EDINBURGH is gearing up for its biggest marathon yet with more than 13,000 competitors due to take part in the annual race, raising £3 million for charity.
Sunday's event, which is second only to London in UK marathons, has doubled its number of runners and tripled the prize money on offer.
Its growing popularity also means it is worth £3 million to the Capital, as hotel rooms are snapped up.
A ne
w course introduced last year, taking competitors from the Capital along the coast to Musselburgh, is seen as one of the big reasons for the race's growing popularity.
Damien O'Looney, spokesman for the marathon, said: "It's going pretty well. It's doubled in size from last year because of increased interest.
"Everyone seemed to love it last year. The new course finishes on Musselburgh race course.
"People really liked the grandstand finish, and it's flat, which means you can get a better time, so everyone gets personal bests."
Edinburgh organisers are very conscious about their role in developing British talent for the Olympics – both in Beijing this summer, and London in 2012.
Men who have run below two hours and 40 minutes, and women who have been quicker than three hours this year, will have their entry fee waived.
As well as a £1000 prize for both the winning male and female, there will also be British athlete time bonuses, starting at £100 for men who run under two hours and 27 minutes, and women who run under two hours and 45 minutes, rising to £5000 for men who go sub-two hours and ten minutes, and women who manage sub-two hours and 27 minutes.
Mr O'Looney said: "We've tripled the prize money from last year to this year.
"In the run-up to the Olympics we want to get more British runners competing against each other, and get their times better."
Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb, who will be one of the official starters, said today: "It is wonderful to hear that so many people, locals and visitors alike, are taking part in what is a fantastic event for charity as well as the city's economy.
"Good luck to everybody who is taking part."
Up to 1000 volunteers will help out over the weekend, taking on a variety of roles, from marshals to massage therapists and physiotherapists, and from stewards to start and finish line crews.
Equipment for the event will include 100 portable toilets, 5000 cones, 12,000 bananas, 100,000 bottles of water and 50,000 Lucozade sport pouches.
As well as the overall prize money there will be £500 for the first Scottish male and female.
Sunday's marathon gets under way in Regent Road, goes around Holyrood Park and heads up towards Leith Links.
Runners will then go along Portobello Promenade and out towards Gosford House, before turning round and heading back towards the Capital.
Extra extra! News team to join the raceEVENING News staff Paula Bushell, Denise Fraser, Tina Callcutt and Ben Wallace are getting ready to take part in Sunday's marathon.
The Evening News team will be running as a relay in aid of the Sick Kids Hospital.
There will be 832 relay teams taking part with 3328 competitors in total – almost one quarter of the total running in the marathon.
Ms Callcutt, group retail manager in newspaper sales, said: "We are doing it as a relay, splitting the distance between us. Two will do eight miles and two will do five. Unfortunately I'm doing one of the longer legs – the Gosford House leg which will take me along the coast. Hopefully those great views will be a distraction for me!
"I am very excited about it. I think it will be a great atmosphere."
Weblinks: http://www.edinburgh-marathon.comhttp://www.albert-bartlett.co.ukThe full article contains 648 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
