On Sunday 26 May, runners descended on Edinburgh to take their place on the startline of the UK’s second-largest marathon. The event is part of Scotland’s biggest running festival, which spanned the whole weekend and celebrated runners of all levels and backgrounds over distances from the 5k to the marathon.
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is renowned for its fabulous atmosphere and support, and the thousands of spectators that flock to encourage the 16,000 athletes that take part in the event are a testament to its grandeur and success.
With only two months to go before the 2024 Olympic Games, marathon fever is at an all time high, and Edinburgh Marathon was one of the last major events before the Olympic marathon in Paris which will be held on the closing day of the games.
Known for its fast course, the marathon boasts a net-downhill elevation profile of almost 90 metres, making it the perfect setting for a PB or a first attempt at the distance. The route is fantastic, too. The start line is on Potterrow in front of the historic McEwan Hall, and the opening miles take runners past some of the most iconic landmarks of the city, such as the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral, and the iconic Edinburgh Castle. The second half of the race includes an out-and-back section along the coast, with the closing stretch swooping back along the beautiful East Lothian shoreline to the finish in Musselburgh.
Not sure which shoe to choose?
In a few simple steps we help you to choose the ideal running shoe for you.
GO TO THE RECOMMENDER
The marathon kicked off at 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the final runners expected around 7 hours later (the cutoff is 6 hours and 30 minutes after the last runner crosses the start line). Fans and well-wishers lined Edinburgh’s streets and vied for prime places in the spectator zone at the finish in Musselburgh to see this year’s runners battle their way to glory.
Highly difficult weather conditions led to a poorer crowd turnout than normal, but that didn't stop the athletes from putting on impressive shows all round.
Women's race
Conditions may have been tough, but the top female runners didn't allow the rain to dampen their performances. It was Johanna Oregan (last year's second-place finisher) who dominated the women's field, finishing in 2:48:22, over five minutes ahead of Lianne Milner. Laura Berns rounded off the podium, coming in comfortably under three hours.
Men's race
The top three runners in the men's field finished in quick succession, with only 70 seconds separating first and third place. It was Moray Pryde, winner of the 2023 Loch Ness Marathon, who bagged the win, finishing in 2:23:14. Tom Charles, last year's second-place finisher, and Jack Blaiklock completed the podium.
Edinburgh Marathon 2024 results
The top three athletes from the women's and men's races are as follows:
Women's results
- Johanna Oregan - 2:48:22 (St Neots Riverside Runners)
- Lianne Milner - 02:53:54 (Cheshire Dragons)
- Laura Berns - 02:58:17
Men's results
- Moray Pryde - 2:23:14 (Lothian RC)
- Tom Charles - 2:23:57 (Chorlton Runners)
- Jack Blaiklock - 2:24:24 (Thames Hare & Hounds)
Live
No official online coverage of the event was available.
For continued updates on the weekend's events, check out Edinburgh Marathon Festival's official Instagram.
Results
The full results for the 2024 Edinburgh Marathon will be published shortly via the event's official website.
Read more news about: Running News
