The fourth Edinburgh marathon started at 9am from Princes Street.
It was reported that some 9,500 were at the line up. About 4,500 were in the full marathon whilst the remainder were the first leg of the “Hairy Haggis Team Relay”. The weather was good; no cloud in the sky but the temperature was in the 70s.
Passing Edinburgh Castle on the left and turning into Lothian Road. Beyond Tollcross it goes into the wider roads and the meadows and into the narrower streets of the ‘Auld Toon’ at Cowgate. This part of the city blends the old and new architcture , the predominant building being the Scottish Parliament Building. A short way then past the Royal Holyrood Palace, which apparently dates from 1498. The route follows the roads beyond Meadowbank Stadium and onto a gentle but long downhill stretch. Then the Firth of Forth and left away from Edinburgh onto Silverknows esplanade and towards Crammond which was the turning point and halfway. You then retraced your steps along the West Shore, Granton Harbour then Ocean Terminal where the HMY Britannia is on view. Portobello Promenade marked the 22 miles point with the last four miles uphill to Holyrood Park again and a very welcome finish line.