Loch Ness Marathon: Why there’s a loch to love about this race
‘Will I see Nessie?’
‘Maybe aye, maybe nae.’
I laughed when I read this FAQ on the Loch Ness Marathon website, still in London and a week away from running the 26.2-mile race in question. ‘This marathon has a sense of humour!’
Fast-forward to the day before the race and I was still amused. Now at the runner’s expo in the small Scottish city of Inverness, I was enjoying the comical sight of an oversized, inflatable Nessie on display and the upbeat atmosphere of bib-collectors embracing the world-famous myth.
But, come race day – out among the rustic wilds and autumnal hues of the Highlands – something changed. Having been transported to the start line by bus (weirdly echoing the Boston Marathon), which was essentially in the magical middle of nowhere (again, echoing Boston), I felt instantly inspired by the fairy-tale feel of my natural surroundings.
Distracted by the scenes and my usual pre-marathon paranoia (Do I have my gels? Have I tied my shoes? Will my leg fall off?), I suddenly snapped back to my senses when a Scottish pipe band started blasting out traditional tunes at the roadside. On that signal, we crossed the picture-perfect start line.
I soon discovered that there were many ups and even more downs to this marathon – and I’m referring to the elevation profile, by the way. A net downhill, point-to-point marathon, it features an overall descent for the first 10K, a middle ‘flat’ section (that is, in reality, rolling) and a drawn-out ascent from 30km before a final push to the finish line. As if the similarities weren’t there already, the elevation profile of Loch Ness resembled that of Boston.
‘This is like a rollercoaster!’ joked a runner moving on my right, just after 5K. I tried to smile in agreement as we shot sharply down before slogging straight back up an unnervingly steep climb, which certainly – and literally – kept us on our toes after the initial descent. (To my joy and fear, my first kilometre in Loch Ness was faster than any I’d ever run in my previous 12 marathons.)
Around the 10K mark, just as I was getting to grips with the playful undulations of the course, we veered left to see the race’s namesake: Loch Ness. It was a wonderful sight and not a fleeting one, either – because in this marathon, you get a lot of loch.
An elongated expanse that extends southwest of Inverness for more than 36km, Loch Ness contains more water than every lake in England and Wales combined and its beauty really does need to be seen to be believed. (The same goes for the Loch Ness Monster.) The marathon route hugs the south side of the loch for about 17km, giving runners plenty of opportunity to glance across for signs of legendary life – and even I couldn’t resist looking out for Nessie. We felt so close to the loch that I could sense waves gently slapping against the shoreline and, at times, it was so quiet that I could hear birdsong.
One more note about sound: if you thrive upon loud crowds and flamboyant fanfare, then the Loch Ness Marathon may come as a surprise. Save for some friendly villagers and volunteers along the way – and a larger support group near the finish line – it’s just you and your fellow runners out there. (This is unlike Boston.) Having experienced some big city marathons myself, the Loch Ness Marathon felt remarkably peaceful in comparison, with the focus here being the simple, near-silent action of running in a gorgeous setting. I thought it was brilliant.
Less brilliant, however, was the inevitable onset of fatigue in the latter stages of the race (especially at that hill). That said, I’d just moved up to second place and felt motivated to retain that podium spot.
‘Second lady!’ cried several locals during the final few kilometres, cheering me on while giving me all-important position updates. I eventually crossed the line just over 30 seconds behind the winner and under eight minutes ahead of the third woman home. I couldn’t believe it – especially since it was also my birthday.
While I didn’t expect to get a second-place prize, I was certainly looking forward to receiving something else post-race: Baxters soup.
The primary sponsor of the Loch Ness Marathon since its first edition in 2002, Baxters bestows a warming cup of soup to every finisher. It’s a fun and tasty quirk – and it’s good to see a thriving, popular race stick to its roots and not get hoovered up by another, bigger sponsor.
In fact, a record-breaking 5,500 runners from across the world signed up for the 2024 Loch Ness Marathon, with thousands more registering for the 10K, 5K, Corporate Challenge and children’s ‘Wee Nessie’ events that weekend. Although more runners put greater premium on the portaloos at the start line and alas, ‘nae’, I did not spot Nessie, I finished the marathon in great spirits, soup in hand and singing its praises. Plus, since Inverness is the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’, who’s to say that it can’t mark the start of a full-scale Scottish adventure?
More lakeside races to love
Run Dorney Marathon
Where? Windsor, Berkshire
When? 9 August 2025
Held upon the flat paths that encircle Dorney Lake, the purpose-built water that hosted London 2012’s Olympic rowing events, this race is a treat for PB-pursuers.
Lake Vyrnwy Half Marathon
Where? Llanwddyn, Powys
When? 14 September 2025
If you crave spectacular mountain scenes and a flat route despite your hilly surroundings, then this one-lap race around Lake Vyrnwy in Wales will fulfil your brief.
13 Valleys Ultra
Where? Lake District, Cumbria
When? 26 September 2025
If you want to see many lakes (and fells) over the course of 180km, here’s the trail ultramarathon for you. A bit much? There are 110km, 55km and 22km options, too.
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