Running News Daily

'This is the one country that saved my life' - Record breaking Irishman emotional after Dublin Marathon heroics

He bravely journeyed through some lonely and terrifying intervals of his life.

Every marathon journey is ultimately about reaching the finish, but Hiko Tonosa's victory on October 27 in Dublin Marathon had a very different meaning.

Greeted on Mount Street with the same ecstatic yells as the outright winner, Hiko Tonosa crossed the finish line in third place overall, his 2:09:42 the fastest marathon ever run by an Irishman. Tonosa has unquestionably come a long way from the small Rastafarian town of Shashamane in the highlands of Ethiopia.

About 4,000 miles, he bravely journeyed through some lonely and terrifying intervals of his life; the murder and oppression of his native Oromo people, the peril of chasing a professional running career in Japan, the fear of being an asylum seeker in Dublin and the unknown of being almost two years in direct provision.

An Irish citizen since 2020, the 29-year-old Tonosa has already won a series of national titles on the track and the road, but this one felt special for many reasons, Dublin being his hometown since 2017. "I know I can hold this flag. This is the country that saved my life," an emotional Tonosa said. Kenya's Moses Kemei won the Dublin Marathon and crossed the line in a personal best time of 2:08.46 with Ethiopia's Abebaw Desalew second in 2:09.23.

For Tonosa, it was the proudest day in his adopted home city. He grew up in Ethiopia and came to Ireland in 2017 for two track races, but while in Dublin he was informed that his friend had been killed for protesting against the prosecution of the Oromo people.

Having been previously imprisoned for attending a similar protest, Tonosa was told his life would be under threat if he returned home and so he sought asylum in Ireland and was placed in direct provision. He was soon put in touch with the Dundrum South Dublin AC and he's since won a slew of national titles in their colors.

He gained Irish Citizenship in 2020 and represented Ireland at European and World Level but fell short of Olympic qualification at the London Marathon in April, Tonosa forced to drop out late in the race.

(10/28/2024) Views: 125 ⚡AMP
by Evans Ousuru

Sorome Negash eyes follow-up success in Dublin Marathon

Sunday next will see the 44th staging of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, with Sorome Negash of Ethiopia, who won the women's race in the 2023, set to defend her title.

Negash posted a time of 2:26:22 last year and will face competition from fellow Ethiopian Muliye Dekebo, who has a personal best of 2:25:35, and Asmirach Naga, who placed third in her marathon debut at the Rabat Marathon with a time of 2:26:55.

Ann-Marie McGlynn, who competes for Letterkenny AC was the first Irish woman home 12 months ago, when finishing fifth, and again will be looking to retain her national marathon title.

Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) Caitlyn Harvey (Road Runners AC) and Grace Lynch (DSD AC) and Aoife Kilgallon (Sligo AC) will be the other home-based names to watch, with the latter finishing the Sligo Coast to Coast 10 Mile race in a respectable 57:12 despite windy conditions.

Spain’s Aya Lamdassem is the leading contender for the men's overall win, with a personal best of 2:06:25 achieved in Seville in 2022 and a season-best of 2:09:43. He also finished fifth at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Also in contention podium positions are Aweke Ayalew from Bahrain, Ethiopia's Abebaw Desalew and and Cypriot Amine Khadirir.

Of the Irish contingent, Hugh Armstrong from Ballina AC has set his sights on winning the national marathon for the fifth consecutive year, this after an impressive year in which he won all four races in the Irish Life Dublin Race Series, including the five-mile, 10km, 10-mile, and half-marathon.

This will be Armstrong's second time competing in this race; he placed third in the National Championships in what was his marathon debut in 2019. With a personal best of 2:12:26 from the 2020 Seville Marathon, he will face strong competition from Cork's Ryan Creech of Leevale AC, who achieved a personal best of 2:12:28 in Seville this year. Creech, who finished second last year, is looking to improve on that result. Ryan Forsyth from Newcastle & District AC, who secured third place last year, will also be part of the field.

In the wheelchair race, Sean Frame will participate after finishing 12th in this year’s Berlin Marathon.

A total of 22,500 competitors are set to compete in this year's race. It will begin in Leeson Street Lower at 9am and conclude on Mount Street, just beyond the Peppercanister Church.

There will be over €100,000 in prize money available, along with national titles for senior men and women, as well as prizes for master categories and team awards.

(10/24/2024) Views: 133 ⚡AMP

Winner of 2022 Dublin Marathon tests positive for banned substance

The winner of the 2022 Dublin Marathon, Taoufik Allam of Morocco, has tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug EPO.

Allam, 35, has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which runs the sport’s anti-doping system, his case included on the AIU’s list of pending cases, with his violation dated 16 August and stating: “Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (EPO)”.

Synthetic erythropoietin is a banned drug that increases the body’s production of red blood cells, thereby improving its oxygen-carrying capacity. Allam can contest the charge and request to have his B sample tested to confirm the finding.

