KILOMATHON 2026
Emily Johnston
Sunday started with a rude awakening - one hour less sleep thanks to the clocks changing, and the not-so-soothing sound of rain and wind battering the window. Straight away, it was clear we were in for a tough race.
For those who don’t know, the Kilomathon is a fun twist on the usual half marathon distance - 13.1km instead of miles. The route kicks off at Ocean Terminal, quickly joins the cycle path, takes a wee loop round Victoria Park, and then follows the path all the way through to Murrayfield.
As expected, the conditions didn’t make it easy. The wind seemed to be against us for most of the race, turning what’s normally a gentle incline into something that felt a lot more serious. The rain stuck around too - but fair play to the spectators who still came out in force, along with the brilliant marshals who kept the encouragement coming when it was needed most.
I ran this race last year and knew I wanted to come back. It’s a great route - pretty straight the whole way, nature either side of the path - and feels like a perfect step up from a 10km without committing to a full half marathon. I also love running along the cycle path; it’s where I do most of my interval training, so hitting those familiar stretches definitely helped me find another gear at times.
The finish is always a highlight, heading into Murrayfield Stadium much like the (wo)men’s 10km. This race adds a bit more with a loop around Roseburn Park and some twists and turns around the stadium grounds but having the stadium right there and the crowds alongside really helps you dig in for that final 2km push.
It’s such a friendly race too, with the option for runners to join halfway for a 6.5km. Running past that group as they waited to start and getting a cheer from them, was a real boost. And as always, there was plenty of camaraderie out on the course -swapping encouragement (and a few comments about the wind!) with fellow runners along the way.
Post-race, there was a well-earned dash for hot drinks (thanks Alan and Stuart!), and a real sense of achievement all round after battling the elements - some people even caught a bit of hail for good measure.
Personally, I was delighted to knock five minutes off last year’s time despite the conditions. It was a tough but worthwhile effort, and I’m already looking forward to coming back next year to try and chip away a bit more.
And of course, it wouldn’t be the same without the flashes of pink and navy, a great turnout from WERC, and plenty of chances to cheer each other on as we looped through Victoria Park and Murrayfield.