2021 Edinburgh Marathon goes virtual due to the coronavirus

Organizers for this year's Edinburgh Marathon have said recent announcements on coronavirus are a "welcome beam of light and hope".

After they were forced to cancel the Edinburgh Marathon last year amid the first coronavirus lockdown, organizers are hopeful the 2021 competition will be able to go ahead virtually this year.

Whilst organized sport may be allowed to go ahead by Spring, they have taken a cautious approach - believing it's the fairest way for all involved.

In an email to attendees, organizers said: "We believe that to ask you to wait weeks for that decision would be unfair, given the volume of training required, as well as any travel and accommodation arrangements that would need to be made.

"As event organisers, we have committed throughout the pandemic to make timely decisions and communicate as transparently as we can with all those involved with the event.

"This is why we are communicating the decision today that the 2021 Edinburgh Marathon Festival, which takes place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th May, will be delivered as a virtual event."

The 2021 Edinburgh Marathon Festival Virtual Challenge

Because of this, they announced the competition on May 29 and 30 will instead be a virtual festival, with people taking part in the competition by planning their own route.

This will be the case for the full marathon, the half marathon, the 10k and the other races.

posted Monday March 8th
by Alasdair Clark