Edinburgh Runner Completes 20th Marathon for RNIB
Side by side: Archie shows his medals in 2005, and 2025!
Edinburgh runner Archie MacGregor (65) has completed his 20th marathon in Lisbon, surpassing his fundraising target of £26,200 - a sum mirroring the traditional 26.2 mile marathon distance. The milestone marks two decades of running and fundraising in support national sight loss charity, RNIB, a cause close to his family.
Archie’s son, now 33, was supported by RNIB Scotland’s youth group as a child, taking part in various activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, and water sports, all made accessible for the group.
“The youth group was brilliant for my son and helping him build confidence and independence,” says Archie. “The team were so supportive of all the kids and the impact they’ve made has really stayed with us over the years.”
Archie’s marathon journey began in 2005. “Since then, it’s been onwards, upwards, backwards, sideways and literally all over the place,” Archie says. “From the amazing skylines of New York in 2007, a blistering 29°C heatwave in Boston in 2012, shivering at 0°C on the start line in Tokyo in 2014, and being absolutely drenched in a torrential downpour in Florence in 2017.”
Archie was originally scheduled to mark his 20th marathon at the London Marathon earlier this year but was forced to withdraw due to injury. He recovered in time to take part in Lisbon instead. “Pulling out of London this year was frustrating- I know what a special atmosphere is there,” he says. “However, over the 20 years of doing marathons I’ve had many setbacks, and this was just another one to overcome and refocus my energy."
Lisbon proved to be a further challenge for Archie, who had caught COVID just three weeks before the race. “The humidity was quite unexpected, and I was really struggling towards the end. Fortunately, the marathon route follows the coast rather than the city’s hills, and I finished in almost exactly four hours, which is decent for a 65 year old, all things considered!”
Archie has no plans to stop running anytime soon. “I’ll keep running until my legs tell me to stop. I’d like to the Sydney Marathon to complete my World Major series, and London if I can get in the ballot. Athens, where marathons started, would be very special.”
As Archie reflects on two decades of running, he says the sense of accomplishment is only just beginning to sink in.
“It’s up there with the proudest achievements of my life and I’m so happy to have done something that helps such a great cause as RNIB as well as accomplishing personal challenges. I just put one foot in front of another over 26.2 miles, it’s the sponsors who have been the heroes along the way. I can’t thank them enough.”
