More than 5,000 people packed Duthie Park on Saturday as 3,000 participants took part in the sold-out Hydrasun Half Marathon, marking the beginning of what organisers believe will become one of Scotland's flagship annual sporting events.
The race was won by Inverness runner Angus Smith, of Costorphine AAC, who came home in 1hr 5min 11sec. Female winner Robyn Pinder ran the race in 1hr 19min 52sec.
Temperatures at the start line were 15 degrees, demonstrating that while much of the UK sweltered in a heatwave this week, Aberdeen is a unique location for a European summer marathon.
Following the success of the pilot event, organisers have confirmed that the Aberdeen Marathon will launch next summer – on Saturday 17th July – alongside the return of the Half Marathon and new 5K.
Entries are now open, with runners being urged to secure their place early after the inaugural half marathon sold out in just six days before additional places were released to meet demand.
Organisers believe the addition of a full marathon will establish Aberdeen as the home of Europe's coolest summer marathon, attracting runners from across the UK and overseas while delivering a major boost for the city's visitor economy.
The marathon will start and finish in the city centre and showcase Aberdeen's city streets, coastline and green spaces, building on the overwhelmingly positive response to this year's event.
Organiser Steve Gray said: "Today has exceeded every expectation. To see thousands of runners and supporters filling Duthie Park and lining the route has been an incredible moment for Aberdeen and everyone who has worked so hard to bring this event to life.
"The response to the Hydrasun Half Marathon has shown there is a real appetite for a major running festival in the north-east, and we're delighted to confirm that the Aberdeen Marathon will join the programme in 2027.
"We would encourage anyone thinking about taking part to enter early. This year's half marathon sold out in a matter of days and demand has demonstrated just how much excitement there is for distance running in Aberdeen.
"Our ambition is to create an event that attracts runners from across Scotland, the UK and around the world. Aberdeen offers something genuinely different, with Europe's coolest summer marathon, spectacular coastal scenery and a warm north-east welcome. We believe this event can become a major reason for people to visit the city year after year.
"Next year's event also falls on the same weekend as The Open at St Andrews, creating a fantastic long weekend of world-class sport in Scotland. After seeing the incredible welcome the Tartan Army received from supporters across North America this summer, we hope Scotland's renewed international reputation for warmth, hospitality and celebration will encourage even more overseas visitors to experience everything this country has to offer. We want the Aberdeen Marathon to become part of that international story."
Bob Drummond, Executive Chairman of Hydrasun, added: "Today has shown exactly what Aberdeen is capable of when the city comes together behind a shared ambition. Thousands of runners, volunteers and spectators have created an incredible atmosphere and demonstrated there is real demand for a major running festival in the north-east.
"This was always about much more than one event. It is about creating something that people look forward to every year, showcasing Aberdeen to new audiences and generating lasting economic benefits for local businesses, hotels, restaurants and attractions.
"The launch of the Aberdeen Marathon is the natural next step. We have seen what this city can achieve, and now we have an opportunity to build an event that earns a place on the calendar for runners from across the UK and around the world."
The events are organised by the not-for-profit Aberdeen Marathon Company, whose ambition is to establish Aberdeen as one of the UK's leading destinations for running events while generating significant economic benefits for the city and region.
Entries for all 2027 events are now open at https://aberdeenmarathon.org/
