Belfast City Marathon

Location: Belfast
Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://belfastcitymarathon.com/
2025 Marathon Date: 04/05/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 03/05/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:13:37
% Sub-3s: 2–5%
# Sub-3s: 100–499
Total Runners: 3k–10k

The Belfast City Marathon is Northern Ireland’s premier long-distance road race, attracting a large field of local and international participants each spring. Held on the first Sunday in May, the race provides a comprehensive tour of Belfast’s neighbourhoods, landmarks and green spaces, combining civic atmosphere with road-running challenge.

The course is a single-loop route, beginning at Stormont Estate and finishing in Ormeau Park. It winds through east, west, north and south Belfast, passing areas such as the Titanic Quarter, City Hall and Falls Road. The layout includes long straights, a few rolling sections, and some tight corners. While the course is not flat, elevation is moderate and manageable for well-conditioned runners.

Weather in Belfast in early May is generally cool and overcast—favourable for endurance running. However, occasional coastal winds and showers are possible. The morning start helps mitigate temperature rise, and aid stations are spaced consistently throughout the route.

Crowd support varies by district. Central sections and residential hubs draw strong community backing, while some industrial stretches are quieter. Volunteer presence is reliable throughout. The event benefits from robust local infrastructure and police coordination, resulting in smooth road closures and traffic control.

For sub-3 aspirants, the Belfast City Marathon offers a mixed challenge. The course is quick in parts but requires concentration through undulating sections and urban shifts. The sub-3 field is sizeable, providing a decent pacing cohort without becoming congested. While it’s not as internationally hyped as London or Dublin, Belfast delivers a serious race with clear ambition and expanding prestige.

The event is well-suited to runners targeting a solid spring performance without the mega-scale pressure of larger city marathons. It also carries regional significance, drawing passionate local runners and offering a distinctive sense of place—qualities that appeal to many in the serious amateur field.