The Highland air was cool and still on Sunday morning, perfect conditions for a race that would end up rewriting the record books.
In one of the most dramatic editions in the event’s growing 22-year history, London’s Alex Milne stormed to victory at the 2025 Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, smashing the course record by almost four minutes, while Melissah Gibson sealed her third straight women’s title with her fastest run yet.
Milne, a 35-year-old representing Hercules Wimbledon AC, made his debut in Inverness count. His winning time of 2:15:46 obliterated the previous record of 2:19:26 set last year by Moray Pryde. From the opening miles, Milne looked in control, working through the undulating opening 10 miles before breaking clear at eight miles and never looking back.
“I was sort of trying to get under 2:19, but I wasn’t sure if that would be possible today,” Milne said after crossing the line. “It was quite hard work the whole way, so I was happy to keep up the pace and manage a decent time.”
The run was even more impressive given how isolated it became. “At eight miles in, I managed to get away from the other guy, but I could still hear him for a few miles,” he explained. “With a point-to-point course like this, you never know where the others are. It was eerily quiet, very different from London, where there’s a wall of noise. But it was calming too, just listening to my breathing.”
Behind him, James Donald of Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, fresh off his Scottish Half Marathon title, took second in 2:22:02, while Inverness’s own Shaun Cumming improved on last year’s performance by nine minutes to finish third in 2:22:58.
For Milne, it capped a remarkable season that’s seen him continue to improve into his mid-thirties. He ran 2:14:03 at the London Marathon in April and now turns his focus to Valencia in December, where he’s targeting another personal best. “It’s probably been my best year after almost 20 years of running,” he said. “It’s nice to still be improving at 35, that’s what keeps me motivated.”
On the women’s side, Melissah Gibson confirmed her status as the undisputed queen of Loch Ness, becoming just the second woman in race history to win three times. The 41-year-old from London’s Ealing Eagles ran her fastest time yet, 2:43:09, to complete a hat-trick of titles following victories in 2023 and 2024.
“This is my fastest so far,” she said. “It’s always nice when you’re over 40 to be getting quicker.”
Gibson’s victory came despite difficult conditions underfoot. Heavy rain overnight left the early downhill sections slick, forcing her to run more cautiously than usual. “I was getting really anxious on the downhills, I almost froze a bit,” she admitted. “Normally you can pick up a lot of speed, but I was relieved when it dried out and turned uphill in the second half.”
Her margin of victory was commanding, eight minutes clear of Fay Hughes (2:51:30) and Rebecca Burns (2:55:21). The win follows a strong season that included a 2:38:48 triumph at the Edinburgh Marathon earlier this year, despite injury setbacks over the winter.
“It’s always a rollercoaster with me,” Gibson said. “I got injured in February, then had a rough March, but bounced back for spring. I just ride the wave and take the ups and downs.”
She now turns her focus to the 50km World Championships in December, with the Seville Marathon in 2026 circled as a goal for another PB attempt. As for returning to Inverness? “I don’t think I’ll win four in a row,” she laughed, “but I’d love to come back.”
This year’s event also set records off the course. More than 10,700 runners took part across all distances, including a record 5,800 marathon entries, with participants representing 82 nationalities. Roughly half of the marathon field traveled from outside Scotland, underscoring how far the event’s reputation has grown.
“The atmosphere in Inverness across the weekend is always something special,” said Malcolm Sutherland, race director of the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running. “Every distance captures the magic of Loch Ness, from the marathon to the Wee Nessie fun run, and it’s fantastic to see people of all ages coming together.”
As always, the event carried a strong community and charitable focus. Hundreds of runners raised funds for causes including Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer Scotland, and Highland Hospice, adding another layer of meaning to a weekend that combined world-class performances with local pride.
For Milne and Gibson, though, 2025 will be remembered for something simpler, two perfectly executed runs that reflected not just talent, but longevity and resilience, a reminder that even on the quiet roads of the Highlands, greatness rarely happens by accident.
