Edinburgh Meadows Marathon 2025

The course follows several laps around the beautiful Meadows in the heart of Edinburgh.

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Your ticket entitles you to a brilliant day out running through the beautiful Edinburgh Meadows! You will receive a unique runner's number and accurate timing chip, with results posted to our website throughout the day. You have access to toilets, changing rooms and bag drop facilities on the day. On finishing, runners will receive a medal made from recycled milk bottle lids and will have the option to choose between receiving a finisher's t-shirt or planting a tree with Trees Not Tees.

08.30AM Registration and bag drop opens

10.20AM Full Marathon/Relay starts

11.20AM 10K starts

1.20PM Half Marathon starts

2.50PM 5K starts

Registration closes 30 minutes before each race. A warm-up will also be held 15 minutes before each race.

Is the Meadows Marathon really a “marathon”?
Yes and no! We host several different races and distances: 5K, 10K, half marathon, full marathon and the relay race (a marathon-length race for teams of 3 to 9 runners).
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How many laps is my race?
Excluding the start/finish sections, each race has the following number of laps:
5k - 2 laps
10k - 4 laps
Half Marathon - 9 laps
Full Marathon/Relay - 18 laps

Does it take place at The Meadows?
Yes! Our event follows a clockwise circuit around the Meadows in Edinburgh. Each race has different lap counts and turn-around points on Middle Meadow Walk. Please see the map below for route details. What3Words: ///quiet.tested.beam

How accurate is the course?
We are currently working on getting our course measurement independently verified and will update this page as soon as possible.

Can I use my Meadows Marathon time as Good for Age?
Yes, you can use your Meadows Marathon time as "Good for Age" (GFA). "Good for Age" is a classification for runners who achieve a qualifying time in a marathon within a specific age category. Since the Meadows Marathon events are registered and licensed by Scottish Athletics, your marathon time from this event can be used as a GFA qualifying time.

Can I dress up?
Of course, fancy dress is always encouraged! Costumes provide a great excuse to take the race easy, or equally, encourages spectators to cheer you on. If you have any concerns regarding the appropriateness of your costume, please get in touch with [email protected] We reserve the right to refuse entry to any runner wearing a fancy dress costume deemed by the Event Officials to be unsafe or distasteful.
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Why didn’t I get a t-shirt? What is TreesNotTees?
As race day merchandise is often left unworn, Meadows Marathon has teamed up with Trees Not Tees to offer a greener alternative. When registering, you were asked to choose between receiving a Meadows Marathon 2024 t-shirt or planting two trees in the UK.
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Trees Not Tees are planting native forests of oak, birch, rowan and alder in UK plots. They have a certified planting scheme and will always plant the right tree in the right place. Once they have planted your trees, they will send you a certificate (via email) with a picture of the young tree, details of the species of tree they planted and a geo-location address on what3words.
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Can I bring my dog/baby stroller/walking sticks etc. to the race?
No dogs (except guide dogs), baby joggers, baby strollers, skateboards, Nordic sticks, rollerblades, unauthorised bicycles or any other unauthorised wheeled device will be permitted on the course. Spectators are welcome to bring any of the above, but they are not permitted on the course

Do you have a cloakroom?
Yes, we do! It is located next to our registration desk.

• To register for any race within the Meadows Marathon you must be 18 years of age or older on event day.