London Mini Marathon still a key pathway – as Eilish shows again

Thursday 10th April 2025

Scotland youngsters at the London Mini Marathon event last year (photo by Neil Renton)

Archive: Road Running and Cross Country Commission website

Alex Jackson is one of our best-known Endurance Officials and has had a number of volunteer roles helping our sport across decades.

One of those posts was Team Manager to Scotland athletes for the London Mini Marathon earlier this century.

Here Alex offers his reflections as Eilish McColgan prepares to ‘graduate’ to the main event itself on Sunday 27 April and a TCS London Marathon debut.

‘Eilish McColgan is preparing for her TCS London Marathon debut this year and everyone across athletics in Scotland wishes her all the very best,’ said Alex.

‘More than 20 years ago, back in 2003, Eilish raced for Scotland at the London Mini Marathon.

‘Selection nowadays is primarily via the Young Athletes Road Races but back then the selection race for the Mini Marathon was the National XC.

‘So Eilish’s fourth place in the U13 Girls race in the National XC (at Linwood) ensured she was selected for the 11 and 12-year-old race at London.

‘The event and travel could be a daunting experience for many youngsters of that age and there was an option for a parent to accompany the athlete for the trip – which many Scottish families took up. Not Eilish; she was fine going on her own.

‘On the other hand, before the start of the Mini Marathon we had a request from BBC Sport. Would Eilish mind being interviewed?

‘I asked Eilish how she might feel about this and she replied ‘Sorry, No’. A very understandable reaction for a 12-year-old.

‘On the day, Eilish finished seventh in the 11/12 Year race and her career on the roads was, well, off and running.

‘Back in 2003, all athletes were given the same size large cotton T-shirt by the organisers. Probably fine for a 17-year-old but they could drown a 12-year-old (see photo above of Eilish and Sarah Inglis).

‘However, it did have ‘Scotland’ on the T-shirt and that was so important for young athletes. (The gifted kit has improved significantly over the years).

‘For every young Scot selected for the Mini Marathon, that coveted T-shit meant representing your country and a special moment. As well as Eilish, our four-times Olympian, that list includes Derek Hawkins, Freya Ross, Eilidh Doyle, Lynsey Sharp, Chris O’Hare, Samantha Kinghorn, Callum Hawkins, Jake Wightman, Josh Kerr, Neil Gourley, Ben Sandilands, Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir.’

It seems the London Mini Marathon’s status as a key ‘pathway’ is not up for debate . . .

Results

London Mini results

Alex Jackson

Scotland Mini Marathon Team Manager 2001 to 2012