Belfast Marathon

Belfast Marathon
File:2019 Belfast City Marathon Start Line.jpg 2019 Belfast City Marathon Start Line
Location	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Event type	Marathon
Distance	26.2 miles (42.2 km)
Primary sponsor	Deep River Rock
Established	1982
Course records	Men's: 2:13:41 (2012) Negewo Ararisa Women's: 2:36:50 (2013) Nataliya Lehonkova
Official site	Belfast Marathon
Participants	20,000 (2019)

Belfast City Marathon Ltd organise the largest mass sport participatory event in Northern Ireland with approximately 20,000 participants taking part in the May Bank Holiday Weekend events – Marathon, Wheelchair Race, Team Relay, 8 Mile Walk and Fun Run. The organisation also stage Northern Ireland’s largest Half Marathon event taking place annually in September.

History

1982 - The Belfast City Marathon first launched with 3,021 participants taking part in a marathon only event. The marathon course started at the Old Maysfield Leisure Centre and Greg Hannon was the winner in a time of 2:20:25. Sue Boreham was the first woman across the line in a time of 3:11:26. The event would take place on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday each year.

1989 – the Team Relay event was introduced for teams of 2-5, generating over £1.1M annually for local charities.

1997 – the 8 Mile Walk and Fun Run events were introduces making the event the largest mass sport participatory event in Northern Ireland.

2013 – the Half Marathon event was launched, taking place annually in September. The event is now the largest Half Marathon in Northern Ireland and has seen massive growth, selling out for 4 years in a row.

2019 – The marathon was staged on the May Day Bank Holiday Monday for 36 years (1982 – 2018) before making history on the 5th May 2019. 2019 saw a new flatter and faster route mark the run-in to the first ever Sunday staging of the event.

2020 – The 2020 events were cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of participating virtually, or deferring their entry to a future event.

Marathon

The Belfast City Marathon is one of the leading marathons in the UK and Ireland and is an AIMS certified race. The race starts at Stormont Estate at 9am and finishing in Ormeau Park. The route takes in all 4 area of Belfast: North, South, East and West. The event is renowned for the incredibly local support and crowds to cheer you on throughout your 26.2 miles.

Team Relay

The Team Relay event is very popular, with around 2,400 teams of 2-5 runners (approx. 12,000 competitors). The Team Relay follows the same route as the main Marathon event. The route is split into 5 legs ranging from 4 miles to 6.9 miles. Often times friends, work colleagues and schools will form a team and raise much needed funds for charity.

Start - Stormont Estate 4.4 miles Leg 1

Changeover 1 - Montgomery Road (near Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre) 6.9 miles Leg 2

Changeover 2 - Boucher Road (opposite the old B&Q) 4 miles Leg 3

Changeover 3 - Falls Road (close to St Kevin's Primary School) 5.6 miles Leg 4

Changeover 4 - North Queen Street (close to Tesco car park) 5.3 miles Leg 5

Finish - Ormeau Park

8 Mile Walk

The Walk event was introduced in 1997 following public demand and is non-competitive. It follows 8 miles or so of the main Marathon event. This event is perfect for ramblers, hikers, those who are part of a walking club, or those who want to set a realistic health and fitness goal.

Fun Run

The Fun Run is approximately 2.5 miles, starting and finishing in Stormont Estate, Prince of Wales Avenue. This event is ideal for the whole family to get together and it attracts a range of ages, from primary school children to beginner runners taking on their first challenge.

Half Marathon

First launched in 2013, the Belfast City Half Marathon is an extension of the popular May Marathon event. The Belfast City Half Marathon is the largest Half Marathon event in Northern Ireland and has seen a massive growth, selling out for 4 years in a row. The race starts at Ormeau Park and, for the first time, will finish on Stranmillis Embankment after passing through the scenic Botanic Gardens in 2022.

Volunteering

The Belfast City Marathon relies on volunteers to ensure it runs safely and successfully. With 26.2 miles worth of volunteer opportunities, the organisers encourage volunteers to get involved in the buzz and excitement of race day and see the streets of Belfast come alive. There are a variety of roles available including; route marshal, water and nutrition station team, start and finish area support team. Each volunteer received full training.

