^{_{This article contains affiliate links, if you click on one I may get a small commission.}}

As I continue my journey to run a half marathon every month in a new country, I traveled to Scotland for the Edinburgh Half Marathon. As part of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, I found it to be a very well organized event. It also had lovely course that offered a nice mixture of sights in and around Edinburgh. 

From signing up to the finish line, this race was run with a professional ease and authority. This makes it ideal for new runners who might be nervous for their first half marathon. The city also turned out in a spectacular fashion with signs, bubbles, and cheers to carry runners through the full 13.1 miles.

If you’re looking for someone to plan a vacation around the Edinburgh Half or Full Marathon for you, look no further. I offer trip consultations, tailored travel itineraries, and end-to-end trip planning. I even support running clubs traveling in large groups.

Edinburgh Half Marathon Course

The course of the Edinburgh Half Marathon can be broken into four main sections. Section one is through the city. You run below the Castle, past the Scott Monument, and along the Royal Mile. You finish this section by crossing by the Palace and through Holyrood Park. There weren’t as many spectators in this area, as there were confused tourists who just wanted to cross the street. But the views more than made up for the lack of cheers.

The next section was through neighborhoods. This is when the locals start to come out to support the runners. One thing remains true of all half marathons I have run. Crossing through a neighborhood is a great way to get top notch cheering and support.

The third section that the course goes through was Portobello Beach. This area was windier than the others, as beaches tend to be. It also had less support from neighbors, and more support from people trying to enjoy Sunday brunch. That said it was still a nice flat area with lovely views of the sea to distract from the fact that you are running a half marathon. 

The final section was more neighborhoods, with the additional variety of golf courses. I found this section to have some of the best support and amazing signs that had me laughing as I ran. The motivation from the crowd was so superb that I ended up picking up my pace in the last 5k, which almost never happens. 

My one warning for this race, is that the finish lane is far away from downtown Edinburgh and lacks an easy transportation option back to the city. The race does offer buses for runners, but at £8, I decided to take the train back instead. It was a thirty minute walk from the finish line and then one six minute train ride filled with very sweaty runners.

Refreshments During the Edinburgh Half Marathon

The refreshments during this race were adequate. There was plenty of water for runners to grab, however they were giving out water bottles instead of small plastic cups. If you are looking for an environmentally conscious race, this one does fall a few spots lower due to that choice. 

As for the bathrooms, I felt there could be more along the course. This is a large race and every bathroom I passed had a line at least six people deep.

Crowds and Support

I love this city. The people turned out to cheer in such an amazing way that I haven’t seen in any of my other half marathons this year. They had creative signs, music, bubbles, and more to make the entire course feel like a party. I had feared, as had happened in some previous races, that the further from the city we ran, the less the support would be. The opposite was true. The farther we left the city, the more support we got. I absolutely loved these crowds and would consider doing this race again just for them. 

Visiting Edinburgh

I’ve been to Edinburgh a few times now, and I’ve never run out of things to do. I love visiting the city and seeing how the old and new rub shoulders. I recommend taking at least a day to leave the city and explore the Highlands, but if you don’t have time for that at least go hike King Arthurs Seat.

As for where to stay in Edinburgh, unfortunately you won’t find anything near the finish line. I recommend aiming for something central to either the train or bus stops that you can take to return from Edinburgh.

Overall, this was a solid race. Fun supporters, lovely course, and frequent refreshments combined to make this a top notch race that is a great choice for people looking to run their first half marathon. If you are looking for other races with great crowds, check out my review of the CPC Loop Half Marathon in the Netherlands.