MARATHON

Marathon is an endurance-based discipline with participants competing in both kayaks and canoes over long distances. It takes place mainly on the flatwater of canals, lochs and rivers and is a fantastic way to challenge yourself, improve your paddling skills, and enjoy the great outdoors. As you learn more boat handling skills, it becomes tactically as well as physically challenging, with boats racing in groups and contesting sprint finishes.

Marathon racing boats are designed to travel fast in a straight line and are therefore narrower and less stable than many other types of kayak or canoe. They come in single (K1/C1) and double (K2/C2) types. Young paddlers tend to use Lightning Kayaks that are smaller and more stable, allowing them to develop their skills on an equal footing.

As soon as you have picked up the basics of paddling in a racing kayak or canoe you are ready to race. A coach or a fellow paddler will be able to suggest a suitable race for you to start with. This may well be one of the flatwater races which happen regularly throughout the season. Most of these are on canals where there are no currents or technical sections to worry about. 



The main Marathon racing season runs from April to October, with events somewhere most weekends. Most races are held on canals or lochs within the central belt, with a few river races further north. During the summer there are some weekday events and your club may have their own races as well as the regular training nights. 

The courses raced in Scotland vary from around 6 km for a “mini” course to 13 km for a “short” course and 20 km for a “long” course. Lightning paddlers - those just starting out - typically race over 2-4 km. There are also some longer events like the annual Glasgow to Edinburgh challenge which is 87 km. 

The Marathon Group has a range of boats and paddles which can be loaned out. For details and to enquire please get in touch with this Discipline Development Group. 

All boats used in marathon racing must be fitted with sufficient buoyancy to support the boat and crew in the event of a capsize. Inherent buoyancy in composite boats is not sufficient to meet this requirement. Additional foam buoyancy or air bags must be fitted.



All paddlers who are ranked in divisions 7,8,9 and those in the Geoff Sanders Series must wear an approved buoyancy aid or life jacket for all marathon races, in singles or doubles.  Organisers may require other competitors to also wear approved buoyancy aids if they feel that the conditions require it, so all competitors should come prepared to comply with this requirement.

Paddlers should also check individual race information sheets for any event specific safety requirements.