Roughly 22,000 runners will flock to Dublin on October 26th for this year’s iteration of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon. The event entails Ireland’s biggest annual running of the infamous 26.2 mile (42.2 km) race, with many of the capital’s most iconic areas transformed into a running track and with some of Ireland’s biggest names participating — notably Colin Farrell last year. Established in 1980, the race has been held every year since with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, making this year’s edition its 44th.
The marathon route will see runners finding themselves in many prominent areas of the city, with the race beginning on Leeson Street in the city centre — guiding runners along the south end of St Stephen’s Green, not far from Trinity campus. Across the Liffey, and with a brief view of Dublin’s northside, participants will run the length of Phoenix Park for an early incline challenge — a roughly three mile section through the city’s biggest park. After snaking through the Chapelizod and Kilmainhaim areas, complete with a view of the famous Kilmainhaim Gaol, runners will cross the Grand Canal just before the halfway mark. Participants will then make their way through many of the posh neighborhoods of South Dublin; a section along Terenure Road and Orwell Road will bring the marathon very close to Trinity Halls. Runners face their biggest challenge at the infamous ‘Heartbreak Hill’ of inclining Roebuck Road at miles 21 and 22. After narrowly avoiding the UCD campus, runners wrap back around towards the city centre, once again crossing the canal and finishing on Mount Street just before Merrion Square. For those interested in cheering on friends and family, designated cheering areas exist throughout the marathon route. Indeed, many Dubliners will be lining the streets to cheer on the runners to create an excellent community atmosphere.
With the race coming in the chilly Dublin October, and with its mostly flat route, (Heartbreak Hill aside), the Dublin Marathon is one of the more friendly races available to novice marathon runners — a fact for consideration to all spectators who feel a sense of inspiration come marathon weekend. Although it is a race open to all those lucky enough to secure tickets through its notorious lottery system — including first time marathon runners — the race at the front is highly competitive, with many of the world’s top athletes competing. Asmarech Nega of Ethiopia shattered the all-time course record for the women’s division in last year’s race, crossing the finish line in two hours, twenty-four minutes, and thirteen seconds. The marathon’s men’s winner for 2024, Moses Kemei of Kenya, came under two minutes short of beating the all time course record of two hours, six minutes, and fifty-two seconds, set in 2023 by Kemal Husen of Ethiopia. However, history was still made in the men’s division when Hiko Tonosa broke the Irish record with a third place finish of two hours, nine minutes, and forty-two seconds.
Growing every year since its humble beginnings, the Dublin Marathon has established itself as one of the best annual events for fostering community spirit across the city. For spectators and runners alike, and for newcomers to Dublin and those who have lived in the city all of their life, the Dublin Marathon on the last Sunday in October is an event not to miss.
