Edinburgh Marathon Official Website (02/06/2009)

 

13,104 runners entered the marathon.  8,419 marathon runners started the race and 8,257 finished the race.  162 marathon runners started but did not finish. 

 

SCOTSMAN News (02/06/2009)

 

“RUNNERS have branded the Edinburgh Marathon as “shambolic” because of a shortage of water and a decision to cut short the race. Sunday’s event saw 160 participants treated by medics after the marathon got under way in temperatures of around 22C. Runners said that there was a critical lack of supplies at water stations.

Competitor Doug Steele said: “There was not a single bottle of water remaining at the first water station at Loch Road when I came, about 20 minutes into the race, and I passed a further four stations which had completely run out of water in East Lothian.  I had to rummage through discarded bottles at the roadside to find one or two with some water in them so I could stay hydrated.”

Organisers said there had been adequate supplies and that any shortages had been temporary. However, Alison Grant, who had traveled from Huddersfield, Yorkshire to compete in her first marathon, said: “The ‘temporary’ water shortages were inexcusable and not temporary at all – many water stations were just empty trestle tables and myself and many other runners were relying on the kindness of supporters and local residents.”

Ms Grant attacked the decision to cut the race length from the standard 26.2 miles to 24 for hundreds of the slowest runners. She said the move had left her feeling cheated.”

 

BBC News (02/06/2009)

 

“The organisers of the Edinburgh Marathon have revealed that more than 6,800 bottles of water were stolen before the start of the race. Sunday’s event was marred by complaints from many runners that inadequate supplies of water had been provided along the route.

 

Race director Neil Kilgour said the theft had left two water stations without water for 40 minutes.

More than 4,000 Lucozade energy gels were also stolen. Mr Kilgour said the thieves struck in the early hours of Sunday morning. The water had been left on three pallets along the route of the race. He added that organisers quickly organised mobile teams of police and support vehicles in an attempt to deliver water to those who missed out when it became apparent that two of the nine stations had run dry.”