About the Edinburgh Marathon Festival…

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a fantastic running event with a friendly and celebratory atmosphere which is very well supported in Edinburgh and East Lothian. Fast and flat, this course was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World, so it’s ideal whether it’s your first marathon, or whether you’re looking for a personal best. The Edinburgh Marathon Festival has sold out every year since 2008 and is the second largest marathon event in the UK, behind only London.

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2024 takes place over the weekend of 25 and 26 May.

  • The EMF 5K and 10K events are held on Saturday 25th May in Holyrood Park in the city centre.
  • The Edinburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay are held on Sunday 26th, starting in the city centre and finishing in Musselburgh

We’ll look forward to welcoming you to our Prostate Scotland stand in the Charity Village at the finish!  We’ll have drinks, snacks and a goody bag ready for you.  You’re welcome to use our stand as a meeting point for team mates, friends and family.

The Edinburgh Marathon route begins by Holyrood Park, near the foot of Arthur’s Seat

…where runners from all over the world can run past many of the famous city landmarks.  Starting from Holyrood Park Road with the picturesque backdrop of Holyrood Park, this fantastic city centre route brings you past the impressive Surgeons’ Hall, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832.  It then races past Scotland’s largest dance and opera house, the Festival Theatre, which comes alive with a variety of world-class productions, especially during the summer months.

Next, you’ll join the Royal Mile before passing by the modern Scottish Parliament building and the historic Holyrood Palace opposite, home to Scottish kings and queens. The route then runs through Holyrood Park in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano.  It races by Meadowbank Sports Stadium, scene of Commonwealth Games glory for runners such as Liz McColgan.  It then turns north, through Craigentinny, before reaching Portobello Promenade for some bracing seaside air.

The route then stretches into East Lothian

…along Musselburgh Road before reaching Musselburgh Racecourse then on to Prestonpans, passing Cockenzie and Port Seton. It then races on along Scotland’s golf coast which boasts 22 courses including some of the world’s oldest and most admired such as Gullane and Muirfield. The route reaches the village of Longniddry before looping around Gosford House, and heading back past Musselburgh Links, the famous golf course officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest golf course in the world.

The marathon finishes in playing fields at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School.  This is where you’ll get a chance to rest and recuperate while taking in more of the friendly, celebratory atmosphere.  Please come along to say hello at our Prostate Scotland stand!

We’ll be delighted to support you in any event in the EMF 2024 with:

  • Pre-race information about how to get sponsorship and fundraise and how to make it easy, safe and fun!
  • Specially designed Prostate Scotland running shirt or vest
  • Post-race a Prostate Scotland Certificate of Appreciation

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival will provide to you:

  • Wicking finisher’s t-shirt
  • Accurate chip timing
  • Great finisher’s medal
  • Race recovery pack

We have free charity places available for runners running in aid of Prostate Scotland in all events.

The sponsorship you raise will help us to take forward our work to ensure that even more men and their families can benefit from and receive information and support on prostate issues.  You can read more about our work here.

**Any person under the age of 16 wishing to participate in the event must be accompanied by an adult.

Register for a child’s place with accompanying adult place

I would like to register for a free child place

  • Parent/guardian details:
    I declare I will be 18 years or over on the day of the event. I declare that I will not participate in the event unless I am medically fit on that day, and in any event I will participate at my own risk. I accept that Prostate Scotland will not be liable for any loss, damage, action, claim, costs, expenses, which may arise in consequence of my participation in the event. I shall do nothing that brings the name of Prostate Scotland into disrepute and not make any public statements on behalf of the charity. Any reference that I make to Prostate Scotland will ensure that I state that I am raising funds in aid of Prostate Scotland. I undertake not to collect funds in the street in aid of Prostate Scotland without obtaining a local authority licence. If I am cycling in aid of Prostate Scotland I understand that Prostate Scotland expects me to wear a helmet for my own health and safety. I am happy to receive information and fundraising materials from Prostate Scotland.
  • Please select their size of t shirt (unisex). If you'd like to order more than one, please let us know quantity and size in the 'Your Message' box below.
    Please note that a child must be over 14 to fundraise in aid of us. We are happy to fund a place(s) for a child or children up to the age of 18 to take part in support of Prostate Scotland. We ask that their parent/guardian signs the following disclaimer: I declare that my child/ward will be under 18 on the day of the event. I declare that they will not participate in the event unless they are medically fit on that day, and in any event I accept that they will compete at their own risk and with my permission to do so. I accept that Prostate Scotland will not be liable for any loss, damage, action, claim, costs, expenses, which may arise in consequence of their participation in the event. I will ensure that the staff supervising the children's event have the necessary supervisory qualifications from Disclosure Scotland. My child(ren)/ward shall do nothing that brings the name of Prostate Scotland into disrepute and not make any public statements on behalf of the charity. Any reference that my child(ren)/ward make(s) to Prostate Scotland will state that they are raising funds in aid of Prostate Scotland (if they are over 14). I undertake they will not collect funds in the street in aid of Prostate Scotland. If they are cycling in aid of Prostate Scotland. I understand that Prostate Scotland expects me to ensure they wear a helmet for their health and safety.