The Inverness marathon has sprinted into the record books after nearly 4,000 participants took to the streets for the city’s annual run.
More than 2,800 runners were involved in the half marathon, while over 1,000 other people competed in the weekend’s 5km fun run, which was a record number in the Highland capital.
Race director Malcolm Sutherland spoke of his delight at how the events were growing in popularity.
He said: “It was a great day with record numbers taking part in the half marathon and in the 5km. It was particularly encouraging to see so many youngsters taking part in the 5km.”
Commonwealth athlete Robbie Simpson set a record-breaking time during the proceedings and shattered the time of 1.04.32 set by Glasgow’s Peter Fleming in 1993 by all of five seconds.
The Deeside runner from Banchory completed the route in a personal best of 1.04.27 as he prepares to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next month.
Following the race, he said: “That’s the best race I have had for a long time. I felt I have trained well all year, but the races haven’t gone well until now.
“I did a brilliant session of repetition miles when I was in Barcelona last week and it was probably the best I have ever done, so I came here feeling confident.
“I realised I could get a personal best time and when I got onto the track I heard I had 30secs to get it, so I just sprinted as fast as I could.
“It’s a real boost to achieve this performance just before heading to Australia this week. So I can take a lot of confidence from it because I felt so good.”
Meanwhile, Katie White of Garscube Harriers in Glasgow also set a new personal best, finishing in 1.15.58 – a massive 48 seconds ahead of two-time winner Shona McIntosh of Hunters Bog Trotters.
She said: “This is the first time I have run here and it exceeded my expectations. It was a perfect day and I really enjoyed it.
“I led all the way and I had no idea how close the next woman might have been, because I kept my head down and kept looking ahead.”
