Posted: June 7, 2005

Athletics: 11,000 Runners Ready To Take To The Streets Of Scotland's Capital for Edinburgh Marathon

A record breaking 11000 entrants from over forty-five countries have signed up to take part in the third Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 12 June.

The expanded field is expected to include 6400 marathon runners and 5000 Edinburgh Marathon Team Relay runners. The newly designed course will create faster and more competitive times than previous years and has attracted a top quality international elite field and TV coverage for the first time

Highlights include:
* Top Scots' athletes competing to secure places and qualifying times for the next Commonwealth Games

* Francis Robert Naali, the reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Commonwealth Games winner is expected to lead men's field with expectations high that the course record will be smashed.

* Top Eastern European elite women competing for top spots

* World's oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh (94) will run in the Edinburgh Marathon Relay alongside his team of four Sikhs, all aged seventy and above

* Kenny Herriot, Britain's fastest wheelchair athlete will test the course for future race chairs inclusion

* Glasgow-born runner racing to complete his 120th marathon - more than any other Scotsman.

* 'The Meeting of the Mascots' where Celtic mascot' 'Hoopy the Huddle Hound' and Rangers 'Broxi Bear' will lead a celebrity field of sporting and charity mascots in a 100m dash in Holyrood Park at 11.05am.

The Edinburgh Marathon is developing a reputation for being one of the most scenic courses in the world taking in famous landmarks including Edinburgh Castle, the new Scottish Parliament and Royal Yacht Britannia. Over 50,000 spectators are expected to cheer the runners on with over £1.5 million raised for charity.

For further information visit www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk.