Record number of runners to give marathon effort in city

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 11:18

THOUSANDS of runners will take to the streets tomorrow for this year's Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon.

A record 17,000 entrants are limbering up for the event, with 13,000 of them planning to complete the whole course, while the rest take part in relay teams.

With thousands of spectators expected to line the route, road closures will be in place from the early hours of the morning.

The race, reckoned to be one of the UK's easiest marathons because it is so flat, begins at Regent Road. Runners will pound the streets of Lochend, Leith Links and Seafield on their way to Portobello, then head along the coast as far as Gosford House, before doubling back to the finish line at Musselburgh Racecourse.

Leading the way will be a field of elite runners including Andi Jones, who was the first British man home in the London Marathon, and favourites in the women's race, Holly Rush and Toni McIntosh.

As well as runners attempting a new personal best, more than 200 charities will be looking forward to the day, which is expected to raise more than 3.5 million for good causes.

One of this year's official charities is Macmillan Cancer Support, which expects a record number of 538 people to take part on its behalf –well over twice last year's figure.

The charity hopes to raise more than 250,000 from the event to fund its work with cancer patients.

Director of Macmillan in Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson, said: "We are absolutely delighted so many people have signed up to run the Edinburgh Marathon for Macmillan. This is a huge increase on last year and we are just very grateful that so many people believe Macmillan is a charity worth raising money for.

"All of the money the Macmillan runners raise will be used to fund our vital cancer services so when they cross the finish line they'll have double the reason to feel proud."

Among those running for the charity is Bridget Stevens, chairwoman of Merchiston Community Council, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002.

She is taking part in a relay team with her sister and two nephews, and said: "Macmillan are wonderful, they provide support for cancer patients and their families and train many of the nurses that work at Maggie's centres, which I made great use of when I was being treated."

The earliest road closures will be at 5am around the start at Waterloo Place and Regent Road, lasting until mid morning. From 6am until 10.30am roads around Abbeyhill, Queen's Drive and Meadowbank Terrace will be closed. Streets through Marionville, Lochend and Seafield will close from 6am until 11am, while Portobello Promenade, New Street in Musselburgh and Goose Green Crescent will see closures between 6am and 11.30am.

Balcarres Road will close northbound between 6am and 1.30pm, with Millhill closed between Balcarres Road and Linkfield Road from 6am until noon. Later stretches of the course will be closed from 6am until 4pm. Some of the roads affected will remain open in one direction.

In several places, roads near to the course will also close and parking restrictions will be in place – for full details of road closures see www.edinburgh-marathon.com.

A shoe-in to finish .. even at 98!

EVERY race needs a sporting hero and tomorrow's will surely be 98-year-old Fauja Singh.

Mr Singh is the oldest entrant in the Albert Bartlett Edinburgh Marathon and is part of what claims to be the world's oldest marathon relay team, Sikhs in the City, with a combined age of 337.

Mr Singh, who lives in Essex, made his marathon debut at the age of 89. He has since completed seven marathons and holds 12 world, European and British records in the over-90s age group.

He trains by taking an eight to 10 mile walk/run six days a week, leaving home at 8am and following a regular route, stopping to catch up with friends throughout the day.

When anyone suggests it might be time to hang up his running shoes, his reaction is unequivocal: "I ignore them as invariably they are all younger than me. I know what is good for me and what I enjoy."