It marks the second time in recent years that the winner of the Dublin Marathon has been engulfed in a doping controversy, with Morocco’s Othmane El Goumri winning in 2019 after returning from a two-year ban for irregularities in his biological passport, a tool used by anti-doping authorities to track changes in athletes’ blood profiles for signs of doping.

The organisers of the Dublin Marathon have a policy not to invite athletes who have served doping bans, but only became aware of El Goumri’s past after the invitation had been sent out and his flights booked for the 2019 race. Longtime race director Jim Aughney said at the time: “He slipped through the net with regards to us accepting his entry in the first place, but it will be part of the contracts from now on, for any athlete.”

In 2019, a little over a year after returning from his doping ban, El Goumri set a personal best of 2:08:06 to win the first prize of €12,000 in Dublin, demoting Ireland’s Stephen Scullion to second.

“Arguably I might have won the thing if he wasn’t here,” said Scullion. “I feel like a winner inside, that’s a victory for me. I’ve always taken a stance that drug cheats can do whatever they want, I can’t control it.

"I want to enjoy my moment, and in six or nine months’ time if he gets done for another doping violation, then I’m the champ. If the crowd want to believe I’m the champ, let them say. And when the room goes dark at night, I go to bed content knowing I’m clean.”

Allam is represented by the same management company as El Goumri. In the 2022 edition, Allam routed the field to win the men’s title, clocking a PB of 2:11:30 to come home almost two and a half minutes clear of the Ethiopian runner-up, Ashenafi Boja. The leading Irish finisher that year was Martin Hoare of Celbridge AC, who was seventh in 2:20:22.

Allam had no doping history before lining up in Dublin but faces a four-year ban if his positive test is confirmed in follow-up testing. Given the timing of the case, it would still not affect the outcome of the 2022 race, where Allam pocketed a €12,000 first prize. He has since gone on to take victories at the 2023 Rome Marathon in 2:07:43 and the 2024 Enschede Marathon in 2:08:53.

(08/23/2024) Views: 208 ⚡AMP
by Cathal Dennehy

Ethiopia's Kemal Husen Wins Dublin Marathon In Course Record 2:06:52

Belfast man Stephen Scullion finished third in the men's race at the Dublin Marathon as Ethiopian winner Kemal Husen set a new course record of two hours six minutes and 52 seconds.

Husen went to halfway in 1:02.56 and eventually bettered Othmane El Goumri's 2019 mark by one minute and 14 seconds.

Uganda's Geofrey Kusuro was second in 2:10.45 with Scullion clocking 2:11.51.

Scullion won the concurrently run Irish Championship with Ann-Marie McGlynn taking the national women's title.

Ethiopia's Amente Negash won the overall women's race in a personal best of 2:26.22 as she was 42 seconds ahead of Kenya's Joan Kipyatich with another Ethiopian Genet Abdurkadir a further 45 seconds back in third.

Kenya's Peninah Jerop was fourth in 2:29.06 with 43-year-old Strabane-based McGlynn, who set her personal best of 2:29.34 in 2021, thrilled with her performance in fifth as she clinched the Irish national marathon title for the first time with a 2:34.13 time.

North Belfast athlete Gladys Ganiel, 46, was second in the Irish Championship as she took eighth overall in 2:37.08 - 26 seconds outside her personal best set in Dublin four years ago - while Donore's Sorcha Loughnane was the next woman over the line as she completed the podium positions in the national event.

'I needed to believe in myself again'

After finishing overall Dublin runner-up in a time of 2:12.01 in 2019, Scullion secured another podium spot as he produced his second fastest marathon and his quickest run over the 42km distance since his Irish record performance of 2:09.49 in London three years ago.

The 34-year-old Belfast man went to halfway in 1:05.37 and maintained his form impressively in the damp conditions to hold off Kenya's Kimal Kipruto for the final overall podium position by four seconds.

'I needed to believe in myself again'

After finishing overall Dublin runner-up in a time of 2:12.01 in 2019, Scullion secured another podium spot as he produced his second fastest marathon and his quickest run over the 42km distance since his Irish record performance of 2:09.49 in London three years ago.

The 34-year-old Belfast man went to halfway in 1:05.37 and maintained his form impressively in the damp conditions to hold off Kenya's Kimal Kipruto for the final overall podium position by four seconds.

Scullion qualified for the Tokyo Olympics only to drop out amid the searing heat in Sapporo but the Dublin performance should give him renewed belief that next year's Paris Games is an achievable target for him even though the qualifying mark is a penal 2:08.10.

As was the case before Tokyo, there is another route to Paris which will enable athletes who secure top-five finishes in one of the globe's 14 platinum marathons, which include the likes of London, New York, Chicago and Berlin, to earn qualification.

Another Ethiopian, Asefa Bekele, was also under 2:12 as he clocked 2:11.57 to take fifth.

Leevale's Ryan Creech was second in the Irish Championship as he ran 2:14.08 - a minute and five seconds outside his personal best - for seventh overall with Newcastle AC's Ryan Forsyth completing the national event podium spots as he was eighth overall in an impressive 2:14.43 on his marathon debut.

