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Edinburgh Marathon 2008
The marathon in Scotland’s capital Edinburgh is one of the younger races. The event
on May 27, 2007 was the 5th time the race had been held. However, the Edinburgh
Marathon has over this relatively short time span managed to grow to a significant
size regarding the number of participants, onlookers and the amount raised for charity.
In this year’s race 100,000 spectators watched 7,500 runners raise £3 million for
charitable causes. The Edinburgh Marathon in 2007 featured a brand new course, as
the former course had become infamous for its hilly appearance – especially the
last 5 km of the bygone route was pulling some teeth with its steep ascent all the
way to the finish line. To make the course easier and attract more elite runners
the route is now more flat, but still nice and scenic. Another
move made to appeal to top runners is the chance for a free entry if you can show
evidence of running a marathon below 2:40 (male) or 3:00 (female). Slower runners
can of course still enter the race – you just need to put up the pounds. The new
course begins on famous Princes Street just in front of awe-inspiring Edinburgh
Castle, which dominates the skyline of the city with its enormity and its elevated
placement. The oldest part of the castle, St. Margaret’s Chapel, dates back to the
early 12th century. The castle is a major tourist attraction, and the small chapel
is still used today for weddings and christenings. From the top of Castle Rock the
course heads down the historic streets of Edinburgh, through hilly, loch-filled
Hollyrood Park and all the way to the coast of the Firth of Forth dropping quite
a bit in elevation on the way. Once the course hits the coast, the runners will turn
eastward and continue along the waterfront through picturesque fishing villages
Cockenzie and Port Seton, before rounding the imposing Gosford House and turning
back towards the finish area in Musselburgh Racecourse. If you don’t feel up to
42 km of hardcore running, you can sign up for the so-called Hairy Haggis Team Relay
and split the distance between yourself and three fellow runners. Hopefully, the
relay race won’t be as nauseating as the sound of the traditional Scottish dish
that it gets its name from (hairy haggis is sheep’s heart, liver and lungs boiled
in the animal’s stomach for an hour).
Next time the Edinbrugh Marathon is taking place, is May 25, 2008. For further information and registration, please follow the link to the
official Edinburgh Marathon website.
Edinburgh Marathon Course
Click here to view
the new Edinburgh Marathon course with improved PB potential.
Edinburgh Marathon Results and Information