Record numbers complete Edinburgh Marathon

A RECORD-breaking 23,000 runners took to the streets in the 10th annual Edinburgh Marathon, helping raise around £4.5 million for more than 200 good causes.

Organisers handed out over 150,000 bottles of water as runners from more than 100 countries set off from Arthur’s Seat in glorious sunshine.

Thousands of spectators lined the pavements to watch, while more cheered at the finishing line at Musselburgh Racecourse.

And fortunately for those taking part, a temperature of 19C proved just right for running conditions.

The first elite athlete to break the tape at Musselburgh was Kenyan John Mutai, who raced to the finish line in just two hours, 19 minutes and 52 seconds, claiming back the title which he won in 2004.

Ukranian Natalia Lehonkova, 29, was the first woman home, completing the course in 2:39:48.

Champion Ross Houston, from Roslin, was the first Scottish man to cross the line and he was delighted to hit a new personal best. The 32-year-old, who finished fifth overall with a time of 2:21:01, put down a marker as he aims for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Another notable finishing time was that of 101-year-old Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, who crossed the line in five hours and 23 seconds, as part of a four-man relay race, Sikhs in the City.

Singh said: “I love Edinburgh and I love this race. If I am still here next year then I will come back to run it again.”

Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival director, said: “Each of these people are changing their lives and many are changing the lives of others too through raising vital funds for charity.”