Husen's course-record winning men's time also took one minute and 17 seconds off his previous personal best set when he placed sixth at the Dubai marathon in February.

The Ethiopian's task was made easier after last year's winner Morocco's Taoufik Allam dropped out early on with an apparent hamstring injury.

Kildare man Patrick Monahan earned his seventh wheelchair race victory in Dublin as he clocked 1:41.04.

Monahan will be back in action at next Sunday's New York Marathon where he has previously achieved a top-five finish.

(10/31/2023) Views: 649 ⚡AMP
by John Haughey

Florence Kiplagat seeking redemption at the Dublin Marathon after Gold Coast heartbreak

36-year-old Florence Kiplagat will be looking to end her season on a high at the Dublin Marathon after faltering at the Gold Coast Marathon earlier this year.

Former World Half Marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat will be looking to soothe her Gold Coast Marathon heartbreak with a win at the Dublin Marathon.

Competing at the Gold Coast Marathon earlier this year, Kiplagat was hopeful of finishing in the podium bracket but unfortunately faded to finish sixth. She however has another chance to compete and hopefully finish in the top three.

The 36-year-old has just come back into competition in 2023 since her last race back in 2019. She was out of competition for the past four years due to a series of illnesses and the worldwide COVID-19 disruption.

She will now be competing in her second race this season scheduled for Sunday, October 29 in one of Ireland’s biggest marathons.

The Kenyan will not have an easy time securing her dreams since the race has also attracted several strong women. Defending champion Nigist Muluneh of Ethiopia will be making a return, hoping to secure back-to-back titles.

The Ethiopian has been in impeccable form this season, clocking a Personal Best time of 2:27:41 this year when racing in the Riyadh marathon in Saudi Arabia.

She will enjoy the company of compatriots Amente Sorome Negash, Genet Habela Abdurkadir, and Hawi Megersa who are also among the top women in the elite field.

Negash is the second fastest in the field and she will also be vying for a seat on the high table owing to her impressive form this season. Abdurkadir and Megersa line up as the fourth and sixth-fastest in the field and the duo will be looking for triumph in the streets of Ireland.

Another potential threat is Hanane Qallouj, who lines up as the fifth-fastest in the field. She has a Personal Best time of 2:31:27 and she will be on a mission to dethrone the Ethiopians.

(10/27/2023) Views: 738 ⚡AMP

Dublin Marathon introduces new category for non-binary runners

The Irish Life Dublin Marathon has agreed to introduce a new category to allow runners to enter as nonbinary, as well as either male or female.

There will be a window provided in August to allow all participants to change their entry to the nonbinary category, should they wish to do so.

This follows consultation with members of the running community, and which according to the Dublin Marathon organisers, “will make a positive impact and will allow for runners to participate in a category that matches their identity”.

Set for Sunday, October 29th, this year’s race will also have a reduced capacity compared to last year, the 25,000 entry limit reduced to 22,500 for 2023, mainly due to infrastructure restrictions around the course.

Several big city marathons, including New York, London, Boston and Chicago, already allow runners to identify as nonbinary at the entry stage. This gives runners the option to enter as male, female or nonbinary, the term used by people who say they don’t fit into the gender categories of man or woman.

Long-serving Dublin Marathon race director Jim Aughney said the nonbinary category will have its own separate prize fund too, although at this stage the likely numbers are unclear.

“We don’t know, as yet, how many will avail of this new category,” said Aughney, “and it won’t be available until August of this year because we’re waiting for the refunds and the transfer window to finish. Then we’ll open up the database again to declare as non-binary.

“During our discussions with the clubs, particularly Dublin Frontrunners, a number of people said they hadn’t run the event in the past because non-binary wasn’t included. They said they would be delighted to run it in the event of a non-binary category being included.

“When we got that feedback from runners it was something we needed to add. We will [in future] have a category prize for it and they will be listed in the results [M, F and X]. During the discussions we said we’ll see how many and what the time profile is for those [non-binary who finish] as to whether we can actually do a tape finish for them or not.

“And we’ll sit down and consult with them when we get entries in with a view to improving on it year on year as the category grows.”

While all 22,500 entries are sold out, runners who have not yet been offered a place through the lottery system may benefit from the refund window as additional places may become available. The refund will be available in the first two weeks of June. A new transfer system will also open to runners for July, allowing existing entrants to transfer their place to another runner.

Aughney explained the reasons behind the reduced race capacity for 2023: “We had a field of 25,000, for 2022, but when we ran the event, looked at the numbers and how things worked out, we’ve reduced that entry to 22,500, for 2023.

“One of the big reasons for that is the infrastructure that’s on the streets, not just around the start and finish, where we actually went in and removed them, but out on the route, a great example is Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park, where you have bollards left and right of you.

“So, with all of that, and the critical through points of runners around the route, we’ve reduced it to 22,500 for 2023.

“We’re looking to see are there initiatives we can add to the event, to try get a little more capacity into Merrion Square, that’s where the real pinch point is. The peak is 194 per minute, coming across the finish line, you have to service those with medals, goody bags, t-shirts, then get them into the baggage area, then get them out.

“So that’s the challenge for us, to get people out of Merrion Square, the footprint we have is very, very limited. We’ll crunch the numbers again after 2023 and see are there ways to increase the numbers again, the footprint, or reduce some of the services to try to get more people in, but at the moment we’re looking at 22,500. We may be able to get that back up slightly, next year, but we’re very, very close to that maximum.”

It was also announced that John Treacy has been chosen as the official race starter, to mark the 30th anniversary of his win in the 1993 Dublin Marathon. The Olympic Silver medallist and Irish marathon record holder ran 2:14.40 on the day to claim victory.

(05/09/2023) Views: 587 ⚡AMP
by Ian O'Riordan

Dublin cop banned for life after taking public transit to finish last month’s race

An Irish runner, who works as a police officer, has been barred for life from the Dublin Marathon after he was allegedly caught taking public transit to finish last month’s race. 

Race organizers began investigating the police officer’s result when they found that he negative-split his marathon by 50 minutes.

The officer averaged six-minute kilometers through halfway and increased his pace to a staggering 3:45 per kilometer in the final 21 kilometers.

He was allegedly seen boarding Dublin’s streetcar system, the Luas, which he used to get closer to the finish line. 

The officer finished in the top six per cent of all runners, but has since been disqualified and forced to apologize, returning his medal and T-shirt. His result was removed from the Dublin Marathon results.

Race organizers told the Irish Mirror they have finished their investigation and said the individual (who was not named) will be banned from all future events at the Dublin Marathon.

Coincidentally, the man caught cheating works for the anti-corruption unit of the Dublin Police and is tasked with investigating wrongdoing within the force. According to the Irish Independent, the police force is also conducting a fact-finding review. 

An estimated 25,000 runners took part in the race around Dublin on October 30. The marathon route was one lap around the city and was won by Taoufik Allam of Morocco in 2:11:30 and Nigist Muluneh of Ethiopia in 2:28:31.

(11/14/2022) Views: 1,108 ⚡AMP
by Marley Dickinson

Morocco's Taoufik Allam and Ethiopia's Nigist Muluneh secure wins at Dublin Marathon

Morocco's Taoufik Allam and Ethiopian Nigist Muluneh clinched victory at the Dublin Marathon.

Allam, 33, clocked two hours 11 minutes 30 seconds which left him two minutes 29 seconds ahead of Ethiopian runner-up Ashenafi Boja.

Muluneh, 25, won in 2:28.32 which was one minute four seconds clear of Ethiopia's Hawi Alemu Negeri.

The concurrently run Irish national titles went to Celbridge's Martin Hoare and Clonmel athlete Courtney McGuire.

Sunday's race, which featured more than 25,000 runners, was the first staging of the Dublin Marathon since 2019 with the Covid-19 global pandemic forcing the cancellation of the event in 2020 and 2021.

Marathon debutant McGuire, 23, was the third women's finisher behind the two Africans as she held off Strabane-based Ann-Marie McGlynn for the Irish title by clocking 2:32.52, which left her 55 seconds ahead of the Offaly-born athlete, with Belfast athlete Gladys Ganiel third in the national championship as she crossed the line in 2:42.17.

Ukraine's 2015 and 2017 Dublin women's winner Nataliya Lehonkova, who led after reaching six miles in 33:09, had to settle for fifth overall in 2:35.30.

Hoare, 35 clinched the Irish men's title with a personal best time of 2:20.22 which left him seventh overall, with Conor Gallagher from the St Malachy's club in Belfast, the second Irishman across the line as he placed eighth overall in 2:22.57.

2013 overall men's winner Sean Hehir completed the podium positions in the national event as he was ninth in 2:24.19.

Patrick Monahan continued his domination of the wheelchair race in Dublin as he took a sixth victory in his fastest ever time in the Irish capital with a 1:37.31 clocking.

Monahan's first Dublin win in 2014 began a run of four successive triumphs and the Kildare man, who will compete at next weekend's New York Marathon, also took victory during the last staging of the event in 2019.

Moroccan Allam, 33, reached halfway in the men's race in 1:07:03 alongside runner-up Boja and another Ethiopian Birhanu Teshome, who eventually placed third in 2:14.26.

The trio remained together at 30km but Allam then made a decisive move which gave him a lead of one minute 43 seconds over Boja by the the 40km mark.

Allam continued to increase his advantage over the closing mile as his second half was almost three minutes faster than his opening 21kms.

(10/31/2022) Views: 990 ⚡AMP
by BBC Sport

Dublin Marathon will hit the streets again after an absence of two years

After an absence of two years due to Covid-19, the Dublin City Marathon returns to the streets of Dublin on October 30.

The event faces two significant challenges, according to long-time race director Jim Aughney. The cost of running the race has risen considerably, but the organizers are dependent on the entry fees paid by participants for the 2020 race.

“We are honoring all the entries, but some of the quotes (for services) have risen between 15 and 20pc.”

Aughney acknowledged that securing a new title sponsor was crucial for the race’s future. “The period between KBC announcing they were leaving and Irish Life coming on board was very worrying.

Not having a sponsor would have put a lot of things in jeopardy, according to Aughney, who added:

“We would have gone ahead but might not have been able to do things we would normally do with a good sponsor behind us.”

Today, the race organizers announced Olympians Catherina McKiernan and Mick Clohisey as the coaching team for the event and the race series.

The Olympic duo have developed training plans for all races in the series and the marathon using their vast expertise and knowledge.

They are part of the overall Runners’ Support Squad to help runners harness the power of support to achieve their goals, whether they aim to run sub 60 minutes for the 10km, complete the half marathon distance, or run sub 3 hours for the marathon.

Irish Marathon record holder and former London Marathon winner Catherina McKiernan said: “I am delighted to be part of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon and Race Series team to help runners realize their race goals.

"We all run on support when taking on the challenge of training for a marathon, from emotional encouragement right the way through to the more specialist advice from professional experts.”

There is also an opportunity for two runners who have secured a place in the sold-out Irish Life Dublin Marathon to win one-to-one coaching and mentoring from either Catherina or Mick.

To be in with a chance to win, all runners need to do is share why they have signed up to race the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, whether that be to raise funds for a cause close to their heart or a personal journey to prove something to themselves.

Entries can be made at IrishLifeDublinMarathon.ie.

(05/10/2022) Views: 1,130 ⚡AMP
by Sean McGoldrick

Dublin Marathon set for return to the streets with record 25,000 field

It’s back, and barring any major bumps in the road between now and October, it’s set to be bigger than ever.

For Dublin Marathon race director Jim Aughney, being able to plan with confidence for 25,000 runners taking to the streets has him expressing a sentiment felt by many this week.

“Good times are back again,” he says.

His statement is partly based on the backing of Irish Life, which announced a three-year title sponsorship of the race, but also on a feeling among organisers that their best-laid plans will no longer have to go awry.

That’s been the case for the past two years, the plug pulled on the 2020 edition in May that year, while the 2021 race was cancelled last July, the logistical nightmare of a mass-participation event proving a bridge too far given the restrictions in place. In the end, it would actually have been possible to stage, but four months out there was no way to guarantee social distancing among up to 250,000 spectators.

“When we were making the decision, the requirement was to have people socially distanced in pods,” says Aughney. “There were a massive amount of barriers required and it’d have taken us the best part of a month to put them out and take them away. We’d have had to install barriers going across different driveways. Logistically, it wasn’t possible.

“The goalposts changed after but we wanted to make the decision early to be fair to the competitors so everybody wasn’t hanging on whether it was on or off. We wanted to give people time to train. It was a very difficult decision.”

All those with an entry last year had the option to carry their place forward and Aughney says the “vast majority” chose that over a refund, a sign of the race’s enduring popularity.

Back in 2020, a whopping 35,000 applied for a place but the field was capped at 25,000 due to logistics, and Aughney is again planning for a field of that size, the biggest in the event’s history.

“We want to put everything in place to make sure it goes ahead safely and securely,” he says.

Nine months out, there’s little point predicting what restrictions, if any, might be required, but Aughney says there’ll be a runner’s charter whereby competitors self-declare “they’re fit and healthy to run the event and not to show up if they’re not.”

“Everybody is expecting Covid to be here for quite a while, and (the EU digital certificate) might become a requirement again when the event comes around. But it’s very hard to predict.”

Bereft of a real-life race for the past two years – a virtual event did take place, with competitors logging 26.2 miles in their local areas – the event’s management company took a colossal hit in finances, along with many others: the race generates an estimated €9 million for charity and €26.5 million for the city of Dublin.

As such, the backing of Irish Life is a “tremendous boost” that allows Aughney to make “ambitious plans” for its future.

“Let’s hope we can get it back on for 2022 and beyond and that we don’t have to repeat what we had in 2020 and 2021 ever again.”

Aughney has been race director for 25 years and while the headaches and heartbreaks of recent years might have forced many to walk away, he was adamant he’d only call time when the event was back at its brilliant best.

“It’s like the soccer players or rugby players: you want to go out on a high,” he says. “After the difficult times we’ve had, this will give us that opportunity.”

(01/26/2022) Views: 1,224 ⚡AMP
by Cathal Dennehy

Dublin marathon has been cancelled for a second successive year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Announcing the decision race director Jim Aughney said that despite rigorous evaluations, there are still too many unknowns to be confident that we could provide a safe event given the pure scale of the marathon.

The organizers of the KBC sponsored event had hoped that the event could go ahead on October 24 but postponed making a final call for as long as possible.

But they have now dropped the bombshell news that the event which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019 has been cancelled.

“It is with great regret that we are cancelling the KBC Dublin Marathon for the second year in a row," Aughney said.

"Despite vigorous evaluations, there are still too many unknowns to be confident that we could provide a safe event given the pure scale of the marathon. We have a duty of care to the runners, volunteers, suppliers and supporters. This will be extremely disappointing news for all participants entered. We want to thank them for their continued support.”

“We have come to a critical point in our event planning when a final decision needed to be made. We took into consideration the recent updates on modeling around Covid-19 and the immense challenges of creating a controlled, safe environment for the KBC Dublin Marathon which has a footprint of 26.2 miles with 25,000 runners and 200,000 supporters who line the streets to cheer them on.”

All entries for the 2021 KBC Dublin Marathon will be valid for the 2022 race. For those who do not wish to avail of this, a full refund option will be available. Last year’s race had attracted a sell-out field of 25,000

Runners can still enter and take part in the KBC Virtual Dublin Marathon over the October Bank Holiday weekend; Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th and Monday the 25th.

While the news is not a surprise, it will be a major disappointment to the thousands of runners who were hoping to take part in the race. It will also be a significant economic blow to both the race organizers and the business community in Dublin.

(07/07/2021) Views: 1,136 ⚡AMP
by Sean McGoldrick

Vaccination is key for Dublin Marathon to allow all 25,000 entries to compete

The fate of this year’s KBC Dublin Marathon will be decided next month, with race director Jim Aughney saying the chance of all 25,000 entries being allowed to take part is “slim."

Under current proposals, all participants, staff, and volunteers will be subjected to antigen testing before arriving at the race venue, and Aughney says the final field size will be decided on June 25.

“For athletes that has to be a D-day,” said Aughney. “To be fair to the runner and to ourselves you need that four-month lead-in. By the 25th (of June) we’ll be able to say whether the event is on and we’ll have X or Y participants.” 

Aughney admitted “vaccination is key” for the successful staging of the event but he has little idea what size field might be possible on 24 October.

“The chances of 25,000 being allowed to run in the streets of Dublin might be slim but we’d be delighted with any number,” he said. 

“With any of these events you’re going to be restricted to smaller numbers, if we can get 10,000, 15,000, it’d be great news for the city, for the runners.” 

Aughney expects to run a test event in the summer to demonstrate to “the HSE, the government, and whoever needs to see” the mechanisms that will allow the event to held safely. 

“We have to make sure everyone has passed a test to run the event,” he said.

The race organization has taken a huge financial hit due to its cancellation in 2020 and while the entry fee has remained the same – with last year’s entries carried forward – Aughney acknowledges it will be significantly more expensive to host. 

Through Athletics Ireland, the race applied for financial assistance to Sport Ireland to alleviate the costs but “it didn’t go anywhere,” said Aughney. “We didn’t get any funding from Sport Ireland or any of the other authorities that give out funding.” 

 

(05/05/2021) Views: 1,273 ⚡AMP
by Cathal Dennehy

2020 Dublin Marathon has been officially cancelled due to the covid-19

The 2020 KBC Dublin Marathon has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The race was due to be held on Sunday, 25 October.

Organisers have said all entries for the marathon and the race series will be valid for the 2021 races. For those who do not wish to avail of this, a full refund option is available.

In a statement, race director Jim Aughney said: "We know this is extremely disappointing for all runners, especially those who secured marathon entries.

"We made the difficult decision in the best interest of the health and wellbeing of all those involved in making our events such a success from runners, supporters, volunteers, sponsors, to suppliers. We explored many alternatives for running the events safely but ultimately none were viable."

While elite athletes and regular participants were guaranteed places in the race, organisers switched to a lottery system this year to deal with demand issues. 

Details regarding the potential reallocation of lottery places as a result of refunds will be made in early 2021.

As a result of the cancellation, Athletics Ireland has confirmed that the National Marathon Championship, scheduled within the event, has been cancelled.

(05/19/2020) Views: 1,377 ⚡AMP

The 2020 Dublin Marathon is expected to be cancelled

The Board of Directors met last night to discuss the future of the race which was scheduled for Sunday, October 25. It would have been the 41st running of the event which has been sold out for months.

A decision on the future of the event could not be delayed any longer as the merchandise for this year's race needs to be ordered in the next couple of weeks.

But given the current rules on social distancing which are likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, running an event which is likely to have over 20,000 participants and a quarter of a million spectators, is not practical.

Medical experts have suggested that the risk of participants in a marathon passing on the virus to fellow runners during the race itself is very low. However, it would still be regarded as unsafe due to the congregation of the runners at the start at the start of the race.

The last big city marathon to take place prior to the worldwide Covid 19 shutdown as the Tokyo marathon in which only the elite runners were allowed participate.

All the other major spring marathons such as Boston and London were postponed until the autumn.

