The Belfast Marathon

Everything you need to know about the Belfast Marathon

Running through all four areas of Belfast; North, South, East and West, the Belfast Marathon starts at Stormont Estate and finishes in the City's Ormeau Park. There's also a team relay and walk that means every opportunity to get involved and leads to even bigger crowds. Held in May every year there is also a half marathon in September. In 2022 the Marathon celebrated its 40 year anniversary!

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Belfast

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland and is Ireland's second biggest city, with a population of 700,000. In 1921, Belfast became the seat of government for Northern Ireland following the partition of the Country. This was a challenging time for Belfast, when significance violence occurred, repeated in 1969 to 1998 in a period known as 'the Troubles'. Industry has always been a key part of the city's growth with shipbuilding especially important. It is still a port with commercial and industrial docks, including the Harland & Wolff shipyard, where the Titanic and Canberra were built.

There is so much to see in Belfast and one of the most impressive is the Titanic Museum, opened in 2012, built on the slipways where the ship itself was constructed over 100 years ago. There are nine galleries on six floors and many interactive exhibitions, an underwater cinema and gantry rides. Crowned the World's Leading Tourist Attraction in 2016 it tells the whole story, from the very beginning to the tragic end. The Ulster Museum is another that you must visit. Recently refurbished it includes the only dinosaur bones ever found on the island of Ireland and the famed Egyptian mummy, Takabuti. The Botanical Gardens next door are spectacular. For a real taste of Belfast life check out renovated St George's Market. It's not just about food but food is what many come here for! Not ideal for runners in race week is the Ulster fry, which will fill you for the day; definitely one for after the event. The choice here is endless.

Opened in 1906 the Renaissance style City Hall is adorned with beautiful stained glass windows telling the story of Celtic myths and legends, such as the Cattle Raid of Cooley, as well as commemorating victims of the Great Famine and those who fought in the First and Second World Wars. There are many memorials in the grounds, including the Titanic Memorial Garden, where plaques are inscribed with the names of all 1,512 people who lost their lives. Runners head past here on the marathon course. The City is well known for its wall art, much of it telling the story of the Troubles. There are some great tours with expert guides that can detail what happened. The Black Cab tours are amongst the most popular. is a sight to behold. The Crumlin Road Gaol is also a site not to be missed. Closed in 1996 after 150 years, it claims to be one of the most haunted sites in Belfast.

Belfast's City Hall

History of the Belfast Marathon

The first Belfast City Marathon was in 1982 with 3,021 taking part in a marathon only event, with the team relay added seven years later. In 1997 the 8 Mile Walk and Fun Run events were introduced making the event the largest mass sport participatory event in Northern Ireland. The Half Marathon followed in 2013 (held in September). In 2023 a Women's 10km event was launched and the Belfast City Marathon obtained World Athletics Road Race Label status.

Race Organiser

Belfast City Marathon Ltd

When?

The race is held annually in May

Distances

Marathon, Team Relay and 8 mile walk

Is there an Expo?

The Expo & Pack Collection takes place at the Titanic Exhibition Centre on Friday and Saturday. All participants must attend to collect their race number, t-shirt and bag.

How many runners?

22.000 across all events

The course

The Marathon starts at 9am and all runners need to complete the race in less than six hours. It's a relatively small field so there are no challenges with overcrowding aside from the team relay change over points where it can feel a little bit crowded, but nothing major.

Not a bad place to start!

It starts at Stormont Estate, in the east of Belfast. Stormont is a public park with beautiful gardens, walking and fitness trails and children’s play park. Recognised as one of Northern Ireland’s best green spaces it's also home to the Northern Ireland Government and a great place to start an event of this type. From Stormont runners head west to Ormeau Park, firstly heading down the Upper Newtownards Road through Ballyhackamore. It's then left down Beersbridge Road, through the suburb of Castlereagh and north up Woodstock Road before turning into Ormeau Park for the first time just before mile 7 and a few metres from the finish line! It's then out of Ormeau Park, over a bridge across the River Lagan and north up Ormeau Road. The River Lagan runs 53.5 miles from the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down to Belfast where it enters Belfast Lough, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The Lagan forms much of the border between County Antrim and County Down in the east of Ulster. At this point the Ulster Museum and Botanical gardens is just across to the left.

Runners then head into the city centre, where they will pass Belfast City Hall at the 9-mile mark before turning left onto Donegal Road and towards the south of the city. Donegal Road then leads onto Boucher Road, and at mile 11 passing the unique Rise Sculpture, also known as 'the Balls of the Falls'. Installed in 2011 it represents a new sun rising to celebrate a new chapter in the history of Belfast. Runners then head south down Donegal Road and Lisburn Road before making a right turn and continuing on Andersonstown Road and Falls Road until the 16 mile marker and then on to the Shankill Road area. The Falls and Shankill Road areas were major flashpoints during the Troubles and there are many visual reminders of the turmoil from those times. Nearby is the Crumlin Road Gaol.

Past the City Hall at mile 9

At the 19.5 miles it's a turn and the start of the run south, passing the Waterworks, home to many birds and wildfowl, at mile 20 and just before mile 22 it's the Big Fish! It's a printed ceramic mosaic sculpture by John Kindness, 10 metres long constructed in 1999 in Donegall Quay. The outer skin is a cladding of ceramic tiles decorated with texts and images relating to the history of Belfast. It was commissioned to celebrate the regeneration of the River Lagan and it's a great landmark at a time when you really need it.

From here it's then left down the Towpath and along the River Lagan to the 24 mile marker and to Ormeau Park. At the end of the Park, it's then left and on towards the finish line, where the celebrations can start.

There are nine water stations, with energy drinks at some, 14 first aid stations and eight toilet stops along the course.

What's unique?

Belfast is so closely connected with the Titanic and this gives the event something special.

Do charities benefit?

There is a regular preferred charity selected for a period of one to three years. As the event doesn't sell out there is no demand for charity bibs. Runners can of course raise money for their preferred charity using their own bib and this is estimated to generate £1m a year.

Our verdict

There is so much to see and do in Belfast and this course takes in some of the highlights. Although it comes just at the end of the Spring marathon season in Europe and misses out to other events as a result it is definitely one to consider if you're looking for something different. Crowd support can be a bit sporadic but in the city there is plenty of support. Definitely one to consider.

How to register

Online via the website. Entries in the Marathon don't currently sell out, but they do in the team relay.

Race website

https://belfastcitymarathon.com/