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Edinburgh Marathon 2025

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The event in a few words

Aaaah, Scotland, a land of legends… The Loch Ness Monster, its vast windswept moors (and rain too! ☔️), its endless wild landscapes with no one in sight… 😍 And its capital city, Edinburgh, affectionately known as "Auld Reekie". Not because of its misty weather, but because of the black smoke that once billowed from its chimneys! 🏙️ Don't worry, that pollution is long gone and today we love to call Edinburgh the "Athens of the North" 🧭 for its neoclassical architecture 😏. It’s in this green region 🍀, located in the United Kingdom, that the Edinburgh Marathon awaits you, offering a 42 km race (which you can run solo or in relay), a half marathon, a 10 km, a 5 km and even kids' races 👧.

It’s right in the heart 💓 of this remarkable heritage that the routes of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival are mapped out, which takes place annually in May 🌸. This festival is not to be confused with the International Festival🌍 held in August for three weeks, renowned as one of the world's finest with its rich artistic program featuring theater plays, live performances, operas, choreographies, and exhibitions. The Edinburgh Marathon is not a musical comedy or an ancient tragedy, but indeed a grand running celebration 🏃‍♀️ offering, for two whole days ✌️, races ranging from 1 km for the youngest to 42.195 km for the pros like you 🏋️. Thanks to its inclusive program suitable for everyone (a kids' race, 3 junior races, a 5 km, a 10 km, a half marathon, a 4-runner relay marathon, and an individual marathon), the Edinburgh Marathon is the second largest in the UK 🇬🇧, after London, boasting a whopping 24,000 participants 🤯. A splendid popular festivity, Sir! 🙌

Perhaps the event's popularity is also due to the warm welcome of the Scots! This friendliness is already felt in the famous pubs, where beer flows freely (naturally, as brewing is a traditional industry of the city 🍻). It’s also present in their hearty cuisine, featuring the world-famous haggis (maybe skip it the night before the race! 😂), porridge sometimes drizzled with a splash of whisky 🥃 (indeed) or the substantial Scottish breakfast with black pudding, Lorne sausage, and potato scones. If you want to fully embrace the local culture, you can try the traditional attire: the famous kilt, supposedly invented to keep away the wetness in these damp regions 💦. Who knows, maybe the Scottish skirt will help you smash your personal best! 😆

Rain or shine, you'll be running at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. Sir, yes, Sir!

4 reasons to join this race

Smash Your PB ⏱️
Voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runner’s World magazine, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is the perfect event to crush your Personal Best (or PB as seasoned runners call it 😉). With its flat and fast course, you’ll have the chance to improve your record while enjoying one of the most scenic routes around 👍.
Run with the Family 👩‍👦
With races ranging from 1 km to the full 42.195 km marathon, the whole family can pin a race bib on their t-shirt 👕. Plus, with events scheduled throughout the weekend, there’s something for everyone: kids' races, 5 km and 10 km on Saturday, and the marathon (both solo and relay) and half marathon on Sunday.
Polish Your English 🗣️
Okay, sure, what you’ll mostly hear in Scotland is Scottish English, and sometimes even Scottish Gaelic. But spending a few days in Edinburgh is a fantastic opportunity to practice the English language spiced with the unique flavor of Robert Burns… In short, English with delightfully exotic accents! 😌
Discover Scotland 😍
While Edinburgh is certainly worth a few days of exploration, don’t miss out on the stunning beauty of the rest of Scotland. After your race, venture into the Highlands in the Northwest, where the heather-covered moors, romantic lochs, dramatic cliffs, and spectacular waterfalls will ignite your imagination and satisfy your craving for wild nature 🌲.

A distance for every taste

  • Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM

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The inaugural Edinburgh Marathon in 1982 took place in Holyrood Park, but now it kicks off from the city center at Potterrow. The route showcases the iconic landmarks of the Scottish capital, along with breathtaking coastal views 🌊. Highlights include McEwan Hall, St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle 🏰, Princes Street Gardens, Scott Monument, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Park 🤴, and Musselburgh. The coastal route and a super-fast final descent 🚀 to the finish line 🏁 ensure you'll stay exhilarated over the course of these 42.195 km!

GPX
  • Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM

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The Edinburgh Marathon can also be run as a 4-person relay. The course is the same as the marathon, but there are designated relay exchange points along the route 😊

GPX
  • Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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The Edinburgh Half Marathon also starts from Potterrow and passes by St Giles Cathedral ⛪️, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens 🪴, Scott Monument, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Park and Musselburgh. This is where the route diverges from the marathon course, quickly heading towards the finish line 🏁 at Pinkie School. With such a flat and fast course, you can be sure your PB will be challenged! 🥶

GPX
  • Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM

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The 10 km race takes place in the historic setting of Holyrood Park, right in the heart of Edinburgh. It offers a stunning route with breathtaking views of the castle and the city 😍. The course starts on Queens Drive, heading downhill towards the Scottish Parliament and the Holyrood Palace, before climbing up to Arthur’s Seat, then proceeding to Dunsapie Loch, Duddingston Village, Innocent Railway Path, and back to Queens Drive. After conquering the 9th kilometer, it's a downhill sprint ⛰️ to the finish line at Holyrood Gait🏁.

GPX
  • Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM

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🗺️ Here’s the map for the 5k Edinburgh Run:

GPX

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

  • For the marathon: Click here for more information

  • For the relay marathon: Click here for more information

  • For the half marathon: Click here for more information

  • For the 10K: Click here for more information

  • For the 5K: Click here for more information

  • For the kids' 5K race: Click here for more information

  • For the kids' 2K race: Click here for more information

  • For the kids' 1.5K race: Click here for more information

  • For the kids' 1K race: Click here for more information

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