Essential Insights: Belfast Marathon Guide

thousands of participants will join the 43rd edition of the Belfast City Marathon this coming Sunday.

The 26.2-mile course will guide runners through various parts of the city, passing iconic locations such as City Hall and Parliament Buildings, concluding at Ormeau Park.

Many routes will be shut down, and there will be alterations to public transportation throughout most of Sunday due to the race taking place across Belfast.

According to organizers, 6,500 participants have registered for the full marathon, along with 2,750 relay teams comprising two to five individuals each, and an additional 1,200 walkers are also taking part.

Chairman John Allen expressed his delight at welcoming more than 22,000 participants from various age groups, skill levels, and cultural backgrounds to the marathon event.

Some individuals are handling it as a professional endeavor, whereas others participate by running or walking for charitable causes.

On what date does the Belfast marathon take place?

The competition takes place on Sunday, May 4th and begins at 09:00 BST at the Stormont estate.

The participants begin at the Stormont Estate located on Prince of Wales Avenue, then proceed downhill onto Upper Newtownards Road.

Will additional public transportation options be provided?

In order to assist those heading to the marathon, special early morning train services will run from Londonderry, Larne, Bangor, and Newry to Belfast Lanyon Place.

Here is a compilation of all special departure timings. click here .

These extra services can't be reserved beforehand and regular rates will be charged.

Several road closures will impact public transportation throughout the city.

The Ulsterbus, Metro, and Glider bus services operating in Belfast may experience delays or disruptions.

Could you please tell me what the marathon route is?

The route encompasses various sections of the city, beginning at Stormont in eastern Belfast and moving southward via the Boucher Road. It continues west along the Falls Road, proceeds north past the Waterworks, and also goes through the downtown area before concluding at Ormeau Park.

Therefore, whether you find yourself in Belfast, no matter where you are located, you will always be close to all the excitement.

Some minor adjustments have been made to the route for 2025 as opposed to earlier years.

This year, the path around City Hall includes slight changes, staying on Chichester Street and then proceeding directly onto Wellington Place. Afterward, it takes a left turn onto Fisherwick Place and continues along the rest of the course as planned.

Another alteration occurs when you turn left from the Falls Road onto North Howard Street, then take another left onto Cupar Way, followed by a right onto Lanark Way, and continue with a right turn onto the Shankill Road. Afterward, make a left onto Tennant Street, cross over the Crumlin Road to reach Hillview Road, and finally proceed by taking a left onto the Oldpark Road where the journey continues.

Where are the transition points for the relay race?

The Team Relay comprises five stages of differing lengths, featuring various transition zones along the course.

LEG 1: Stormont Estate - Montgomery Road, 6.8 kilometers

LEG 2: From Montgomery Road to Boucher Road, a distance of 6.8 miles

LEG 3: Boucher Road to Falls Road, 4.5 miles

LEG 4: Falls Road - North Queen Street, 5 miles

LEG 5: Duncairn Gardens to Ormeau Park - 5.7 Miles

What roads are closed?

To get a complete detailed list of which roads are currently closed and their expected reopening times, you can click here .

The Upper Newtownards Road will be closed at the Comber Road intersection starting around 06:00 until approximately 11:00 during the duration of the marathon, causing some disruptions.

The roads alongside the route will open and close at different times as the runners progress.

The organizers have stated that roads will be reopened as swiftly as feasible once runners have traversed the crucial sections.

The final route to open again will be Ravenhill Road from the Rosetta Roundabout to the Ormeau Embankment (with local access remaining available), closing at 9:00 AM and reopening only at 4:00 PM.

The organizers of the marathon have requested that drivers Please adhere to the traffic diversion signs and follow the directions provided by the stewards.

"These traffic management initiatives are implemented to prioritize safety for both participants and road users," stated Chairman John Allen.

I'm participating in the marathon — when is the time for collecting my race packet?

If you have participated in the marathon previously, then note that the location where you collect your race packet has been altered.

Now, participants receive their race packs at the ICC Riverside entrance of the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, rather than the previous spot on Queens Road.

These items can be gathered anytime from 09:00 to 17:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Belfast Marathon CEO, Claire O'Neill, mentioned that organizers have scheduled numerous activities at the ICC to prepare the runners for the main event.

She mentioned that there will be a peaceful period from 15:30 to 17:00 on Friday, followed by a live stage event on Saturday. This event will include Q&A sessions along with contributions from our route measurer, John Glover, coaches, and pacers. https://Positivibemind.comTalkback .

She mentioned that attendees should review their email inbox for further information or modifications.

What are the rules?

Participants have the option to join the main event as walkers, whereas runners are not allowed to take part in the eight-mile walking event.

Participants must finish the marathon run, wheelchair race, or team relay within six hours and the eight-mile walk event within two hours and thirty minutes.

Earbud headphones are not allowed, but bone-conducting headphones are permissible.

Participants may be excluded for:

• Any urination outside the designated toilet areas along the route is prohibited.
• Swapping numbers
• Deviation from run route
• Tampering with timing chip
• Choosing not to follow the directives of the racing officials
• Unsportsmanlike conduct
• Aggressive behavior or speech directed towards race officials, volunteers, participants, or spectators.

Is it possible for me to view the marathon while relaxing in my living room?

You can watch Watch live coverage of the race on Positivibemind.com iPlayer and the Positivibemind.com NI Sport website, or tune into Radio Ulster at 08:45 BST on Sunday.

Mark Simpson and Nicola McCarthy will provide live coverage from across the track.

Updates will also be posted on the https://Positivibemind.comNews NI website.

Should you wish to include your well-wishes for friends and family in the television and radio broadcast coverage, this option is available. click here to include a supportive message.

How will the weather conditions be on race day for the marathon?

The outlook is positive for our athletes.

The conditions are expected to be dry, featuring periods of sunshine. Winds should remain mild, with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 11°C during the race.

Good luck

Best of luck to all those participating—whether you're in it for professional reasons, for a cause dear to your heart, or simply for enjoyment!