Running News Daily

Defending champion breaks course record to win Loch Ness Marathon in Inverness

Moray Pryde became the fastest ever champion in the history of the Loch Ness Marathon as he set a new course record to successfully defend his title.

The 29-year-old from Broxburn retained his crown as he claimed victory in a time of two hours 19 minutes and 26 seconds.

The Lothian Running Club athlete broke the course record by 47 seconds which was previously 2:20:13 by Simon Tanui from Kenya back in 2009.

Inverness athlete Shaun Cumming, representing both Highland Hill Runners and East Sutherland Athletics Club, was in second place in a time of 2:31:15 with Tom Charles from Chorlton Runners in third place with 2:31:58.

Pryde won the 2023 Loch Ness Marathon in a time of 2:22:08 and in May also claimed victory in the Edinburgh Marathon winning in a time of 2:23:14.

Pryde says it was ideal conditions for racing, and was proud to break the course record which he was confident he could target after setting a quick pace early on.

He said: “Three of us went out for the first five miles and then someone dropped off.

“We flew through the first 10 miles, but at mile 14 Tom had dropped off, and then from mile 14 to the finish I didn’t really look behind me. I was chasing a car for 12 miles.

“I dropped bang where I wanted to be at a sub 2:20 pace and it was squeaky bum time from there until the end to make sure to get some time back.

“It was a nice feeling on the final straight and everything went to plan.”

Speaking about breaking the record, Pryde said: “I thought it was on after 2:22 last year. It was three minutes this time so we will see what we can do next time.

“I have been fortunate as the racing has been going my way and hopefully I can keep that luck going. I used to play football three times a week but stopped doing that. Lothian Running Club have given me a lot of support and long

was delighted to move up a place from finishing in third last year to take second this year. He managed to catch Charles in the final straight of the race to claim the silver medal.

“I didn’t know until the last half mile that I was close to second place,” he said.

“He looked like that he was flagging and I was in the position to take him.

“There was a battle in the first half of the race where I hung back and worked together with others. After Dores we managed to pull away and at half way there was about five or six of us.

“It is nice to be on the podium, I looked around at the start of the race and I thought it would be a well earned place, so to get second I am happy with that.”

(09/30/2024) Views: 185 ⚡AMP
by Will Clark

Scottish couple runs record breaking 106 marathons in 106 days

Two runners from Aberdeen, Scotland, have unofficially broken the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive marathons with 106. Fay Cunningham and Emma Petrie began the challenge on February 19 and completed their final marathon, 106 days later on Saturday, June 4.

The duo ran a total of 106 marathons, which equates to 2,777 miles (4,469 km), equivalent to running from their home in Scotland to Istanbul, Turkey. Throughout their journey, the duo raised $40,000 for MND & Macmillian charity for dementia.

Cunningham and Perie were hoping to raise $150,000 in memory of Cunningham’s late father, Alan, who died of dementia. “We both know that life is short and the ability to run or walk doesn’t stay with you forever,” Cunningham says. “My father was fit and active and he inspired us to tackle this challenge.”

Over the 106 days, Petrie and Cunningham wore out seven pairs of running shoes and consumed over 4,000 calories daily. Their 100th consecutive marathon was celebrated at the Edinburgh Marathon on May 29, where both finished just under five hours. The couple awaits official verification from Guinness, but they are confident they have met the record criteria for consecutive daily marathons.

American Alyssa Clark currently holds the official women’s record, completing 95 consecutive marathons in 2020. But in April, British runner Kate Jayden claimed the unofficial record of 101 marathons in 101 days, only to be broken by South African runner Jacky Hunt-Broersma, who lost a leg to cancer in 2001, ran 104 marathons in 104 days.

In an interview with the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), Cunningham said she didn’t know if Jayden’s or Boersma’s records would be verified because some of the marathons they ran were on treadmills. “We believe the record only stands if you run all the marathons outdoors,” she says. “But even so, we ensured we would set a new record by adding six marathons to get to 106 outdoor marathons in 106 days.”

Cunningham, 35, and Petrie, 26, are both personal trainers who are in love with fitness and the outdoors and each other. Besides personal training, the duo also has a YouTube channel where they attempt challenges set by professional athletes.

Both runners hoped this achievement can inspire others to get out there and do something they’ve always wanted to do.

(06/07/2022) Views: 1,159 ⚡AMP
by Marley Dickinson

What are the Fastest Marathons in the UK?

