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