Athletics: Marathon picks up the pace

In a recent survey by a respected running magazine, the Edinburgh Marathon was adjudged to be the quickest in the UK. "It's potentially the fastest marathon in the world," proclaims race director Neil Kilgour. "We go as much downhill as you're allowed, about one metre inside the IAAF's legal limit."

The science that measures the ease of the course may be called into question by many among an expected 10,000 competitors tomorrow as they defy the natural wind tunnels of East Lothian. However, in its ninth edition, the capital race has begun to attract those domestic athletes who are prioritising speedier times ahead of the greater prize pots available elsewhere. Martin Williams, the Midlands-based Scot who was part of Great Britain's team at last summer's European Championships, will start as favourite in the men's event, just a month after he finished 26th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes.

The 2009 winner expects to be challenged by his own training partner Phil Nicholls in his 26-mile debut. "I think it's a much deeper field this year with a lot of good domestic opposition," said Ross Houston. The 32-year-old, who by day is a veterinary researcher at Edinburgh University, has a personal best of 2:22:49, set in London last year. "I'd think there are five or six of us who could do well. I took my PB down by almost ten minutes in my second marathon. This is my third and I don't think I'll be cutting that kind of margin off again. But I want to keep chipping away at my time and it's a pretty good course to do that."

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Colchester-based veteran Sarah Stradling heads the women's entry list for the elite marathon which will start at London Road. Andy Douglas will bid for a repeat of his victory in Inverness last month at the adjoining half-marathon which begins at 8am on Regent Road. For the first time, 5 and 10kmraces, plus children's events, will be staged today as organisers of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival attempt to widen their net.

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