometre 8 - there's a sneaky climb that's caught out a fair few runners in the past! Once that's out of the way though it's pretty much down hill all the way to finish up outside Our Dynamic Earth.



When you finish you're guided down through the undercourse of Our Dynamic Earth to collect your medal, goody bag and water. There's a baggage drop just outside Our Dynamic Earth so if you've taken advantage of that you don't have far to go to collect your belongings.



The EMF events are usually well organised with easy registration and plenty of information on the website. The medal usually has some kind of Edinburgh theme and this year featured a keyring element indicating the distance.


The race chip is embedded in the race number so no faffing about with a shoe tag before or after the race. My number arrived in plenty of time before the event.

It was a bit of a warm day this year so I think I poured as much water over myself as I drank!