The event is staged in the Scottish Highlands, between the shores of Loch Ness and the city of Inverness. The marathon route follows the loch on a country road lined with forest and moorland, through open and sparsely populated landscape, before dropping into central Inverness for the finish.
Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running
2 km marathon run alongside Loch Ness, finishing in Inverness, Scotland. The festival also includes a River Ness 10K and a River Ness 5K.
Prepare for Loch Ness Marathon
A plan built from your answers and your race date.
The formats
3 formats on the program.
| Format | Distance |
|---|---|
| Marathon | 26.2 mi |
| River Ness 10K | 6 mi |
| River Ness 5K | 3 mi |
Organizer information, checked on September 21, 2026 · lochnessmarathon.com
When to start
A build for this distance usually runs 12 to 20 weeks. Counted back from race day, that puts the start somewhere between May 3, 2027 and June 28, 2027.
These ranges are working conventions, not a research finding — no trial has compared plan lengths against each other. What matters more is that the plan was built for the weeks you actually have, rather than shrunk down from a longer one.
When to start
May 3, 2027
→ June 28, 2027
Worth reading before you enter
Races and distances
10K, half, marathon: what each one really asks
They are all running. They are not the same event. What limits you, how long you need, and how the race falls apart — all three change with the distance.
Read
Races and distances
The big marathons: what each one actually demands
A marathon is 42.195 km everywhere. What changes is the profile, the crowd, the weather you are likely to get — and so what your training should emphasise.
Read
Training
Eating and drinking: what’s proven, what isn’t
This is where confident advice most often runs ahead of the evidence. Some of it is well tested. Some is opinion wearing a number. And one common habit can kill you.
Read
Questions
What is the date of Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running in 2027?
Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running is run on Sunday, September 26, 2027 in Inverness. Date published by the organizer, checked on September 21, 2026.
What races are in the Loch Ness Marathon festival?
2 km, the River Ness 10K and the River Ness 5K. The marathon runs alongside Loch Ness before finishing in central Inverness.
Is the Loch Ness Marathon course hard?
The route is not flat: the road beside the loch rolls for a large part of the distance before a faster section towards Inverness. Hill training is strongly recommended in your preparation.
Other races
This list keeps growing; it draws no line. A race that is missing is prepared for in exactly the same way.
Chester · United KingdomMarathon
MBNA Chester Marathon
March
The MBNA Chester Marathon is a road race held in Chester, Cheshire, in north-west England. 2 km marathon,
Brighton and Hove · United KingdomMarathon
Brighton Marathon Weekend
Apr 3
195 km marathon, a 10K and the Brighton Miles in Brighton and Hove, on the south coast of England.
Manchester · United KingdomMarathon
Manchester Marathon
Apr 18
The Manchester Marathon is run on the roads of Greater Manchester, through the urban and suburban landsca
Your race is not here?
Tell us about your race
You can prepare for it all the same. Any race, anywhere, and even a goal without a race.
Your race is on the calendar. Your plan should be too.
Build my plan
Secure payment with Stripe. Then allow about 30 minutes for your profile, in several sittings if you like.