Isle of Mull
Half Marathon
Sun 14th Aug 2005

The Isle of Mull half marathon is in its sixteenth year, the event was inspired by a relay race held to celebrate the bicentenary of the island's capital Tobermory.  The runners ‘carried the message of congratulations’ from the south of the island to the north, covering a distance of 55 miles in all.”  With so many runners on the island eager to participate in the relay, organisers decided to inaugurate a half marathon the following year.

For the first three years the race began at the well known landmark and MacLean stronghold Duart Castle, finishing in the village of Salen, in the centre of the island. But with a growing entry list and having to endure the first stage on a single track road, a new route was planned.

Competitors from the mainland make the forty minute crossing on the Oban to Craignure ferry and registration takes place nearby to the pier in the local village hall. They then make the trip to the start line less than a mile away at the nine hole golf course outside Craignure, and the initial stages of the race takes them back towards the ferry before completing a loop and doubling back towards Salen.

The mainly flat route, partly responsible for producing so many personal best times, follows the coast the whole way, on the island’s double track road. At around five miles runners meet a slight incline, only the second climb of the race, passing forestry, hillsides, and all the while with the Sound of Mull on their right.  For the following mile a nice gentle decline takes them back to the sea, and along the next three miles runners enjoy a light sea breeze coming directly from the shore side.  Around eleven miles another slight incline brings you past farm land and the final two miles on the flat takes you to the village of Salen, where a small crowd are on hand to cheer you over the finish line.

Changing facilities and hospitality is provided at the Salen Hotel, along with transport back to the ferry after the prize giving.
 

The half marathon lures familiar faces back each year, as well as new entrants, and being held in August, the entry list often sports a number of international runners with visitors on holiday from Australia, America, Italy, Canada, South Africa and Scandinavia having taken part.  And the Mull half marathon has its own special competitor, Sandy Duncan born in 1923 and a member of the Stornoway Running Club has participated in the Mull half marathon since 1989.

The race is always followed by a Junior event with 8-11 year olds running 1.5 miles and 12-16 year olds running 3 miles.