Winners

Year	Male Athlete	Country	Time	Female Athlete	Country	Time
1982	Gregory Hannon	Northern Ireland	2:20:25	Susan Boreham	Northern Ireland	3:11:26
1983	Paul Craig	Northern Ireland	2:20:14	Roma McConville	Northern Ireland	2:58:07
1984	Andy Daly	Scotland	2:18:01	Theresa Kidd	Northern Ireland	2:47:33
1985	Marty Deane	Northern Ireland	2:15:51	Moira O'Boyle	Northern Ireland	2:45:40
1986	Marty Deane	Northern Ireland	2:16:05	Moira O'Neill	Northern Ireland	2:43:26
1987	Calum Bark	Scotland	2:17:47	Theresa Kidd	Northern Ireland	2:48:28
1988	Thomas Hughes	Northern Ireland	2:19:00	Theresa Kidd	Northern Ireland	2:49:10
1989	Ian Bloomfield	England	2:20:45	Rosaleen Hayden	Ireland	2:58:31
1990	Jerry Kiernan	Ireland	2:18:58	Eleanor Hill	Ireland	2:50:07
1991	Joel Kipchumba	Kenya	2:18:56	Brenda McNamara	Ireland	2:55:25
1992	Jerry Kiernan	Ireland	2:20:52	Catherine Smyth	Ireland	2:42:41
1993	Gerard McGrath	Ireland	2:18:12	Catherine Smyth	Ireland	2:45:05
1994	Terry Mitchell	Scotland	2:20:24	Catherine Smyth	Ireland	2:44:42
1995	John Ferrin	Northern Ireland	2:18:42	Patricia Griffin	Ireland	2:53:10
1996	Terry Mitchell	Scotland	2:21:36	Trudi Thomson	Scotland	2:44:57
1997	John Ferrin	Northern Ireland	2:20:17	Olive Nolan	Ireland	2:55:10
1998	Thomas Hughes	Northern Ireland	2:23:33	Jackie Newton	England	2:57:25
1999	Samuel Okemwa	Kenya	2:20:58	Barbara Brewer	Northern Ireland	2:58:49
2000	Wilson Cheruiyot	Kenya	2:24:13	Mary Jennings	Ireland	3:02:31
2001	Joseph Riri	Kenya	2:26:00	Debra Curley	England	2:56:05
2002	Simon Pride	Scotland	2:22:21	Trudi Thomson	Scotland	2:49:39
2003	Lezan Kimutai	Kenya	2:17:09	Trudi Thomson	Scotland	2:45:48
2004	Peter Edukan	Kenya	2:23:51	Julia Myatt	England	2:52:52
2005	Eric Kiplagat	Kenya	2:22:20	Lemma Urge	Ethiopia	2:41:33
2006	Stephen Ndungu	Kenya	2:16:51	Joyce Kandie	Kenya	2:43:11
2007	John Mutai	Kenya	2:16:24	Desse Demelesh	Ethiopia	2:46:45
2008	John Mutai	Kenya	2:16:31	Marshet Jimma	Ethiopia	2:39:22
2009	John Mutai	Kenya	2:17:35	Joyce Kandie	Kenya	2:47:44
2010	Urga Negewo	Ethiopia	2:16:53	Sarah Stradling	England	2:44:03
2011	Jacob Chesire	Kenya	2:14:56	Vera Ovcharuk	Ukraine	2:46:04
2012	Negewo Ararisa	Ethiopia	2:13:41	Alice Chelangat	Kenya	2:39:02
2013	Joel Kipsang	Kenya	2:19:28	Nataliya Lehonkova	Ukraine	2:36:50
2014	Freddy Sittuk	Kenya	2:18:30	Bayrush Shiferaw	Ethiopia	2:41:20
2015	Joel Kositany	Kenya	2:19:36	Berhan Gebremichael	Ethiopia	2:40:57
2016	Joel Kositany	Kenya	2:17:39	Berhan Gebremichael	Ethiopia	2:48:26
2017	Bernard Rotich	Kenya	2:16:04	Laura Graham	United Kingdom	2:41:47
2018	Eric Koech	Kenya	2:18:19	Caroline Chepkwony	Kenya	2:41:23
2019	Joel Kositany	Kenya	2:17:09	Caroline Jepchirchir	Kenya	2:34:55
2020	cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic

References

www.belfastcitymarathon.com