Edinburgh Marathon Festival

Wicking finisher’s t-shirt

Accurate chip timing

Tailored training plan

Great finisher’s medal

Race recovery pack

Fantastic running experience

Marathon - 18yrs
Half Marathon - 17yrs
Hairy Haggis Relay - 15yrs
10K - 15yrs
5K - 11yrs

The EMF Kids’ Kilometre is for 3-6 year olds. The junior races are a fantastic way to get children active and encourage them to get involved in running. As with the 5K and 10K races, the routes will be run around the beautiful Holyrood Park.

EMF KIDS KILOMETRE ROUTE
Starting and finishing near the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful, scenic route takes place in Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The first 200m is a slight downhill section towards Queens Drive / Holyrood Gait Roundabout. Runners continue along the side of Dynamic Earth and run along Queens Drive with Holyrood Palace Gardens on their left and the steep slopes of Salisbury Crags on their right. The runners just about reach St. Margaret’s Loch on their right hand side before it doubles back on itself … you’ll have to come back later if you want to feed the ducks! On the return leg, runners can enjoy the views of Holyrood Palace, Calton Hill and Dynamic Earth and the Scottish Parliament Building. Once back through the first roundabout, the runners make a right turn into Holyrood Gait and the final 50m dash to the Finish Line!

The 1.5K - The EMF Junior 1.5K is for 6-8 year olds. The EMF Junior races are a great way to get the whole family involved in Edinburgh Marathon Festival weekend. There are two Junior 1.5K races to choose from – Race 1 and Race 2. The only difference between these two races is their start time – choose which one suits you best!

Race 1 at 1.45pm, Race 2 at 2pm

EMF JUNIOR 1.5K ROUTE
Starting and finishing near the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful, scenic route takes place in Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The first 200m is a slight downhill section towards Queens Drive / Holyrood Gait Roundabout. Runners continue along the side of Dynamic Earth and run along Queens Drive with Holyrood Palace Gardens on their left and the steep slopes of Salisbury Crags on their right. The runners just about reach St. Margaret’s Loch on their right hand side before it doubles back on itself … you’ll have to come back later if you want to feed the ducks! The route passes the 1 km mark and with the runners now more dispersed on the return leg, they can enjoy the views of Holyrood Palace, Calton Hill and Dynamic Earth and the Scottish Parliament Building. Once back through the first roundabout, the runners make a right turn into Holyrood Gait and the final 50m dash to the Finish Line!

The 2K Junior - The EMF Junior 2K is for 9-12 year olds. The EMF Junior races are a great way to get the whole family involved in Edinburgh Marathon Festival weekend. There are two Junior 2K races to choose from – Race 1 and Race 2. The only difference between these two races is their start time – choose which one suits you best!

Race 1 at 2.40pm, Race 2 at 3pm

EMF JUNIOR 2K ROUTE
Starting and finishing near the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful, scenic route takes place in Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The first 200m is a slight downhill section towards Queens Drive / Holyrood Gait Roundabout. Runners continue along the side of Dynamic Earth and run along Queens Drive with Holyrood Palace Gardens on their left and the steep slopes of Salisbury Crags on their right. The runners just about reach St. Margaret’s Loch on their right hand side before it doubles back on itself … you’ll have to come back later if you want to feed the ducks! The route passes the 1 km mark and with the runners now more dispersed on the return leg, they can enjoy the views of Holyrood Palace, Calton Hill and Dynamic Earth and the Scottish Parliament Building. Once back through the first roundabout, the runners make a right turn into Holyrood Gait and the final 50m dash to the Finish Line!

The EMF Junior 5K is for 11-18 year olds and takes place on the Saturday. The event offers a picturesque route around Holyrood Park with stunning panoramic views of the city and Edinburgh Castle. It’s the perfect way for teenagers to get involved in EMF Weekend

EMF JUNIOR 5K ROUTE
Starting and finishing near EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful scenic route takes you around Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The route offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and panoramic views of the city.
Runners start on Queens Drive and after 0.5km the route passes St. Margaret’s Loch before starting the ascent around the east side of Arthur’s Seat before you pass Dunsapie Loch at around 2k. On the far side of Arthur’s seat and approaching the halfway point, runners can enjoy spectacular views of Duddingston Loch below and across the southside of Edinburgh and beyond towards the Pentland Hills with the knowledge that the rest of the route is flat and downhill! As the route continues down the West Side of this famous old volcano you can enjoy the views of the steep slopes on your right and in the distance the cheering masses at the final turn. The last 250m section runs back through the Start Line and then turns left onto Holyrood Gait and the Finish Line.

The EMF 5K takes place on the Saturday and offers a picturesque route around Holyrood Park with stunning panoramic views of the city and Edinburgh CastleThe EMF 5K is a great start to your running journey and a chance to be part of the biggest running festival in Scotland.

EMF 5K ROUTE
Starting and finishing near EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful scenic route takes you around Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The route offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and panoramic views of the city. Runners start on Queens Drive and after 0.5km the route passes St. Margaret’s Loch before starting the ascent around the east side of Arthur’s Seat before you pass Dunsapie Loch at around 2k. On the far side of Arthur’s seat and approaching the halfway point, runners can enjoy spectacular views of Duddingston Loch below and across the southside of Edinburgh and beyond towards the Pentland Hills with the knowledge that the rest of the route is flat and downhill! As the route continues down the West Side of this famous old volcano you can enjoy the views of the steep slopes on your right and in the distance the cheering masses at the final turn. The last 250m section runs back through the Start Line and then turns left onto Holyrood Gait and the Finish Line.

The EMF 10K is an increasingly popular race distance, a great step-up for those who have completed a 5K in the past, but aren’t quite ready for the half marathon distance.

