Course Map
About this Race
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is widely regarded as one of the fastest marathons in the UK, a net-downhill, often wind-aided course that heads out from the Scottish capital and runs east along the coast toward Musselburgh and Prestonpans. The flat-to-descending profile and frequently helpful tailwind make it a popular personal-best hunting ground, despite a lengthy out-and-back section that divides opinion. Held in May, it usually offers cool, breezy conditions ideal for hard racing. The coastal scenery is pleasant if the crowd support is thinner on the out-and-back stretches. It suits the PB chaser who prioritizes a fast, forgiving course over continuous spectator energy.
Course Insight
Edinburgh has a reputation as a fast, flat course, much of it a long coastal out-and-back where you can settle into rhythm and chase a personal best. The flatness means restraint is self-imposed on the early kilometres. The catch is the exposed shoreline, where wind can build on the open return leg and quietly tax anyone running alone, so share the work. May conditions are generally cool. Run the outbound conservatively and the flat coastal return is yours to push.
Difficulty Breakdown
A fast, runner-friendly course.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 101m
- Elevation loss
- 196m
- Highest point
- 93m
- Lowest point
- 6m
- Net elevation
- -95m
- Start
- Potterrow, just off Edinburgh's Old Town
- Cutoff time
- 6h 30m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:13:33 — Joel Kiptoo (Kenya), 2019
- Women's
- 2:26:52 — Aly Dixon (United Kingdom), 2019
Race History
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival was first held in 2003 and rapidly earned a reputation as one of the fastest marathons in the UK, thanks to a net-downhill, often wind-aided course running east from the Scottish capital along the coast. Its quick layout made it a popular destination for personal bests, despite a long out-and-back section that divides opinion. From its start it grew into one of Scotland's largest running events. Held each May, it draws a big field chasing fast times.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA)
- Best area to stay
- The Old Town for atmospheric central hotels, the New Town for elegant Georgian stays, and Musselburgh or Portobello for seaside options near the finish.
- Getting to the start
- The start is on Potterrow in the city centre near the University of Edinburgh; walk from central hotels or take a short ride, with coaches returning from the Musselburgh finish.