Runners will have to wait another few months to compete in the Stirling Marathon after it was announced it has been postponed once again.

Due to the ongoing uncertainty around the end of lockdown and travel restrictions, the event has been rescheduled to October 24, 2021.

The 2020 marathon was postponed in April last year to May this year, however it has been postponed again.

Stirling Council announced via Facebook today, February 4, that the marathon had been rearranged “in order to give runners the best chance of competing in a mass participant event”.

A statement from marathon organisers Classic Run Events added: “Unfortunately, the 2021 spring marathon season has come around too soon for the return of safe mass participation sport.

“We have worked tirelessly alongside Stirling Council and Event Scotland to ensure that if our event was given the green light in May, it would be delivered in a Covid-safe manner.

“However, due to the ongoing uncertainty around the end of lockdown and travel restrictions we have made the decision to postpone the race to October 24, 2021.

“We understand the efforts of those who have been training towards their goal of becoming marathoners.

“We understand that this news will bring frustration and disappointment. We feel the same way.”

The statement continues: “The Stirling Scottish Marathon will go ahead.

“Our small team have invested so much time and effort into bringing this race back to life, making changes to the route, to the runner experience, and ultimately aiming to put this race amongst the best marathons in Britain.

“We ask that you continue to run and train no matter what your goal is.

“If you have signed up for the Stirling Scottish Marathon you will become a marathoner, it will be a few months later than planned but use that to your advantage.”

A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We are all keen to get back to normal as soon as possible and, in order to give runners the best chance of competing in a mass participant event, the decision has been taken to push this year’s marathon back to October.

“The Stirling Marathon is one of the cornerstones of our events calendar and we are looking forward to welcoming our runners, volunteers and organisers back to our streets for another successful race when it is safe to do so.”