Eilish McColgan Breaks Scottish Record in London Marathon Despite Tough Run
Eilish McColgan’s debut in the London Marathon on April 27, 2025, was a mixture of intense emotions, but ultimately, it marked a historic moment for the Scottish athlete. The Commonwealth 10,000m champion set a new Scottish marathon record, securing eighth place overall with a time of 2:24:25.
The 34-year-old had originally planned to compete in the 2023 London Marathon, but an injury derailed her plans. This year, however, McColgan finally made it to the start line, determined to make up for lost time. Despite facing physical pain and a fast-paced start that she later regretted, she pushed through to achieve two significant goals: breaking both Steph Twell’s 2019 Scottish record and the marathon best of her mother and coach, Liz McColgan, set in 1996.
Reflecting on the race, McColgan shared her experience:
“That was a very, very tough run. I set off a little bit hot and I paid the price for that. There’s lots to learn but I can call myself a marathon runner now so I’m really proud,” McColgan told Athletics Weekly.
She acknowledged the difficulties of the race, saying:
“It’s two years later than planned – we were meant to be here in 2023 and I didn’t make the start line. I was imagining coming down that final mile and when I passed the 25-mile marker, even when I was absolutely dying, I was telling myself: ‘You can see the finish line now.’”
McColgan’s marathon debut didn’t go as perfectly as planned, but it was a valuable learning experience. Her quads began to seize early in the race, reminding her that more conditioning and mileage would be needed for future marathons. Nevertheless, she remains optimistic and eager to continue this new chapter of her career on the roads rather than the track.
“I know there’s a lot more work to be done and my quads seized up very early. I think there’s a lot more conditioning, a lot more mileage and longer reps in my future but it’s a good stepping stone,” she added.
As McColgan sets her sights on future marathons, she’s already eyeing the improvements needed to build on this success, showing the world that she’s ready for more.
