Scottish Race Guide for 2020

Looking for a race to sign up for in 2020? Will you stick to the roads or run on trails? Run short, long or very long? Check out our Race Guide for 2020.

We have selected 10 of our favourite events taking place across Scotland that we recommend you add to your bucket list, if you've not added them already!

Glentress Trail Races

• Date: 22^nd and 23^rd February 2020
• Terrain: Trails
• Distances: 10K, 21K and 42K

The Glentress Trail Races offer a fantastic weekend of running in the forest with a super array of trails, from hard packed gravel trails to twisting forest singletrack. High Terrain Events offer three different distances, with the 10K, 21K and 42K to choose from. The elevation gain for each are 330m, 750m and 1,500m respectively. All routes are fully marked so no navigation experience is necessary. Bear in mind the conditions in February can be challenging!

Inverness Half Marathon

• Date: 8^th March 2020
• Terrain: Road
• Distances: 5K and Half Marathon

The Inverness Half Marathon will be one of the first main road races of the year, attracting hundreds of runners to the capital of the Highlands. It is the perfect Spring race to keep you motivated in training. It follows a scenic route, great for a first experience in this distance as well as a potential PB for the more experienced runners.

There's also a 5K event for those of you still building up your distance!

Run Balmoral

• Date: 18^th and 19^th April 2020
• Terrain: Trails
• Distance: 5K, 10K, 3 miles and 15 miles

Don’t miss the opportunity to run through some beautiful Highland scenery on the Balmoral Estate. Run Balmoral has a fantastic line-up of events for all abilities. The event includes the MPH primary schools 1.5K and the secondary schools 2.5K, the Chrysaor 5K, the Stena Drilling 10K, the Apollo Duathlon, and the Bristow 3 and 15 mile trail races. If you’re struggling to choose between the events on offer, you could opt to run them all and complete the mighty Devil O Deeside challenge, where the fastest overall cumulative time wins.

A great one for those made of tough stuff!

Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF)

• Date: 23^rd and 24^th May 2020
• Terrain: Road
• Distance: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon

EMF will be the highlight of the year for many runners. This is the perfect event to take on in the capital of Scotland with your friends, family, work colleagues or on your own! With distances from 5K to the Marathon, it suits all abilities and their flat routes provide a great opportunity for PBs!

With fantastic support from the crowd and a buzzing atmosphere in the city, you won't forget your experience at EMF!

Rattray Blairgowrie Half

• Date: 7^th June 2020
• Terrain: Road
• Distance: Half Marathon

If you're looking for a scenic and challenging road half marathon, this is the one! Featuring 430m of elevation gain, this half marathon isn't for PBs. Taking place on quiet roads outside of Blairgowrie, with great views over the hills of the back of Dundee, this race is great if you are looking for a challenge. The atmosphere is very friendly and we hear the post-race snacks are pretty good too.

Tour of Fife

• Date: 8^th to 12^th July 2020
• Terrain: Road, trails, sand and hills
• Distance: from 1 mile to 10k

The Tour of Fife consists of five individual races held over a five-day period. Entrants can run the full series or as many individual races as they wish. Each event takes place in a different town in the Kingdom of Fife, with different terrain and distances on offer. This is a great opportunity to challenge yourself over different race disciplines.

The first race in the series is the Beach Race on the West Sands of St Andrews, this is followed on the second day by the Hill Race which involves a climb up East Lomond followed by a descent into the Falkland Estate. The third day is a Mile Time Trial along the Kirkcaldy Promenade before heading to Glenrothes on the fourth day for a 5K Road Race. The event finishes with a six mile trail race on the Falkland Estate.

This event is definitely a highlight of the summer!

Salomon Skyline Scotland

• Date: 19^th and 20^th September 2020
• Terrain: Trails and hills
• Distance: from 5km to 52km

Taking place in Kinlochleven, with no less than 7 races (distances from 5km to 52km), the Skyline Scotland event features physically exhausting but scenic routes, highly characteristic of the Scottish trail/hill running landscape. Blurring the line between running and climbing, between pleasure and pain, they are a must-do if you love outdoor adventure. Some of the best trail runners in the world gather for a thrilling and exciting weekend.

Check out the 2019 Race Report here

Loch Ness Marathon

• Date: 4^th October 2020
• Terrain: Road
• Distance: 5K, 10K and Marathon

This is without a doubt a special place to run a marathon! The Loch Ness Marathon follows a spectacular point-to-point route alongside world famous Loch Ness, starting in an atmospheric moorland setting and continuing through stunning Highland scenery, taking you along the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, across the River Ness, to finish in Inverness, capital city of the Highlands.

You can choose your challenge with the three other distances available: the Wee Nessie, the River Ness 5K and 10K.

The Stirling Marathon

• Date: 10^th and 11^th October 2020
• Terrain: Road
• Distance: 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon

The Stirling Scottish Marathon returns with a new autumn calendar slot in 2020. The marathon follows the same course as 2019 with slight refinements along the route, with the backdrop of Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument to keep you motivated through the distance.

The event runs over the weekend, with a Family Run, Junior Run and 5km on offer on Saturday 10^th October and the Marathon and Half Marathon taking place on Sunday 11^th October.

Aviemore Half Marathon and 10k

• Date: 18^th October 2020
• Terrain: Solid forest track, paths and road
• Distance: 10k & Half Marathon

The Aviemore Half and 10k are the perfect scenic autumn races. The route will take you by the beautiful Loch Morlich and the majestic splendour of the landscape of the Cairngorm Mountains. Mainly downhill, these two races are great for a first experience in the distance!

Note: this is only a small selection of the events taking place across Scotland. There are many more events organised throughout the year for trail, road and hill running. To find out more about your local races check with your local running club. 

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