EMF 10K ROUTE
Starting and finishing near the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth, this beautiful, scenic route takes place in Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The route offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and panoramic views of the city.
Runners start on Queens Drive with a 200m downhill section before heading past the steep sides of Arthurs Seat on your right and Dynamic Earth, The Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace on your left. Continuing on towards the 1km mark you will pass St. Margaret’s Loch before starting the ascent around the east side of Arthurs Seat. As you continue the clockwise route around this famous old volcano, you will pass Dunsapie Loch at around 2.5km. Now on the far side of Arthur’s seat at 3km runners can enjoy spectacular views of Duddingston Loch below and across the southside of Edinburgh and beyond towards the Pentland Hills. Approaching the 4km marker you will enjoy a panoramic view of the City. The route then doubles back on itself along Duddingston Low Road at 5km and through Duddingston Village at 6km. The route joins the Innocent Railway Road through 7km and 8km and then heads back up onto Queens Drive. Passing the 9km it’s now downhill all the way, back through the Start Line again and the final 250m dash to the cheering crowds and the finish line on Holyrood Gait.

The Relay - The EMF Relay is a chance for a team of four to join forces and complete the Edinburgh Marathon! The 26.2 miles is split into 4 legs, each runner will run one leg and with each relay leg posing a different challenge, make sure you pick and order your team wisely; which lucky runner will get The Glory Leg?

EMF TEAM RELAY ROUTE
The EMF Hairy Haggis Team Relay is an opportunity for a team of 4 runners to take part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. The 26.2 miles is split into 4 legs, each runner will run one leg. The approximate distance of each leg is shown below:
Leg 1: The Royal Leg – 8.3 miles: Starting on Potterrow in the grounds of one of the oldest Universities in the world, this incredible city centre start takes you through the very heart of Edinburgh. As you pass Greyfriars Bobby on your left, you also take in the National Museum of Scotland on your right, before heading over the High Street and down The Mound. Don’t be surprised if you see a few shoppers stop and cheer as you then run past the Scottish National Gallery and into Princes Street Gardens, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle as your backdrop.

The route then takes in the ‘Gothic Rocket’, otherwise known as the Scott Monument, as it meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast where runners reach the first relay changeover at Fisherrow Links, Musselburgh.
Leg 2: The Cock & Pan Leg – 5.5 miles: The route then crosses the River Esk and past Musselburgh Racecourse and then continues beyond Prestongrange Mining Museum, Prestonpans, the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton where reaching the second relay changeover at Port Seton Links.

Leg 3: The Gosford Leg – 8 miles: It then races on to picturesque East Lothian, along Scotland’s golf coast which boasts 22 courses including some of the world’s oldest and most admired like North Berwick, Gullane and Muirfield. The route passes the village of Longniddry then enters the grounds of Gosford House before looping around and heading back to Port Seton and the final relay changeover.

Leg 4: The Glory Leg – 4.4 miles: Now in the home straight the route passes through Port Seton, Cockenzie and Prestonpans 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. Well done hairies!

Directly preceding the Marathon, the Edinburgh Half Marathon follows the same fast and flat marathon course which was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World, ideal if it’s your first half marathon or you are looking for a PB. The Edinburgh Half Marathon has sold out every year since 2012 and is one of the largest half marathons in the UK.

EMF HALF MARATHON ROUTE
Starting on Potterrow in the grounds of one of the oldest Universities in the world, this incredible city centre start takes you through the very heart of Edinburgh. As you pass Greyfriars Bobby on your left, you also take in the National Museum of Scotland on your right, before heading over the High Street and down The Mound. Don’t be surprised if you see a few shoppers stop and cheer as you then run past the Scottish National Gallery and into Princes Street Gardens, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle as your backdrop. The route then takes in the ‘Gothic Rocket’, otherwise known as the Scott Monument, as it meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast. As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further East on the flat towards the historic village of Preston Pans before turning and heading back towards the beautiful finish line within the vast playing fields of Pinkie School. With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, we believe this is the fastest half marathon route in the world.

Fast & flat, this course was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World, ideal if it’s your first marathon or you are looking for a PB. The Edinburgh Marathon has sold out every year since 2008 and is the second largest marathon in the UK, behind only London. Enjoy a fantastic all-encompassing route which takes in some of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks as well as offering picturesque views along the East Lothian coastline

EDINBURGH MARATHON ROUTE
Starting on Potterrow in the grounds of one of the oldest Universities in the world, this incredible city centre start takes you through the very heart of Edinburgh. As you pass Greyfriars Bobby on your left, you also take in the National Museum of Scotland on your right, before heading over the High Street and down The Mound. Don’t be surprised if you see a few shoppers stop and cheer as you then run past the Scottish National Gallery and into Princes Street Gardens, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle as your backdrop. The route then takes in the ‘Gothic Rocket’, otherwise known as the Scott Monument, as it meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast. As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further East on the flat to Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam. As you turn and head back along the coast, you’ll see the beautiful finish line ahead, one of the greatest sights for any marathon runner! With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, we believe that this is the fastest marathon route in the world.

All your queries answered and more!

Runners and Spectators can purchase an EMF Event Bus ticket to allow easy travel to and from the start and finish areas. On the day tickets will be significantly more expensive to purchase.

It is in your best interests to get the earliest bus possible as this will reduce crowding and waiting time. Please note that the EMF Event Bus pick up point is a 25 min walk from the finish area.

• The start/finish area for the EMF Saturday races and the EMF Hub are located at Dynamic Earth (EH8 8AS) in Holyrood Park
• The start of the Edinburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay is on Potterrow (EH8 9AL) in the city centre. The race will finish at Pinkie (EH21 7HA) St Peter’s Primary School, Musselburgh, approximately 8 miles from Edinburgh city centre.