How do I enter the Edinburgh Marathon?

Entry is through open registration on the MyRunning platform. Registration typically opens around 12 months before race day and sells out well before the event, so it's worth entering early. Charity entries are also available if you miss the standard registration, and these require a fundraising commitment.

Does the Edinburgh Marathon sell out?

Yes, it has sold out every year since 2008. Entry opens approximately 12 months before the race and closes once the field cap is reached, which can happen well in advance. If you want a place, enter as soon as registration opens.

Is the Edinburgh Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes, the Edinburgh Marathon is a Boston qualifier. Note that the course has a net uphill elevation, so your finishing time will depend on how the course conditions play on the day.

What is the course like?

It's a point-to-point route that starts in Edinburgh and finishes in Musselburgh along the East Lothian coast. The course nets uphill overall, with more elevation gain than loss, and the later miles run along exposed coastal terrain where wind can be a factor.

What is the time limit for the Edinburgh Marathon?

The time limit is 6.5 hours from the start.

How large is the Edinburgh Marathon field?

The field is capped at around 24,000 participants, making it one of the larger marathons in the UK.

Is the Edinburgh Marathon course USATF certified?

No, the Edinburgh Marathon is not USATF certified. It is a UK-based race and holds relevant UK Athletics certification for the purposes of Boston qualifying.

Sun, May 30 · 2027EdinburghSince 2003

Edinburgh Marathon

Edinburgh Marathon runs point to point along the Scottish coast east of the city, with open registration and a field that sells out every year since 2008.

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EDINBURGH · GB

Edinburgh

SUN, MAY 30

2027

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Race Overview

EST. 2003

Edinburgh is a proper point-to-point, which means you start in the city and finish miles away down the East Lothian coast. The early miles take you through Edinburgh and out past the famous stretch of Portobello Beach. Then the course opens up along the Firth of Forth, and you're running with the sea on one side and a lot of open sky above you. It's a genuine coastal run, not just a token seafront cameo. The finish comes in at Musselburgh, and crossing the line there with the water behind you is worth the miles to get there.

This one nets uphill overall, so don't go in expecting automatic PB conditions. There's more climbing than losing, and the exposure in the back half can mean wind in your face when you least want it. That said, it's a Boston qualifier and May temperatures are usually manageable, so on a calm day you can absolutely run well here. Getting in is straightforward through open registration, but don't sit on it. It has sold out every year for well over a decade, so enter as soon as the window opens. Charity places are also available if you miss the main entry. It's a big, well-run field and a genuinely enjoyable day out if you respect the course.

Field size

~24k

24,000 finishers

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

6:30

Standard cutoff

Entry

Open

First-come registration

Course records

Men

2:13:28

—

2018

The Course

787 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑787 ft

Total descent

↓295 ft

Net elevation

↑492 ft

Highest point

157 ft

Lowest point

3 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

Edinburgh runs point-to-point from the city centre toward the East Lothian coast, and the net elevation tells most of the story: you gain considerably more than you lose. The first half carries most of the climbing, with the course rising and falling through the city before a long, exposed stretch along the coastal road. That section is flat but open to North Sea wind, which can work for or against you depending on direction. The back half offers little elevation relief if you have gone out too hard. Plan for a conservative first 10 miles and treat the coastal run as a chance to bank time, not just recover.

DIFFICULTYHILLYPR-FRIENDLYNO

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

51°F

High

65°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

Late May in Edinburgh runs mild, but don't mistake mild for easy. You'll start in cool, low-50s air, which feels great early but can shift quickly. The coast dominates the back half of the course, and wind off the Firth of Forth is the real variable. If it's blowing, you'll feel it in those final miles when you have the least to give. Pack a throwaway layer for the start and don't let the pleasant morning lull you into going out too hard.

Entry

OPEN

Entry is via open registration through MyRunning platform. The marathon has sold out every year since 2008. Both standard entries and charity entries are available. Charity entries require fundraising commitments.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

EDI

7 mi

from the start

≈ 11 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into EDI, about 7 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 11-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Edinburgh so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.