We've teamed up with some good people up the road.

explorr is proud to announce a new partnership with Out & Back — Aberdeen's independent running and outdoor-active store, and one of the most exciting names in Scottish running right now. Together, we're going to help you arrive at the start line in Banchory fitter, sharper and better prepared than you would on your own.

Here's what that means.

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Meet Out & Back

If you run in the north-east and you don't know Out & Back yet, you soon will.

Founded by David Taylor and Thomas Lindie and based at The Green in the heart of Aberdeen, Out & Back is a multi-brand hub for all things outdoor-active — a tightly curated selection of premium footwear and apparel, chosen by people who actually run. It's performance-first, but it bridges the gap between serious kit and everyday wear, for runners who want gear that works as hard on the trail as it does off it.

It's also more than a shop. There's expert gait analysis to get you in the right shoes, in-store events and workshops, and a community that runs the full range — from social-first first-timers to course-record holders. Sat on the coast but only 45 minutes from the Cairngorms, they're perfectly placed to understand exactly the kind of running explorr is about.

In other words: the ideal partner to get you ready for Royal Deeside.

Pop in and see them at 45 The Green, Aberdeen, or browse the full range online at outandbackstore.com. Whether you need a shoe fitting, fresh kit or just a bit of advice, they'll point you in the right direction.

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What to expect from the partnership

Over the months leading up to explorr, 28–30 August 2026, we’ll be sharing the kind of know-how that turns a finish into a good finish.

A series of blogs and guides is on the way, built to get you ready whether you're eyeing the 5km, the 10km, the half or the full marathon. Look out for:

• Choose your kit — what to wear and pack for running in Royal Deeside.
• Gravel-curious? — a beginner's intro to gravel running and what makes it different.
• The shoe guide — finding the right footwear for off-road miles, with Out & Back's expertise.
• Run club — where, when and how to train with others before the day.

Practical, no-nonsense advice from a team who know running and a team who know the terrain.

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Join the run club

Out & Back's run club, The Green Run Club, meets free every Saturday from the store — all paces, all welcome, new faces every week. It's a brilliant place to clock some miles and meet people training for the same thing you are.

And ahead of the festival, we're planning something special: an exclusive explorr x Out & Back run club session in Scolty Forest, on the doorstep of Banchory and the trails you'll be racing. A chance to run the real thing before the real thing.

And there's more

We'll also be giving away the big one: the chance to win a complimentary explorr entry. Keep your eyes peeled for how to enter.

Tips, plans, run club, giveaways — and more still to come. This is just the start of it.

Stay tuned across explorr.co.uk and Out & Back's channels for everything as it lands. Royal Deeside is waiting.