The Loch Ness Marathon

Here, Malcolm writes about his experience of taking part in the Loch Ness Marathon 2004

"All the runners taking part - about 950 of us - met at Fort Augustus and were taken by bus to the start line, which was up in the hills above the South West end of the loch. A local school band played 'Bonnie Dundee', and 'The Green Hills of Tyrol; The Battle's O'er', which didn't seem so appropriate at the time!

"After about six miles we were down by the lochside where a prominent landmark on the opposite shores was the ruins of Castle Urquart. This brought back memories of childhood holidays fishing on the loch and smoking Woodbines in the old wooden boathouse, which could still be seen across the water.

"Just as the legs were beginning to feel the strain at about mile 18, there was a cry of 'Come on Grandad', which was taken up by surrounding spectators and runners. And there was the welcome sight of my support team - my sister Morag, daughter Kate and granddaughter Francesca, with the regulation banana.


"Organisers of the Two Oceans Marathon in South Africa claim it to be the world's most scenic race, but in Loch Ness it has a close rival. After heavy rainfall we ran in sparkling sunshine; up hills and across moorland to the wooded lochside road; over peaty rivers in full flow; through low lying farmland and finally along the Ness river into Inverness and the finish line in the sports stadium, where I swallowed Francesca's ice cream in one bite.

"I was accompanied on this occasion by a piper who, as the photograph shows, looked remarkably unflustered after 26 miles of running alongside, piping as he went. We are also joined by the friend behind, who appeared from out of the loch around the half-way mark...

"Thank you so much to the people who supported me, and helped raise money for The Q Trust."

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