Are you one of the many runners who have signed up for a springtime marathon, hopeful it will mean you keep up with your training through the long winter months? If so, you will perhaps be interested to hear of a new half marathon scheduled for February that will make for the perfect warm up race for what wlll follow later in the year.

Scheduled for 25 February, those taking part in the Innocent Half Marathon will enjoy a picturesque route as they run around Dalmeny Estate, finishing at the pier by South Queensferry.

The race is the brainchild of Blast Running with a spokesperson telling us: "Our new event is timed to be in line with runners' training schedules for the spring marathons including London, Brighton and Edinburgh. The half marathon is a perfect way to test your training and pace ahead of the big day.

"The race is ‘Innocent’ as it is fundraising for three children’s charities – Richmond’s Hope, Kidney Kids Scotland and Firefly International."

The route is on a mixture of car free roads within the grounds of Dalmeny Estate and some cycle pathways between South Queensferry and Burnshot. It is 85% tarmac and 15% very runable track and starts and finishes in South Queensferry.

Further describing the course, organisers add: "There is no escaping some climb in this neck of the woods so please note that there is approx 275m of ascent - but what goes up must come down again!"

If you would like to know more, visit the Blast Running website.

Image: Blast Running