The marathon distance is something that many runners aspire to. It’s a lot more taxing than a half marathon and requires serious mental and physical resilience to complete. Most people can run a 5k or 10k without a lot of training. It’s even possible to get around a half marathon on minimal training, although it won’t be a pleasant experience! But if you want to bag a coveted marathon medal, you’ll need to train hard and long.

Chasing a PB

Completing a marathon isn’t enough for some runners, since they are intent on chasing a personal best. If you fall into this category, a fast marathon course is essential. After all, you have zero chance of achieving a PB if you enter the Snowdonia Marathon, which includes 1,685 metres of ascent. You’re also likely to end up with very sore calves and quads!

Luckily, there are a few flat marathons for runners hoping to smash their personal records over a 26.2-mile course. And if you can’t face the idea of all that training, visit OnlineCasinos and find an online casino where you can place a bet on one of the pro athletes who will be out to break a record or two. OnlineCasinos lists casinos with the best welcome bonuses and rates them too.

Read on to discover which marathon races are the flattest, with the best PB potential.

Edinburgh Marathon

Edinburgh has a flat and very fast course and Runners World voted it the fastest marathon in the UK. If you are chasing a PB, this is the race for you.

Edinburgh Marathon is extremely popular, with both casual runners and elite runners. It attracts more than 30,000 runners each year and is the second-largest marathon after London, so it is a good idea to get your entry in early if you want to compete.

One of the great things about Edinburgh is that the support is excellent. Some less popular marathons have large sections with few spectators, which makes it hard for any runners who are struggling. In a typical year, tens of thousands of people line the route to cheer runners on, and it makes a big difference!

Another reason to sign-up for Edinburgh is that the course is very scenic and takes in a lot of the most famous parts of the Old Town. You will pass Greyfriars Bobby, run along the Royal Mile, and go through the Prince’s Street Gardens. It’s a fantastic course!

Manchester Marathon

Manchester Marathon has a fantastic reputation for being fast, flat, and very well supported. This one takes place in the spring and is an excellent race to target if you don’t get a place at London. In 2015, Manchester Marathon was voted the Best Marathon in the UK for the second time, which goes to show just how amazing this race is. It’s also the fourth most popular marathon in Europe, in a strong field that contains the Rome Marathon, Paris Marathon, and Berlin Marathon.

Why is Manchester so popular? Aside from the speed of the course, with no horrific hills to sap your will to live, there is entertainment around the course, with bands and singers there to keep tired legs going. In addition, the race finishes in Man United’s home at Trafford Park, which is sure to appeal to footy fans.

If you do enter Manchester, keep an eye out for Olympians, as the course usually attracts some of the world’s best elite runners.

Blackpool Marathon

The seaside resort town of Blackpool is famous for its promenade light displays, but it is equally famous for the annual Blackpool Marathon. The course is fast and flat, and you can score a PB running down the iconic promenade.

The Blackpool Marathon is a two-lap course, which might not appeal to everyone. But it attracts thousands of runners and there is lots of support along the course. You get to run along the famous Golden Mile, with amusement arcades on one side and the sea on the other. The course then takes runners out to Lytham St Annes, where there is a turnaround point, all the way back through Blackpool to Cleveleys, before heading back into town again.

Enter this race if you fancy making a weekend of it. You can run the marathon while the rest of your family chills on the beach or blow their pocket money in the arcades.

Milton Keynes Marathon

MK Marathon starts in the city centre, but soon winds out into the countryside. It’s a great race for novices new to the marathon distance, but equally, because the course is fast and flat, the Milton Keynes marathon also attracts more experienced runners.

As well as lovely scenery along the route, which takes runners through country parks, woodland, and past lakes, you can look forward to a fantastic stadium finish. The race is limited to 3,000 runners, so the route won’t be too crowded if you dislike having to fight through the crowds, but there is still plenty of atmosphere to keep runners motivated.

This event is also a qualifier for London and Boston if that’s important to you.

Yorkshire Marathon

The Yorkshire Marathon is one of the newer full-distance races on the racing calendar, with the first event taking place in 2013. Not surprisingly, thanks to a fast course, this marathon has proven popular and each year, the event grows bigger and more prestigious.

The route is very scenic. It winds through some historic parts of York before meandering out into the adjacent villages, along pretty country lanes. There is plenty of entertainment and support along the route, which will distract you from the pain of the last six miles.

If the Yorkshire Marathon is on your bucket list, make sure you enter early, as places usually sell out quickly.

