A record 11,100 runners from 45 countries will descend on the Highlands this weekend as the sold out Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running returns to Inverness.
The festival takes place on Sunday 27 September, with a record 6,000 people tackling the marathon alongside thousands more competing in the River Ness 10K, 5K and Wee Nessie events.
The flagship 26.2 mile race begins near Fort Augustus before following a spectacular route alongside Loch Ness towards the finish in Inverness.
This year’s marathon field underlines just how far the event’s reputation now reaches, with 58% of runners travelling from outside Scotland and 15% arriving from overseas.
Together they represent 45 countries and will join thousands of Scottish runners for one of the biggest sporting weekends of the year in the Highlands.
Another 3,000 runners will tackle the River Ness 10K and Corporate Challenge, while 1,800 people have entered the River Ness 5K.
There is also a strong local flavour to the shorter distance, with 26% of 5K entries coming from schools and youth clubs taking advantage of discounted places.
At the other end of the age scale, 300 of the weekend’s youngest participants will pull on their running shoes for the Wee Nessie event for children under five.
The celebrations begin before Sunday’s first starting gun, with Bught Park hosting the Runners Cafe and Sports Expo on Saturday.
BBC Scotland’s Bryan Burnett will host a programme including question and answer sessions, entertainment, a pipe band, local food vendors and family activities.
The weekend is also expected to raise thousands of pounds for good causes, with Macmillan Cancer Support returning as the official charity partner alongside another 30 participating charities.
Malcolm Sutherland, CEO at Caledonian Concepts, said:
“The atmosphere in Inverness across the weekend is always extraordinary, and to see the event sell out once again is brilliant.
“Year after year, participants of all ages and abilities come together to experience the challenge, scenery, and vibrant community spirit of the Highlands, brought to life by our incredible volunteers.
“We are set for a fantastic Festival of Running.”
For title sponsor Baxters Food Group, the weekend continues an association with the event stretching back almost a quarter of a century.
Executive Chairman and Group CEO Audrey Baxter said:
“For almost quarter of a century we have been proud sponsors of this iconic event, which has provided the perfect platform to demonstrate our ethos to ‘be different, be better’.
“We would like to wish all the runners, from near and far and especially those from Baxters, who are lining up this weekend to emulate the spirit of that ethos, the very best of luck!”
The numbers alone promise a remarkable weekend for Inverness, but behind every race number will be a different reason for taking part, from experienced marathon runners chasing personal goals to children experiencing their first organised run.
For thousands more lining the route and gathering around the finish, Sunday will once again turn the banks of Loch Ness and the streets of Inverness into one enormous Highland finishing line.
