Race is on to run with a marathon legend at Ness
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For Adam Holland, one of the world's most prolific and eccentric long distance racers is to compete in the race on September 23.
And with the deadline for entries to the iconic Highland race arriving on Sunday, time is running out for anyone who wants to be sure of joining the star name in the line-up.
Holland, from Dunsford near Exeter in South Devon, has won more marathons and ultra-marathons than anyone else in Britain. His winning tally recently reached 200 which is the fourth best by any runner in the world, although the 31-year-old still has a bit to go to match the Slovakian Miroslav Krisko who has 316 wins to his credit.
The Tavistock club member has competed in Europe, the USA and Australia but the Baxters Loch Ness marathon will be only his second race in Scotland and will be the most northerly he has tackled anywhere in the world.
Holland's amazing list of accomplishments also includes setting a world record time of 27 hrs 38 min 36 secs for completing 10 marathons in 10 days, which he achieved at Lake Orta in Italy last August. That's an impressive average of 2hrs 45min for each one, and it was the ninth time he had successfully completed a 10-in-10 challenge. His fastest marathon time is 2:27:55 which he set at Paris in 2017 but he hopes to be quicker before this year is out.
Holland said: "I am really looking forward to competing in the Baxters Loch Ness marathon because it's one I haven't done before. I have many friends who have done it and said it's a good one. I am always looking for new venues but this one is a long way from home.
"The only other race I've done in Scotland was the Edinburgh marathon quite a few years ago.
Despite his incredibly intensive schedule, Holland doesn't ever just go through the motions in races and warns he'll be out to finish as highly as possible at Loch Ness.
He said: "I always look to be competitive in every event I go to. Sometimes I am tired or a bit achy from a previous event but that can be a help by making sure I don't start too fast which is a tendency I seem to have."
After the July 1 marathon deadline, entries will only be available up to September 3 for Scottishathletics members, members of affiliated UK running clubs, overseas runners, and through official charity Macmillan Cancer Support and other affiliate charities.
The festival also includes the Baxters River Ness 10k, including a Corporate Challenge for teams, the Baxters River Ness 5k fun run, and the Wee Nessie children's run.
Entries for these are open until September 3 with limited race weekend entries to the River Ness 5k and Wee Nessie only.
Full details are available at www.lochnessmarathon.com