Other flat marathons for PB chasers include Chester Marathon, Abingdon Marathon, and the most iconic of them all, London Marathon. And if a marathon is a step too far, why not enter a half-marathon instead?

(02/21/2022) Views: 3,001 ⚡AMP

Run the fast and flat Edinburgh Marathon - voted the fastest in the UK by Runners World and be part of Scotland's biggest running festival on May 2022

The Edinburgh marathon is one of the best events on the long-distance running calendar, and organisers were proud to announce it’s back in full swing following a COVID-19 hit year. A date is set, and crowds will be back running the course through the Scottish capital following the relaxation of UK coronavirus rules in the summer. Organisers, runners and fans are excited to see the return of what is a real favourite and one of the world’s most scenic marathons. It’s also another sign that Scottish sport is heading full steam towards recovery.

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival, with its full marathon, half marathon, relay, 10k, 5k and junior 5k, 2k, 1.5k and 1k, will take place in the gorgeous and historic city on 28 and 29 May 2022. Last year’s event took place, but it was a virtual run with entrants from all over the world mapping out a course and distance near them and logging their routes and times on the EMF site. The runners raised money for charity, completed personal bests, run with family members or in memory of loved ones. It wasn’t the kind of festival atmosphere we have come to love about the Edinburgh Marathon, but it was a memorable experience.

You don’t have to run long distances to enjoy the weekend, of course. There are many ways you can get closer to the action if you are unable to enter. Armchair fans can watch the marathon live on TV and place bets on the outcome, choosing their favourite distance runner and conducting a sportsbook review to see which bookie is offering the most generous odds on them recording the fastest time.

In addition to the marathon winner betting, the leading bookies also have several eye-catching specials, including a podium finish, winning nation, best finishing Brit and more. There’s something for all fans of online gambling to enjoy. The Edinburgh marathon is an exciting run but landing a profit from the occasion is an even more thrilling experience.

Why everyone loves the Edinburgh marathon

The last two Edinburgh marathons have been virtual events which was a huge blow for the event, the charities involved and the businesses in Edinburgh that enjoy the financial boost of having runners, fans and volunteers arrive in the city from across the globe. It has been a difficult two years for the city in general, but the wait will make the return of the Edinburgh marathon even more interesting.

Why is there so much excitement in the air ahead of the spring return, and why does the Edinburgh marathon hold a special place in the hearts of professional runners, amateurs and fundraisers? There are many reasons for EMF’s popularity. For the pros in town to record a personal best time and have a crack at the course record or even the world record, Edinburgh is great because it is one of the flattest courses on the circuit. It lends itself well to runners with pace and has thrown up some eye-catching times over the years. That has been true of both the marathon and the half marathon.

The course record was set by Joel Kiptoo of Kenya when recording an astounding 2.13.33. The fastest female ever to complete the Edinburgh marathon was Zinaida Semenova from Russia, who posted an as-yet unbeaten time of 2.33.36. Will either of those records be broken this year? It’s certainly possible as runners seem to get faster every season. The last Briton to win the race was Phil Nicholls in 2011. Since then, we’ve had one Ethiopian champion and seven Kenyan winners. Another attraction of the EMF is the scenery of the course. The marathon takes in some of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks and locations from both the Old Town and the New Town. It isn’t all for the tourists, though. The course covers much of the city, allowing followers to see the splendour of the parliament buildings as well as some of the city’s poorest areas. It is the best way to see the true Edinburgh in all its glory.

When entering the marathon, half marathon or one of the other races, you’ll start in Holyrood Park, then take in the likes of Grassmarket, Princes Street, Easter Road and Meadowbank Stadium.

(11/13/2021) Views: 2,191 ⚡AMP

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.

(03/08/2021) Views: 1,405 ⚡AMP
by Alasdair Clark

2021 Edinburgh Marathon, organizers remain optimistic event can go ahead in May

Edinburgh Marathon Festival organizers remain optimistic the events can go ahead as planned in May despite the coronavirus crisis.

Those who have signed up to participate were issued an update this week which said that all being well the festival will take place as planned on May 29 and 30.

Scheduled for the weekend is the full 26.2-mile marathon, the EMF half marathon, relay race, 10k, 5k, junior 5k, junior 2k, junior 1.5k and kids' kilometre.

Entrants were told that a number of measures have already been implemented to allow the event to take place should it be permitted.

