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Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2025

24th – 25th May 2025

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is one of our favourite events in the CHSS calendar with everything from 5k to the marathon.

The 2025 Festival takes place over the weekend of the 24th and 25th May.

Get your free charity place

The Events

The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is Scotland’s largest running festival of its kind with over 35,000 runners expected to compete in the 9 races on offer over two days, including the marathon, half marathon, team relay, 10k, 5k and junior races, there really is something for everyone!

Edinburgh Marathon

Flat and fast and one of the UK’s very best spring marathons, the 26.2-mile course was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World in 2008 and is the UK’s second largest marathon. This city centre route takes you past many iconic sights as well as out along the East Lothian coast. This is a great event if it’s your first marathon or you are looking for a PB!

Edinburgh Half Marathon

The incredibly popular Half Marathon is always fast to sell out and is a hugely popular choice with the CHSS Running Team. The EMF Half Marathon 13.1 mile course follows the Edinburgh Marathon route and is another fast and flat race. This is an excellent choice for half marathon first-timers and serious club runners alike, offering genuine PB potential.

EMF 10k

The 10k is very popular with CHSS runners, starting and finishing near the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth this beautiful scenic route takes you around Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh. The route offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and panoramic views of the city as it takes you on a full circuit of Holyrood Park and Duddingston Loch.

EMF 5k

The shortest route on offer is a great choice for beginners or even those looking for a brisk fundraising walk. Following much of the 10k but without heading out to Duddingston, this race starts at the EMF Hub at Dynamic Earth. This beautiful scenic route takes you around Holyrood Park in the heart of Edinburgh and offers stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and panoramic views of the city.

EMF Team Relay

The EMF Team Relay is an opportunity for a team of 4 runners to team up and take part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival. The 26.2 miles is split into 4 legs and each runner will run one leg.

Sign up for a charity place with us today

We offer charity places in all events, to secure your entry we do ask you to make a minimum fundraising promise;

  • EMF Marathon – promise to raise a minimum of £600
  • EMF Half Marathon – promise to raise a minimum of £300
  • EMF Marathon Relay – promise to raise a minimum of £600 per team entry
  • EMF 10k – promise to raise a minimum of £150
  • EMF 5k – promise to raise a minimum of £100

Get your free charity place

Be a Fundraising Super Hero

“Thankfully I survived, but from that point on my battle to recover began.”

By signing up to run with us at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, you’re doing something special!

Every penny you raise will go towards helping someone in Scotland rebuild their life and get back to doing the things that matter to them when they return home from hospital with a chest, heart or stroke condition.

Tim had a stroke at the age of 36 which completely changed his life forever.

“I suffered three strokes within three days.My wife and children watched me have a stroke right in front of them.
“Thankfully I survived, but from that point on my battle to recover began. The stroke left me with left-sided paralysis. I couldn’t do anything for myself. Part of my head was missing, and I was a mess.
“It was hard to accept that I had come so close to leaving my family and friends. But I didn’t. I survived.
“The time when you leave hospital can be the most lonely, isolating and difficult of times. Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is there to make sure no one has to recover alone. But the work the charity does is only possible thanks to you. Your support means everything.”

By fundraising at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, you’ll be helping fund our vital support services so more people across Scotland can get the support they desperately need to live their lives to the full.

Get your free charity place

Contact Us

If you would like more information about charity places please get in touch with the Fundraising Team at [email protected], call 013129 72750 or fill out the contact form below.

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