Record number of runners take part in tenth Edinburgh Marathon

The biggest running event in Scotland celebrated its tenth anniversary on Sunday.

More than 23,000 runners took part in the Edinburgh Marathon, a record-breaking number for the event.

First over the finish line at Musselburgh in East Lothian was Kenyan, John Mutai who completed the race in two hours, 19 minutes and 52 seconds, claiming back the title which he also won in 2004.

Natalia Lehonkova, 29, from Ukraine was the first woman home, completing the course in 2:39:48.

She said: "I can’t wait to phone my mum and dad in the Ukraine to tell them. It’s my second marathon win. I won a marathon in Poland in 2010 but this is my first marathon in Edinburgh."

The first Scottish woman home, Hayley Haining, raced to the finish in 2:45:17. The 40-year-old Great Britain Internationalist was taking part in her first marathon since the birth of her one-year-old son, Elliott, who was at the finish line to greet her.

She said: "There were so many people out there on the streets today and it was a wonderful feeling to be cheered on by so many.

"It was tough out there at times and I ran a little slower than I’d hoped to run but it’s great to get so much support out there. I'm loving being a mum so it’s wonderful to get a hug from my son on the finish line."

And Scottish champion Ross Houston, racing in his home city, was delighted to hit a new personal best just three months after the birth of his son, Fraser. The 32-year-old who finished fifth overall with a time of 2:21:01 put down a marker as he aims for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

He said: "I got a new personal best, something which I’m proud of. It was hard out there today and the other elites pushed me all the way."

With temperatures reaching 19C, organisers provided 131,085 bottles of water along the 26.2 mile route and another 29,000 at the finish.

Together with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival official charity Macmillan Cancer Support and hundreds of other charities, the event organisers are hoping to break all previous records and raise more than £4.5 million in 2012.

Neil Kilgour, Edinburgh Marathon Festival director, said: "We are proud that the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is the most inclusive festival of running in the UK.

"From the world’s best elites through to the first time marathon runner, to youngsters standing in the start pen for the first time in their lives, we welcome them all. Each of these people are changing their lives and many are changing the lives of others too through raising vital funds for charity. It is a positive experience for all."

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