Stirling’s popular marathon has been thrown a lifeline after it was announced that the race is to go ahead next autumn with the backing of a new organiser, the Stirling Observer can reveal.
The city race has taken place in each of the last three years. However, in May event organiser the Great Run Company announced it was pulling out, blaming its failure to turn the Stirling race into a world-class event.
However, a new backer has emerged and a date has been set for the race next year.
Classic Run Events has indicated that the Stirling marathon and half marathon will take place in and around the city on Sunday, October 11, using a similar course as 2019, with slight refinements along the route.
The decision has also been taken to switch the marathon from spring to autumn to give runners more flexibility to prepare.
A ‘festival of running’ aimed at attracting families, will takes place at King’s Park the day before the marathon. It will feature a five-kilometre run, junior three-kilometre run and a ‘family mile’ with a mascot race and a come-and-try sports arena also to be featured.
Prior to the big races, a ‘marathon expo’ will also be held at the Albert Halls on October 9 and 10.
A new feature of the marathon will be a corporate relay, offering businesses and charities the chance to experience the atmosphere of a marathon by entering teams of four to run 10 kilometres each.
Glasgow-based start-up company Classic Run Events is run by Mark Hollinshead and Steve Simpson. Mr Hollinshead is a former chief operating officer of Trinity Mirror, now Reach Plc, publishers of about 200 newspapers including the Observer. He was also chief executive of the Great Run Company.
Stirling Council’s community planning and regeneration committee convener Chris Kane said: “It’s with great pleasure that I can finally reveal the Stirling Scottish Marathon will be back next year in its new autumn calendar slot with a wider weekend of supporting activities.
“Now it’s time for runners from all over the country to plan their training schedules, choose a charity to fundraise for and get ready to run through some of the most spectacular surroundings of any race anywhere in the world.”
The 2019 edition, organised by the Great Run Company, was mired in controversy. The winner of the women’s marathon, Central AC’s Jennifer Wetton, slammed the £200 cash prize awarded to her when she was first woman home in the marathon. It was down from £1000 which went to the previous year’s female winner.
Some runners who crossed the line after completing the 26.2-mile course were handed mementos from the wrong event following a medal bungle.
Exhausted participants were handed medals from other races, including events as far away as Bristol.