Major question marks remain over whether they will now go ahead as the Berlin marathon which was due to take place in September has already been cancelled. The dublin Marathon, which was the brainchild of Louis Hogan - then a radio producer with RTE - and the late Noel Carroll was first held in 1980 on the October Bank Holiday Monday.

After an initial surge in interest the event almost folded during the 1990s when participation levels dropped to below 3,000.

However, under the leadership of current race director Jim Aughney the event was revived and now attracts over 20,000 entries annually.

 

(05/15/2020) Views: 1,567 ⚡AMP
by Sean McGoldrick

Dublin Marathon organizers are to meet this week to decide if this year's race can go ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic

A board meeting with the organizers will take place on Thursday to decide if the race can safely proceed.

"There is a board meeting, of the marathon organizers, on Thursday of this week," race director Jim Aughney told the The Irish Times.

"We will be considering all aspects of the matter, whether we feel it's still safe to proceed, or whether we might defer that decision for another short while.

"But either way we will be making some statement on the matter by the end of next week."

The Dublin Marathon is currently scheduled for October 25.

It is the fourth largest marathon in Europe and will see 25,000 people pound the pavements of the city.

The ban on mass gatherings of over 5,000 people is set to expire in September.

(05/13/2020) Views: 1,329 ⚡AMP
by Alex Dunne

Dublin Marathon will expand capacity to 25,000 for this year’s event

The KBC-sponsored Marathon was run with a capacity of 22,500 entrants last year after demand shot up by 30% between 2015 and 2016.

Organizers sparked concern among runners last year when they announced plans to switch to a lottery system of entry rather than a first-come-first-served basis. However, previous participants have been given first preference on returning to the start line on 25 October. 

The lottery system, the organizer said in a statement: “has revealed that there are over 35,000 interested in participating in the 2020 event.

“16,200 entries have been received from runners who had participated in any of the 2017, 2018 & 2019 editions of the event, who were guaranteed a place in the 2020 KBC Dublin Marathon.

“1,000 entries are allocated to sponsors and tour operators, with a further 1,300 allocated to ‘Good for Age’ Athletics Ireland members.”

16,100 applications were made for the remaining 6,500 places available through the lottery. Today, the successful applicants will be informed and they have until 31 January to claim their place.

Any places left unclaimed at the end of this month will be allocated to lottery entrants from 7 February. A third round of allocations will take place on 1 August, accounting for spaces vacated by runners who have withdrawn and taken a partial refund at that point.

Unsuccessful lottery entrants can claim their €15 refund after 14 February.

“A key objective from the outset,” says race director Jim Aughney, ”was to promote marathon running in Ireland and it is great to see such strong interest in this year’s event.”

(01/10/2020) Views: 1,887 ⚡AMP

Welsh runner Natasha Cockram breaks national marathon record despite being kicked by a horse four days earlier

Heard the one about the woman who got kicked by a horse and four days later broke the Welsh marathon record?

Natasha Cockram set a new national women's record of 2hr 30min 50sec, finishing fifth in the Dublin Marathon.

Remarkably, she completed the feat just two years after her first race, four days after being kicked in the leg by a horse and despite working full time.

"I didn't have the best week before the race," Cockram told BBC Sport Wales. "I was in panic mode after the kick!"

'I didn't think I would even make my flight'

Cockram's rise in Welsh athletics has been extremely fast, having fallen off the radar because of injuries after a promising junior career.

She had not even run the marathon distance until 2017, but she ran so well in Dublin (running 2:49:37) that she decided to try and take athletics more seriously.

On Sunday at the same venue the Cwmbran runner beat the previous Welsh best of 2:31:33 set by Susan Tooby at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and did it despite having a big bruise on her knee.

Cockram rescued a horse and when she went to visit it last Wednesday, got an unpleasant surprise.

"I didn't have the best week. On Wednesday I went to check on my horse and I got kicked by another horse in the field," she said.

"So I had a bit of panic mode and didn't think I'd even make my flight to Dublin, let alone the race.

"It did cross my mind when it happened I might not be able to race. I was straight on to the phone to the Welsh athletics physio, but he assured me it was just a bruise.

"It didn't hurt during the race, my leg went numb in mile 18... but I pushed through.

"It didn't really register right away that I had broken the record, I knew I had the time, but I think I was more disappointed I didn't get the Olympic standard, as I was on course to hit it."

Full time work and told she would never run again

Cockram is now targeting a place at the Tokyo Olympics after finishing 80 seconds short of the Team GB marathon qualifying time.

She says she will run the Houston Marathon in January and the London Marathon as she looks to hit the Olympic mark of 2:29:30, having just failed to do so in breaking the Welsh record.

Her success is all the more amazing considering she is not a full time athlete and has suffered with severe injury issues.

"I always liked the idea of doing a marathon. Dublin in 2017 was my first one so it's a good place for me. I have always liked the distance and I have always looked up to people like Paula Radcliffe, I would watch her race as a child," she explained.

"I did Dublin in 2017 more for fun but I ran two hours 49 seconds and thought that was a pretty amazing time and I should do it more seriously again."

