Marathon already a runaway success

Published on Tuesday 8 January 2008 09:21

THE Edinburgh Marathon is set for a record year after applications to take part in the race soared by more than 25 per cent.

More than 7100 people have applied for a place in the run, beating the record set in 2005. Thousands more are expected to sign up for relay races.

Organisers said the new route introduced in 2007 – which takes in part of the East Lothian coast and finishes at Musselburgh Racecourse – has led to a surge in demand, with one week still to go before entries close.

By contrast, just 5770 runners had signed up before the closing date last year, with relay runners later taking the field up to 7500.

Marathon chief executive Geoff Sims said: “We are absolutely delighted. The marathon is proving so popular because we had such a great event in 2007. The runners loved it, because of both the route and the finish.

“Runners are coming back, and word is spreading.”

In May last year, the finale at Musselburgh Racecourse in particular saw large crowds gather to cheer the athletes home.

The route of this year’s marathon is set to remain virtually the same, particularly as traffic management costs are lower than on longer routes through the Capital.

Organisers hope more than 9000 people will take part this year on May 25.

Mr Sims said: “We hope to pass another major milestone by reaching 10 million raised for charity, and another 10m for the city’s economy over the six years since the marathon started.

“We are going from strength to strength, with runners and sponsors behind us, as well as the people of Edinburgh who came out on the streets last year.”

Yesterday, any remaining financial problems facing the marathon were lifted after a major sponsorship deal was signed.

East Lothian vegetable firm Albert Bartlett is to become the title sponsor for this year’s event after a three-year gap without such support.

In 2006, the marathon was only spared from an embarrassing last-minute cancellation after council chiefs agreed to underwrite almost 140,000 in traffic management fees.

The event, which was reinstated in 2003 after a near 20-year absence, received sponsorship for the first two years from BT Syntegra.

Around 3000 people took part in its first year, growing to 5000 the following year.

Last year, organisers paid their own traffic management costs and sent runners on a new course taking in large swathes of East Lothian, including Gosford House.

Car giant Chevrolet will back the team relay races this year and be secondary sponsor, joining a large team which also includes the Evening News, Real Radio, Strathmore Water and FirstGroup.

The three official charities of the marathon are Kidney Research UK, Hope for Children and Myeloma UK.

&#149 Runners have until January 15 to enter the ballot for this year’s race. Charity entries are available until May 2. To enter visit www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk