Belfast Marathon
The Belfast Marathon is an annual marathon in Belfast, Northern Ireland run in May.
Belfast Marathon | |
---|---|
The inflatable archway outside Belfast City Hall, at the start of the route for all competitors | |
Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Event type | Marathon |
Distance | 26.7 miles (43 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 | 3,756 (2019) |
The race is divided into several categories: men's, ladies, relay, veterans and wheelchair.
It is organised jointly by Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Athletics.
History
The marathon was held on May Day each year for 36 years (1982 to 2017), changing to 5 May for 2019.
In 2018 2,200 runners finished the race.
The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled[lower-alpha 1] due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the option of either running the race virtually or transferring their entry to 2021, 2022, or 2023.[2][lower-alpha 2]
In 2005 the route was changed to provide runners with a flatter course. This proved unpopular, as it took runners along roads such as the Sydenham by-pass, which were devoid of spectators. In 2006 the original route was reinstated, starting at the City Hall and passing both the Shankill and the Falls, finishing in Ormeau Park. The 2011 route was unchanged from the previous two years. In 2019 a new, flatter route was introduced.
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[2] |