@iwrats, wondered how long it would take till someone suggested the pentlands! Closest thing resembling a hill is Corstorphine so I'll start there, when I can get up that without coughing up a lung I'll start worrying about bigger hills :)
I've encountered a fair few hill runners in the pentlands when I've been meandering with the camera the mountain goat descents fascinate and terrify me in equal measure!
Paddy, I suspect this particular race has been chosen more for its post event event than anything else.