The Edinburgh Marathon is the second largest marathon in the UK. It was first held in 1982 and since 2003 it has been held each year in May. It is part of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. During the festival, runners can also take part in a Half Marathon, a Team Relay, a 10K (kilometre), a 5K, a Junior 5K, 2K or 1.5K as well as a Kid’s Kilometre.
A marathon is a long distance running race. The official distance of a marathon is 42.195 kilometres or 26.219 miles. The marathon was one of the original events in the modern Olympic Games of 1896 but the distance was not made the same for every marathon until 1921.
Hundreds of marathons are held around the world each year. The majority of runners at these events are not professional athletes. Many marathon runners are raising money by being sponsored to run for a chosen charity. Since 2003, runners taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival have raised over £30 million for hundreds of worthwhile causes.
In 2016, 4 274 men and 2 322 women completed the Edinburgh Marathon. Each one received a medal and finisher’s t-shirt to mark their amazing achievement.
The Edinburgh Marathon starts in London Road and Regent Road in central Edinburgh. Runners then pass by Holyrood Palace and run through Holyrood Park below Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s extinct volcano. The marathon carries on past Meadowbank Sports Stadium, where Commonwealth Games have been held and Scottish athletes have won medals for their running. The route then heads north, along Lochend Road and Leith Links. Runners then reach Portobello Promenade but not for a stroll along the prom! The marathon then goes along Musselburgh Road, past Musselburgh Racecourse and then goes on to Prestonpans. After that, the runners carry on through East Lothian and along the coast where there are twenty-two golf courses, including some famous courses used for world golfing events like Gullane and Muirfield. Next, the runners reach the village of Longniddry and eventually loop back, past Musselburgh Links, the oldest golf course in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. The marathon route finishes in playing fields at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School.
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The Edinburgh Marathon route is fairly flat and runners think of it as a fast route without hills; good for first time marathon runners or those looking to run their personal best time.
In the first Edinburgh Marathon in 1982, the fastest male was UK runner, Dave Ellis, who completed the course in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 9 seconds. The fastest female runner was also from the UK; Leslie Watson completed the route in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 34 seconds.
In the 2016 marathon, the fastest male was a Kenyan runner, Boaz Kiprono, who completed the course in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 55 seconds. The fastest female runner was also from Kenya; Eddah Jepkosgei completed the route in 2 hours, 39 minutes and 53 seconds.
In 2016, 4274 men and 2322 women completed the Edinburgh Marathon. Each one received a medal and finisher’s T-shirt to mark their amazing achievement.
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Answer these questions in sentences.
1. When was the Edinburgh Marathon first held and when did it become an annual event?
2. What other events can runners take part in at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival?
3. What is a marathon?
4. What distance does a marathon runner have to complete?
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5. Why do you think it was important to make each marathon the same distance?
6. Why do many runners take part in a marathon?
7. How much money has been raised for charity at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival since 2003?
8. Name four Edinburgh landmarks, sporting centres or tourist attractions that the marathon route runs past.
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9. Why would the Edinburgh Marathon be a good choice for a first time marathon runner?
10. Why do you think the finishing times for the 2016 marathon are faster than those of the 1982 marathon?
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