As well as an increase in hygiene stations, organisers say there will be a 50 per cent reduction in participant activity to allow for social distancing, and personalised information packs giving detailed guidance which must be followed by those taking part.

Should Covid-19 scupper the festival then virtual events will take place across the weekend instead and participants will be given a voucher for a percentage of their entry fee which can be used towards other events up until 31 December. They'll also be given the option of deferring to the 22 event if they don not wish to take part virtually.

Regular updates will be given to runners in the coming weeks, and a final decision will be made by the first week of March.

Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday that there were reasons to be cautiously optimistic in the ongoing battle against Covid-19.

She said: "Our figures suggest that the lockdown is starting to work. This is the first day in a long time that test positivity has been as low as 6.9 per cent. Under 7 per cent.

"So we are starting to see some cautious grounds for optimism that what we are doing right now is working. But we can’t be complacent about that against a virus that has learned to transmit more quickly."

However the First Minister did warn we perhaps shouldn't expect to see any large-scale events taking place across the country this summer.

(01/23/2021) Views: 1,329 ⚡AMP
by Robert Fairnie

Mike Lewis-Copeland finished the Edinburgh Marathon despite a broken leg

Despite searing pain for 10 miles an intrepid runner discovered he had completed the Edinburgh Marathon with a broken leg.

Mike Lewis-Copeland, 39 felt a twinge at mile 16, near Prestonpans, but rode the wave of adrenaline, and his own determination, to finish the race in 4 hours 30 seconds.

It was only after a cautionary trip to minor injuries that Mike was told he had fractured his fibula.

“The nurse asked me if I’d fallen in a pothole or if there had been an impact but nothing had happened,” Mike explained. “Obviously I didn’t thing it was a fracture. I just kept focussing on finishing it, and would worry about the pain after it.

“I had been joking on the train over how stupid it would be to keep going with a break and now here I am. I thought it was maybe a tendon but had no idea I had fractured it.

It did get to the stage that I was limping a lot and at times having to drag my leg but I just kept counting down the miles."

After suffering a minor muscular injury during the London Marathon in April, Mike knew it would be harder to stop and start again so just "grizzed it out".

"I was like Dory singing 'just keep swimming' in the Finding Nemo film. I kept saying to myself 'just keep running, just keep running'.

"I was thinking that I only had 10 miles to go, then 9 miles, then 8 miles and I counted all the way down knowing that after I had crossed the finish line I could sit down and deal with the problem. The pain was totally different to injuries I had experienced before.

After resting at home in Kelty on Sunday, Mike knew on Monday he would need to get proper treatment to treat what he thought was a tendon problem.

"Running is a big thing for me and I was really looking forward to taking part in my first ultramarathon in July," Mike said. "So I knew I needed to have someone take a look at it and after some poking and prodding from the nurse and an x-ray I was told it was a fracture, likely the result of an early stress fracture.

"I have no idea how I managed to keep going - a mix of determination and adrenaline I reckon. It must have dulled the pain because I tried to make the kids beds and that was harder and more painful than running the marathon!"

(05/30/2019) Views: 2,168 ⚡AMP

Wilf Scolding known by millions as Rhaegar Targaryen on The Game of Thrones is running the Edinburgh Marathon

Wilf is known by millions as Rhaegar Targaryen, the character he played in hit TV series Game of Thrones, but on Sunday Wilf Scolding will be taking on the much more likeable role of fundraiser as he runs Edinburgh Marathon on behalf of children’s charity – Mary’s Meals.

The Welsh actor has raised more than £1,000 already for the charity that provides meals for chronically poor children across 18 developing countries around the globe, including Malawi, Zambia, South Sudan, Haiti, India and Zimbabwe.

The 29-year-old was inspired to take on the marathon, despite having never previously ran more than a few miles, after he was gifted The Shed That Fed a Million Children, a book written by Mary’s Meals founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow for his birthday.

The Game of Thrones actor explained: “It opened my eyes to how lucky I was and how unlucky some people can be.

“They feed just over 1.4 million children in places of education across the world. All too often in developing countries children cannot go to school because they are working alongside their parents to put food on the table.

“They are trapped in this cycle of poverty because they do not have access to an education.

“Mary’s Meals, by providing food in a place of education, breaks this cycle of poverty. 

Wilf has utilised his thousands of Twitter followers to raise funds for the charity by continuing to share his training progress as well as his dedication to ending world hunger across his social media platforms.

