Loch Ness Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Loch Ness Marathon is an annual marathon race in Scotland
, held along the famous loch, Loch Ness
, ending in Inverness
. The event is part of the Festival of Running, held annually at the beginning of October. This also includes a 10K race and a 5K fun run, and attracts over 8,000 participants across all of the events. The first prize in the marathon is approx 1,400 GBP.
The marathon starts near Whitebridge
, and follows the southern side of Loch Ness, passing through the villages of Foyers
, Inverfarigaig
and Dores
. The route goes into Inverness, crossing the Ness Bridge in the city centre, then finishing at Bught Park
.
The marathon supports several charities, including Highland Hospice, Leonard Cheshire
, Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, Marie Curie Cancer Care
, Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland, and the Scottish Community Foundation.
Kenyan Zakary Kihara was a convincing winner of the 2007 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon in a time of 2 hours 23 minutes. The women's race was won by Banuelia Katesigwa from Tanzania in a time of 2:55. The 2007 event saw 5600 people take part in the three main events - marathon, 10 km, and the 5 km with fifty different nationalities were represented.
In 2005 Simon Pride from Fochabers won in 2:30:15 whilst Julia Myatt won the women's event in 2.51.56. 18 nationalities were represented in the 2005 event.
Winners of the 2010 event were Tomas Abyu of Salford Harriers in a time of 2:20:50 and Dinknesh Mekash Tefera from Ethiopia in 02:46:37, a new course record for the women's race.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, held along the famous loch, Loch Ness
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately southwest of Inverness. Its surface is above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie"...
, ending in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. The event is part of the Festival of Running, held annually at the beginning of October. This also includes a 10K race and a 5K fun run, and attracts over 8,000 participants across all of the events. The first prize in the marathon is approx 1,400 GBP.
The marathon starts near Whitebridge
Whitebridge, Scotland
Whitebridge is a small village on the southeast side of Loch Ness in northern Scotland. It is roughly 25 miles from Inverness and eight miles from Fort Augustus. Whitebridge is home to fewer than 100 people spread over roughly 5 miles. It is a very popular tourist destination. Most of the...
, and follows the southern side of Loch Ness, passing through the villages of Foyers
Foyers
Foyers is the name of a village in the Highland local government council area of Scotland, lying on the east shore of Loch Ness...
, Inverfarigaig
Inverfarigaig
Inverfarigaig is a hamlet at the mouth of the River Farigaig, on the south east shore of Loch Ness in Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland.The villages of Bunloit and Balbeg are directly across Loch Ness....
and Dores
Dores
Dores is a village located on the south shore of Loch Ness, 10 km south west of the city of Inverness, in the Highland council area of Scotland.The annual RockNess music festival takes place in fields to the north of the village....
. The route goes into Inverness, crossing the Ness Bridge in the city centre, then finishing at Bught Park
Bught Park
Bught Park is the largest park in the city of Inverness, Scotland, and is situated on the western bank of the River Ness. It is home to the Inverness Highland Games and a small scale outdoor music festival. It is located next to the city's sports centre, swimming pool and BMX track...
.
The marathon supports several charities, including Highland Hospice, Leonard Cheshire
Leonard Cheshire
Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and Two Bars, DFC was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War....
, Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care
Marie Curie Cancer Care is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which provides nursing care, free of charge, to terminally ill people, giving them the chance to choose to be cared for at home...
, Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland, and the Scottish Community Foundation.
Kenyan Zakary Kihara was a convincing winner of the 2007 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon in a time of 2 hours 23 minutes. The women's race was won by Banuelia Katesigwa from Tanzania in a time of 2:55. The 2007 event saw 5600 people take part in the three main events - marathon, 10 km, and the 5 km with fifty different nationalities were represented.
In 2005 Simon Pride from Fochabers won in 2:30:15 whilst Julia Myatt won the women's event in 2.51.56. 18 nationalities were represented in the 2005 event.
Winners of the 2010 event were Tomas Abyu of Salford Harriers in a time of 2:20:50 and Dinknesh Mekash Tefera from Ethiopia in 02:46:37, a new course record for the women's race.