2027 Edinburgh Marathon Festival Junior Races

About the EMF Junior Races

The Junior races are part of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival Weekend - Scotland’s biggest running weekend, featuring distances for all ages and abilities.

With iconic city landmarks, coastal scenery, and a vibrant atmosphere, EMF delivers an unforgettable experience, and one of the strongest fundraising opportunities of the year for charities.

Entry requirements

Kids' Kilometer: Open to runners aged 3-6 years old Children taking part in this event must be accompanied by an adult (adults do not need to have an entry).

Junior 1.5k: Open to runners aged 6-8 years old

Junior 2k: Open to runners aged 9-12 years old

Junior 5k: Open to runners aged 11-18 years old

Take on the 2027 EMF Junior Races

Get a charity place one of four junior races, or if you already have a place, join Team Cancer Research UK and play your part in supporting vital cancer research.

How to join Team Cancer Research UK

Step: 1

Decide whether you'll enter with your own place or get a charity place.

Step: 2

Sign up to get Team Cancer Research UK perks.

Step: 3

Get fundraising for life-saving research.

Step: 4

Get over that finish line and smash your fundraising target.

Why run for Cancer Research UK?

Meet Rika

My favourite moment was the Cancer Research UK cheer point, where my beautiful daughter and incredible husband were cheering me on!

- Rika

Rika joined our team UK in 2025, running in memory of her Mum.

"I relied on Cancer Research UK to learn more about breast cancer when my mum was diagnosed. Educating myself was a productive way to try and process everything. I eventually lost my mum to breast cancer in March 2020. It was a no brainer when it came to choosing a charity to raise money for. My mum was a gym bunny, so I thought she’d find it funny that I was going to be running in her memory. I enjoyed every single mile."

Team Cancer Research UK participants receive

Training tips and plans to help you prepare

Fundraising support to help you smash your target

An official finisher’s medal for completing your race

The difference your money makes

80 Cancer Research UK runners taking on the Run Bournemouth Half Marathon.

Hitting their fundraising targets to raise an overall total of around £18,500.

Could fund a research group at the Manchester Institute for 4 days.

Resources

Your support powers our life-saving research to beat cancer. Discover our resources so you can train with purpose for your event.

Get training support

We've teamed up with experts to give you the best training support and advice for your event. Whether it's your first time training or you're looking to smash a PB, we've got a training plan for you.

Get fundraising support

We're with you every step of your fundraising journey so you can smash your target. Once you've signed up, we'll send you everything you need to get going such as fundraising ideas, top tips, planners and posters.

Get kitted out

We worked with Scimitar to create Cancer Research UK sportswear that’s comfortable, looks great and supports our vital work. 20% of the price of these products will be paid to Cancer Research UK.