Commenting on Wilf’s efforts, Frank Nelson, Head of Fundraising at Mary’s Meals, said: “We are extremely grateful to Wilf for supporting Mary’s Meals and helping to raise awareness of our charity. We wish him the very best of luck with Sunday’s marathon.

“Our work would not be possible without the generosity of supporters like Wilf who are inspired to make a difference.”

(05/24/2019) Views: 2,152 ⚡AMP

Jack Brodie who had skin cancer is set to run Edinburgh Marathon

A Scottish man diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 16 is preparing to run in his first marathon alongside touring the country giving talks in schools about the illness.

Jack Brodie will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support by running in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on 26 May.

The 21-year-old from Edinburgh was originally given the life-changing diagnosis as he was “trying to make my sixth and final year of school some sort of success”.

However, after a successful operation and subsequent treatment Jack was told that he was finally cancer-free.

“For me, the days with cancer will never end and I will always be attached to it in some way, or another,” he said. 

“I still remember the beige walls in the doctor’s office when I was given the gut-wrenching diagnosis. Macmillan were there with every step of the way from my diagnosis and I maintain being friends with my Macmillan nurse.

“My diagnosis completely changed my life and the lives of those around me.

“Having seen the effect the disease has, I’ll be running for the others affected by cancer.”

Jack has written a moving blog account of his experience called ‘War Wounds: what it’s like to be 16 and told you have cancer’, in which he lays bare the experience.

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is Scotland’s largest running event and will involve thousands of runners putting on their running shoes in the Scottish capital and covering 26.2 miles.

Last year Macmillan raised more than £580,000 in the one weekend as thousands of runners put on the green Macmillan T-shirt.

Michelle Campbell, fundraising manager in Scotland for Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “We’re so grateful to all our runners taking on the Edinburgh Marathon challenge and wish them the best of luck for race day.

(05/14/2019) Views: 2,045 ⚡AMP

Edinburgh Marathon champion Julius Kiplagat Korir, hopes to claim victory at this year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon

Julius Kipyego Keter, who finished second at the 2017 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon and Edinburgh Marathon champion Julius Kiplagat Korir will race this year’s Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon slated for October 28 in Nairobi. Keter, who is yet to compete this year, won the Mérida Marathon in Mexico in January last year in 2:21:22, before finishing second at Hong Kong’s Standard Chartered Marathon in 2:10:34 a month later. Keter would then settle for second again at the Santiago de Chile Marathon in a personal best 2:09:55 in April while Korir, who won Edinburgh Marathon in 2:17:13 last year, is fresh from claiming victory at Las Palmas Gran Canaria Marathon in 2:18:14 in Spain. Speaking during the sponsorship launch at Uhuru Park, Nairobi on Thursday, Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon local organising committee chairman, Peter Gitau disclosed that Keter and Kori are part of the 10,000 participants, who have so far registered for the event.

(11/19/2018) Views: 2,647 ⚡AMP

Peter Redwood-Smith was not going to let a knee issue get in the way of his epic Challenge

Peter Redwood-Smith, 23, is spreading awareness for a number of causes by running 52 races in 52 weeks, was just five miles into the gruelling course when disaster struck. But Peter was determined to keep going as he bid to raise cash for a number of good causes. Peter, who travelled to Edinburgh (UK) from Essex, said he was in terrible pain as he hobbled around the Edinburgh Marathon course. And it’s all part of his epic challenge to run 52 races in 52 weeks for charity. Despite being one of the last to finish, Peter is still hugely proud of his achievement. "I’m running fifty two races in fifty two weeks fundraising and spreading awareness for many great causes. “I travelled over 400 miles on Saturday from Rayleigh Essex to Edinburgh to take part in the marathon on Sunday. “The Edinburgh Marathon was the 28th race in my challenge, but I messed up my knee the week prior to the race. “While the sensible thing would’ve been pulling out of the race, I was determined to run it and support Glasgow Children’s Hospital in the process.” (05/30/2018) Views: 1,838 ⚡AMP

Edinburgh Deadline This Sunday

Many of us will begin 2018 by setting goals for the year ahead – why not add a marathon with great PB potential to that list? Edinburgh Marathon (27 May) is one of the biggest and best the UK has to offer - standard entries, which are set to sell out for the 10th successive year close at midnight on Sunday 7 January. The flat and fast course makes Edinburgh perfect for a PB. That, teamed with picturesque views and friendly Scottish support, makes Edinburgh a great marathon choice. (01/04/2018) Views: 1,587 ⚡AMP