12,000 have marathon licked

Published on Sunday 31 May 2009 22:13

FROM elite runners to participants in fancy dress and even an amputee competitor using crutches, almost 12,000 people braved the fierce heat yesterday to complete the capital's most popular ever marathon.

A record number of people donned their running gear or superhero costumes to conquer the gruelling 26.2-mile Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon course.

Some participants struggled with the heat as temperatures soared to 22C in the middle of the day.

However, flagging runners were buoyed by roaring spectators, who gathered in their thousands to cheer them over the finish line at Musselburgh Race Course.

Organisers said there were no serious health incidents, and branded the seventh Edinburgh marathon the best one yet.

Out of more than 13,000 who started the run, about 12,000 competed it – 8,260 solo runners and 3,728 in relay teams.

The warm conditions did not prevent race winner Martin Williams, 31, shaving more than a minute off his personal best, with a time of 2:18:24.

The Dudley-based police officer, who has a Scottish mother and runs for Scotland, reached the qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games.

He collected 2,250 in prize money.

Holly Rush, from Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, was the fastest woman, clocking up a finishing time of 2:41:38.

The final participant to cross the line was Shaho Qadir. Despite losing both his legs in a bomb attack on his Kurdish home town, the London-based amputee managed to complete the course with the help of crutches in just over eight hours.

A team from Edinburgh's Napier University won the Hairy Haggis Relay Race with a time of 2:25.

Neil Kilgour, race director, said: "Given the weather and the conditions, it was another fantastic success.

"The conditions were certainly challenging but everything has worked. There have been no major incidents."

There was some criticism from participants over two temporary water shortages, but Mr Kilgour said stocks were quickly replenished.

Medical teams treated about 160 runners. Ten more required hospital treatment.

Mr Kilgour made the decision to shorten the course for a few hundred of the slowest runners – people who averaged more than 18-minute miles – by cutting off a loop of about three miles at the Gosford turning point.

He said this was due to concern over the welfare of participants who had been out in the sun for many hours.

"From a public safety point of view it's imperative," he said.

Damian O'Looney, spokesman for the marathon, said: "The atmosphere at Musselburgh Racecourse was amazing. There were about 3,000 people cheering and roaring all the runners home."

He added: "For the sheer size it was definitely the best one yet."

Scott Balfour, 62, who has completed more than 40 marathons and has taken part in every 26.2-mile event in Edinburgh, crossed the finish line after two hours, 54 minutes.

He said experience helped him cope with the heat.

"I knew not to try to go too fast and to keep pouring water over my head. Under those conditions, people do begin to wilt and wither."

More than 200 charities will benefit from the event which is expected to raise more than 3.5 million for good causes.