Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running could help Highlands return to normality
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ORGANISERS behind the biggest running event in the Highlands hope it will become an event which will celebrate normality with a vengeance.
The Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running has already attracted thousands of entries and is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 4.
However, the event will be dependent on how the situation is regarding the coronavirus pandemic, and will only proceed if it is safe for athletes to do so.
Event director Malcolm Sutherland said they were pleased with the number of entries they had received for an event they hope can go ahead.
If it does, the marathon will become an event which will help the Highlands feel normal again.
“Speaking to various organisations, that is what they want,” he said.
“What they want is to come back with a vengeance and get back to business and have these fantastic events in the Highlands.
“We have received thousands of entries already and we hope it will continue during the summer.
“It has been an unusual period of time and we will be aiming to gain some sort of normality.”
A number of major sporting events in the Highlands and across Scotland have either been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic.
With still over five months to go, Sutherland says there is still plenty time to be confident the marathon can run.
But he says if the situation does not improve during the summer, they will have to make a decision in plenty o time before the event in autumn.
“We are cracking on with the key components and ensuring everything will be in place for the event,” he said.
“We have a tight schedule to keep and like everyone, we are constantly monitoring the advice from the UK and Scottish Government and World Health Organisation.
“We have no set date at the moment but if needs must, any decisions will be made well in advance.”
A monster entry of more than 9400 runners took part in the Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running last year.
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