9 March 2012

Glencoe Marathon Launched!

The Highlands of Scotland are calling on 100 of the most ambitious runners to compete in one of the toughest marathons in the UK.

The first ever Glencoe Marathon takes place on Sunday 7 October and will see the band of brave trailblazers set-off from Glencoe on a 26-mile dash up over the fearsome Devil’s Staircase and the eastern end of the Aonach Eagach Ridge to the foothills of Britain’s highest mountains in Glen Nevis.

This week, top adventure runner Bruce Duncan set a blistering time of four hours 19 minutes and 28 seconds for the competitors to chase in seven months time. Our Director David Fox-Pitt ran the marathon with him in a valiant time of six and a half hours.

David Fox-Pitt, Director of Wildfox Events, said: “In 2012, we’re laying down the gauntlet to some of the country’s most ambitious trail runners to set the standard for the toughest marathon this country has to offer.

“Glencoe is renowned for its extreme terrain and dramatic mountains, so it’s a great thrill to be able to host this tremendous event in the most spectacular of settings.

“WildFox Events is all about good causes as well as awesome challenges, so I’m proud to support this fantastic event and the difference it hopes to make to young people through Project Northern Lights.”

“Not only is the Glencoe Marathon a huge physical challenge, but it will raise money for Project Northern Lights which gives disadvantaged young people in Scotland their chance to shine.”

Participants will raise money for Project Northern Lights, an innovative youth development initiative that is being run by Wildfox Events, together with Ocean Youth Trust and Muirhouse Youth Development Group. The project will help give disadvantaged young people in Scotland the chance to build their confidence and employable skills through taking part in adventure activities.

Duncan said: “The Glencoe Marathon is undoubtedly Scotland’s toughest, most stunning marathon. This is my ideal challenge, an off road route through a truly wild area that is guaranteed to test even the hardiest of souls to the limit.

For more information on the event and details on how to enter, log onto our official Glencoe Marathon website.

See a selection of top pics from Bruce’s run on our Flikr site.

Entry
Entry for the Glencoe Marathon costs £45 per person with a further commitment to raising a minimum of £100 for Project Northern Lights. To find out more and register for the event, log onto http://www.glencoemarathon.com
The Glencoe Marathon route
The route snakes through the pass of Glencoe, surrounded by the towering remains of this ancient super volcano, before climbing 500m (1,640ft) up the fearsome Devil’s Staircase. From eastern edge of the Aonach Eagach Ridge you look straight onto the mighty Buachaille Etive Mor (the great herdsman) before dropping back to sea level at Kinlochleven. Climbing up to 326 metres through the Mamores the route undulates until the descent into Glen Nevis and the base of the mighty Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak.

Bruce Duncan
Bruce is one of the UK’s top adventure racers and is an all-round outdoor junkie. He lives in the Lake District and races for the Adidas TERREX Adventure Race Team in multi-day events all around the world in addition to championing the Glencoe Marathon in 2012. He is the three times winner of the Wenger Patagonia Expedition Race in southern Chile and winner of the Scottish Coast to Coast Elite race in 2010.