Glen Coe Marathon

This is generally an easy race to get into right up until a few days before the event. At the time of writing entry was through Entry Central.

Most of the runners choose to stay in Fort William where the registration is and also the finish line. Fort William is easily accessible by road, but also has good rail links including direct to London Euston.

Buses in the morning take you out to the Red Squirrel camp site and the start of the marathon.

If you have a driver you can of course stay in the Red Squirrel camp site and they can pick you up at the finish line.

No expo jsut a simple number pick up along with tee shirts and pre booked bus tickets..

No pre runs but there are some nice routes at Fort William.

For us race day started with the 7:30am bus from Fort William to the camp site. Beautiful journey in the early morning and the whole experience is rather relaxing for a run day.

On arrival at the camp site there is free tea/coffe/water along with some eats. The race is small with about 300 people so there is a good atmosphere prior to the race. Toilets are available as part of the camp site and we only saw small queues.

This is one of the most pretty race start line you can get. The mountains in the background and a piper playing, you know you are in Scotland for sure.

At the start you are on the small tarred road which goes past the site used for Hagrids hut. A bit of Harry Potter for you. Shortly you cross the main road and are heading up the path beside the road and up through Glen Coe. This is really stunning and what a start.

At about in the route goes across the road again and into a really boggy section of running. Some parts are a swamp while others are just difficult running. However, that ends at last about in and you are on the West Highland Way and heading uphill to go tackle the Devils staircase. Most people are walking up this steep section and by you have reached the top and all downhill into Kinlochleven. Well mostly down anyway.

The village just about marks the half way point and from here you start to merge with half marathon runners and walkers. Just outside the village is big climb number two and that is tough as by this time your are running lower on energy.

At about the climb levels out and the dirt road ahead starts to undulate with long sections stretching out before your. At just over you leave the dirt road and follow the West Highland Trail which is pretty narrow in places. This joins a forest road at just over the mark and form this point it is all downhill.

With less than to go the route comes off the dirt road and heads in through the trees towards the finish. A very short section goes along the pavement beside the main road before turning right and the finish line.

This is a small race and that's reflected at the finish. There are ample food choices along with coffee/water/teas and even a bar. This all costs money so make sure you bring some including if you want a massage.

If you are into your medals, this is not a good race for the bling. Very poor, but that is the worst of the day.

Pre booked buses leave once per hour, in our case a short 5 minute journey back into Fort William.

As mentioned you can stay at the camp site but Fort William does offer a good selection of places to stay.