More than 6500 runners took part in the first edition of the Stirling Scottish Marathon, a race with a five-star certification rating, on Sunday morning.
The course took in attractions ranging from the Blair Drummond Safari Park - home to assorted giraffes and llamas - to Stirling Castle which provided a brilliant backdrop to the finish-line.
The inaugural staging of the race saw good numbers take part including three athletes who blazed a trail on the track and roads in the 1980s and 1990s: Liz McColgan, Zola Budd and Rosa Mota.
Budd, twice the world cross country champion in the 1980s, was the ninth woman to cross the finish line in 3:12:24 while former world 10,000m champion Liz McColgan completed the course in 3:18:33.
“It was really enjoyable in a funny sort of way. I was really pleased to run round and not have any problems, I was really comfortable. My legs stood up to the distance, so I'm just pleased to have finished,” said McColgan, a winner of the New York and London Marathons in her pomp.
“I've had a lot of problems since I retired. I never thought I'd be able to run a marathon again, so I'm chuffed.”
Wow! Stirling.. you certainly know how to cheer! Fantastic support around the course #StirlingMarathon pic.twitter.com/yPj3JVD1cV
— Great Run (@Great_Run) May 21, 2017
Mota, who won the inaugural European marathon title in 1982 before repeating in 1986 and 1990, opted for the accompanying 5km. She sped to a 19:51 clocking to finish fourth in the women’s race.
British Olympian Andrew Lemoncello, returning to the city in which he studied, claimed the victory in 2:25:01 while Lesley Pirie was the top female finisher in 2:47:36.
To sign up for the reminder service for next year's Stirling Scottish Marathon, visit greatrun.org/stirling
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