Unable to compete in this year's Edinburgh Marathon owing to a long-running sports-related lack of condition, Spurtle made do instead by witnessing the start from a traffic island dramatically situated at the heart of the action.
The weather this morning was cool and misty. The runners were, by the time they reached Abbeyhill, already getting hot and sweaty.
An early lead was established by a man in a beanie, pursued in fourth place by the determined-looking José Mourinho.
Some people were already feeling the pace after the first, gruelling, flat or downhill section.
Others were making full use of their dazzling fashion sense and superhuman powers.
Others still had only come along to give their flowers a bit of an outing.
These film buffs were possibly paying tribute to Harry Potter, St Trinian's, and Slap Shot.
These ladies focused on letting their hair down and up and to the side.
Meanwhile, the ever youthful and more authentically moustachioed Asterix the Gaul showed he still has what it takes.
The Pink Panther looked chipper enough as he passed, lapping up attention before the prickly heat, intimate chafing and personal body odour consequent upon running in manmade fibres would make him a social pariah for the remaining 25.95 miles.
Finally, these three serious athletes took a more canny appproach and elected to control the early stages of the race from the rear.
If you have stories or photos of Marathon-running Broughtonians' derring do, please let us know. You can contact us by email: spurtle@hotmail.co.uk or Twitter: @theSpurtle or Facebook: Broughton Spurtle