For many runners in Scotland, the Inverness Half Marathon isn’t just another date in the calendar. It’s the first test of the year. A marker of progress. A reason to keep showing up through the hardest training months.
For three Run4It team members, weeks of winter miles built toward this start line. Long before race day arrived, the finish line medal had already begun to take shape in every mile logged. Here’s their story.
Olivia | Sub-2h in sight
The Goal
For Olivia, this year’s Inverness Half Marathon marked her first time on that start line. Her goal was clear: break the two-hour mark. Just as important, though, was experiencing the race itself - the atmosphere, the crowds, and the feeling of joining the field on one of the Highlands’ most popular start lines.
The Training
The training block behind it wasn’t perfectly structured. Work and life had kept things busy. But consistency quietly did the work in the background: a weekly long run, an interval session, and showing up where she could, when she could.
The Gear That Carried Her Through
Through the winter months, most of those miles were logged in the stability of her New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 V14 - her trusted daily trainer. Cold mornings meant layering up with pieces like the Ronhill Winter Tights and Merino Half-Zip, while Hilly Trail Socks kept things comfortable through the long runs.
On race day, the Brooks Hyperion Max 3 were the shoe of choice, paired with a Salomon hydration vest to carry fuel and water.
The Race
Sunshine and a brilliant local atmosphere made Olivia’s first Inverness Half Marathon a memorable one. A varied route of town streets and woodland paths kept things interesting, with shaded stretches offering welcome relief in the warm conditions. A narrow start made it tricky to settle into pace early on, but once the field spread out Olivia found her rhythm. She may have just missed the two-hour mark, but a two-minute personal best made it a performance to be proud of.
Shea | Chasing a new PB
The Goal
For Shea, the Inverness Half Marathon is only his second time over the distance - but the goal is already ambitious: a new personal best, and hopefully dipping under 1:45.
With a year of running behind him and a new race shoe ready to go, Inverness will be both a first visit to the city and the next step in his running journey.
The Training
Just a year into his running journey, most of his miles have been shaped by the places around Edinburgh where he first found his stride. Easy runs along the beach at Portobello Beach, loops through parks in Leith and the Old Town, and the occasional escape north for trail runs in the Cairngorms National Park.
The Gear That Carried Him Through
Most of those training miles have been logged in the Altra Experience Flow 3. But race day called for something faster, so Shea lined up in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5. A Salomon hydration vest carried fuel essentials, while a VÅGA cap rounded out the race-day kit.
The Race
Not quite the finish time Shea was chasing, but a beautiful and striking route that more than made up for it. A challenging course kept things honest, but he stayed steady throughout and enjoyed every kilometre.
Ines | Testing fitness on the road to London
The Goal
For Ines, the Inverness Half Marathon is a stepping stone toward her “A race” - the TCS London Marathon. Beyond chasing a personal best, she was drawn by the event’s reputation and its perfect timing in the calendar to gauge how her training is shaping up. Even with tired legs from winter training, her aim is to see if a sub-1:25 finish is possible.
The Training
Coaching herself for both Inverness and London has been a learning curve. Flexibility has become key: adjusting sessions based on work, life, and how her body feels rather than sticking rigidly to a plan. Nutrition has also been a focus, experimenting with different gels and fuelling strategies to find what works best under race conditions.
The Gear That Carried Her Through
Miles have been logged across a range of trusted shoes:
- Easy runs in the Brooks Glycerin Flex;
- Tempo and interval sessions in the adidas Adizero Boston 13;
- Long runs in the Asics Novablast 5;
- and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 ready for race day.
Winter layering has included Ronhill long sleeves and GOREWEAR shorts, with Hilly Twin Skin socks, Inov-8 race belts, and plenty of Body Glide keeping her comfortable on every run.
Race day kit included her club vest, Twin Skin socks, and the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 for speed.
With all the pieces in place, Inverness will be the perfect checkpoint before the big day in London.
The Race
Sunshine, stunning scenery and incredible crowds made the Inverness Half Marathon a special one for Ines: 'Held on International Women's Day, the race also marked the first-ever 50/50 split between men and women on the start line, which made the atmosphere feel even more empowering'. Rolling country roads, lively support and beautiful scenery carried runners through the course, though undulating hills and a headwind kept things challenging. Focusing on ticking off each kilometre. One final push as the track came into view saw her cross the line in under 1:25. Job done - bring on London.
Gear To Support Every Mile
Behind every medal is a season of quiet commitment – early alarms, missed plans, miles logged in the rain and darkness, and the steady negotiation between ambition and everyday life.
And through it all – the right gear matters.
From spring road races to summer trail events, discover gear engineered to support you through Every Mile Before The Medal at Run4It.
