Sunday, 30 August 2026
Marathon
The full distance, done the Deeside way. Two laps of the half marathon course, 734m of climbing, and the whole thing twice over: the Scolty climb, the forest tracks, six riverside kilometres each time round. A marathon for runners who want the landscape to make them earn it, with the festival waiting when you're done.
Go The Full Distance
42km of Royal Deeside on gravel and forest trail, two laps of the half course back to back. Long runnable sections, real climbs, and terrain that rewards patience and pacing over raw speed. This is a marathon you run for the adventure of it, not the number at the end.
Ready For The Marathon?
Take on the full distance and see Royal Deeside on foot, twice over. Ten feed stations, strong support the whole way, and the explorr festival waiting at the line.
Course & Terrain
The Full Deeside Test
42.2K
720m
The explorr Marathon is two laps of the Half Marathon course: 720m of climbing across the forests and riverside of Royal Deeside, run twice over. Each lap starts on Dee Street and climbs on gravel towards Scolty Woodland car park, rewarded with big open views across Scolty Hill and out over the River Dee on the way up.
From there, rolling gravel and sweeping views lead deeper into Blackhall Forest, then an adventurous stretch through Slewdrum Forest, managed by the Birse Community Trust, before the trail drops back towards the Dee. The final six kilometres of each lap hug the river, past quiet fishing beats on a mix of smaller trails and wider tracks, with fresh river air to carry you on.
The Red Bull Flying KM at the end of the first lap, before you turn back up towards Scotly Woodland. You'll get a second shot at the Red Bull Flying KM when you're 1km from home, your last chance for some bragging rights before the finish. A grandstand finish in King George V Park awaits after your marathon adventure. Five feed stations per lap, ten in total, keep you fuelled the whole way.
Like all off-road courses, the route runs slightly over the advertised distance, so expect a little more than 42.2km on the day. Check out the full course map below.
Event information
Everything you need to know before race day. Key details to help you prepare for the Marathon at explorr.
All runners will receive a timing chip integrated into their bib number. Your official result will be based on net chip time, measured from the moment you cross the start line until you cross the finish line.
Live results, including split times, will be available throughout race day via the official event timing platform.
Results will be published using age group categories, ensuring fair and competitive racing across all levels.
Age groups are calculated based on your age on race day and are split by gender (Male/Open and Female). Categories are as follows:
- U18 (16-17)
- U20 (18-19)
- Senior (20–34)
- V35
- V40
- V45
- V50
- V55
- V60
- V65
- V70
- V75
- V80
- 5-year age bands thereafter (as required)
Rankings for each age group will be included in the official results. The winner of every age group category will receive a complimentary entry to the following year’s explorr event.
The Marathon will start in a mass start wave for the distance.
Start waves may be divided into pens based on the predicted finish time provided during registration. This helps create a smoother and safer start for all runners.
You can update your predicted finish time using the Edit Registration link in your confirmation email.
Starts for all explorr Run events will begin from 10:00, with the final wave expected to start no later than 10:30. Exact start timings will be confirmed closer to the event.
The Marathon course will include ten feed stations (5 on each lap) positioned along the route.
- Feed Station 1 – 4.4km
- Feed Station 2 – 10km
- Feed Station 3 – 14km
- Feed Station 4 – 18km
- Feed Station 5 – 19.5km
- Feed Station 6 – 25.6km
- Feed Station 7 – 31.1km
- Feed Station 8 – 35.5km
- Feed Station 9 – 39.1km
- Feed Station 10 – 40.6km
Each station will provide water, carbohydrate drink mix and bananas to help keep runners fuelled and hydrated.
Full details of nutrition and drink products will be confirmed in the Event Guide ahead of race weekend.
Running with a club or group of friends? Make sure to include your Club or Team Name during registration.
Spot prizes will be awarded for standout team performances, with more details to be announced closer to race day.
Looking for a fresh challenge for your team or business? The explorr Corporate Challenge is a chance for colleagues to take on the 5km (or any other explorr running event) together and be part of an unforgettable race day.
Bring your team to Royal Deeside, compete against other companies and enjoy the festival atmosphere after the finish. For corporate entry packages and group bookings visit www.explorr.co.uk/corporate.
Runners in the Marathon event must be at least 16 years of age on race day.
There will be a start line cut-off time of 10:35. Runners arriving after this time will not be permitted to start the race.
Marathon runners must also reach the second lap checkpoint by 14:35, allowing 4 hours to complete the first 21km of the course.
Runners who do not reach this checkpoint within the time limit will be directed to the finish line and will receive an official Half Marathon finishing time.
Cut-off times are in place to ensure the safety of participants and allow the event team to manage the course and medical support effectively. These times may be subject to change.
Make race day simpler with our bag drop service.
Leave your bag with the event team before the start and collect it when you return to the Event Village. Whether it is a change of clothes, extra gear or post-run essentials, your bag will be safely waiting for you at the finish.
Your safety is our priority.
Red On Sports delivers events to the highest safety standards and the explorr Run is no exception. A dedicated Event Control team will monitor the race and coordinate medical or emergency support whenever required.
Medical teams will be positioned along the route and at the finish area to ensure runners receive assistance if needed.