At that point Cockram, who went to university in the USA, had all but given up on running professionally.

"I headed out to university as quite a high achieving junior, but university didn't go my way, I think I was over-training and then I got quite a serious injury and was told I would never run again," she added.

"Just to be running again is a blessing. I tore the tendon in my knee and had my patella bone scraped, it is just a serious surgery. Quite a few doctors here said it would be a career ending injury, so I headed back out to the USA to talk to doctors until one said he would give it a go.

"I went into surgery and came out and it took me about two years to get back running."

All eyes now on Tokyo 2020

Cockram works full time for the Welsh Government and admits it is only after breaking the Welsh record that is has dawned on her that Olympic qualification is a realistic aim, having previously mixed training with a 'normal' career.

"Most days I am out of bed at 4, 4.30am to train then and I do a full day's work before training in the evening until about 9.30pm," she said.

"A normal Monday would be a ten mile run in the morning, followed by working all day and then heading straight over to Sport Wales to do strength and conditioning training and then head out for another run and then home and to bed. Repeat it again for the rest of the week!

"I have not run any major championships yet, which is weird to say when I am talking about Tokyo, but I don't see why I can't give it a go.

"I think knocking off 80 seconds is something I can do, especially as things didn't really go my way in Dublin, even leading into the week before.

"Before the race the Olympics didn't seem realistic at all, I was thinking more about 2024, but as the race went on, I was close and now I've definitely got to go for Tokyo 2020.

"My consistency of training, working with my coach and Welsh athletics, it has all contributed to my times getting better and better."

Cockram knows she may have to make sacrifices at work to turn her Olympic dream into a reality.

"I do value my work and life outside of running, but I think to improve and go to the Olympics I will need to be thinking about sponsorship and at least dropping some of my hours in work," she said.

"I don't really sleep enough for an athlete or have the right recovery time, so I would like to give it a go as a full time athlete.

"The motivation is the fact I love it. Even when it hurts I enjoy it and now the Olympics being on the cards is the goal to keep me going."

(11/02/2019) Views: 1,678 ⚡AMP

Morocco's Othmane El Goumri wins the 40th Dublin Marathon

The 40th Dublin Marathon has been won by EI Goumri of Morocco.

He took the title in a new course record of 2:08:04 on Sunday. This compares to last year's win - set by Asefa Bekele from Ethiopia - of 2:13:23.

El Goumri ran a personal best of 2:08:20 at the 2019 Rabat Marathon, where he finished second.

Ireland's Stephen Scullion took second place, with a time of 2:12:01.

Patrick Monahan claimed the wheelchair title in 1:39:50. And Moth Gedefa took home the women's title in a time of 2:27:48.

A record 22,500 runners took part in the cross-city event. International elite runners competed against Ireland's top endurance athletes. Irish athletes also battled it out for national titles.

Meanwhile, 13 runners who have taken part in all 39 Dublin Marathons since the race began in 1979 completed their 40th this year.

This group included Mary Nolan Hickey from Wicklow - the only woman to have finished all of the marathons.

There were also rolling road closures around the city as a result, as well as some public transport diversions. Transport for Ireland (TFI) said its real-time information would not be in operation during the race.

Aidan Power is director of customer, brand and marketing at KBC. He said: "This year, the KBC Dublin Marathon is celebrating 40 years and we are honoured to be part of history in the making.

"Yes, a marathon is about running 26.2 miles, however, the Dublin Marathon represents so much more than that.

"It is about community spirit, bringing together runners, supporters, family members, volunteers and of course, fans, every October.

"In 1980, 2,100 took part in the first ever Dublin Marathon, this year, a record 22,500 runners will be at the startling line.

"As sponsor, we are immensely proud to be associated with such a special event and we would like to wish all of those running, the very best of luck."

(10/28/2019) Views: 1,675 ⚡AMP
by Jack Quann

Gerry Fay will be taking on his 522nd Marathon at Dublin Marathon

Gerard Fay hopes to complete his 522nd marathon this Bank Holiday weekend to complete an astonishing 109 marathons in 365 days. 

Gerard is an accomplished marathoner. To date in this calendar year, the 48-year-old has done 86 Marathons. All these marathons were done in Ireland and all will be a minimum of 26.2 Miles each.

Aside from the marathons he also does numerous shorter distance races from 800m to half marathons as his training  during the week and on weekends when there are no marathons on.

Dublin City Marathon was Gerard's first Marathon back in 1998. This weekend will be his 22nd Dublin event. 

"A lot of miles have been done in the past 21 years and each an everyone has been done with thousands of people in my head pushing me along. 

"These people are of course those with Cystic Fibrosis both living and deceased. People constantly ask where do I get my motivation and it is simple Just look at a person with CF. 

"Learn what they have to go through day in day out with physic, medication and just basic breathing. Things we as healthy people take for granted. I have know some of these CF's over 30 years now and to see their achievements in their lives pushes me on to do what I do. 

"There are plenty others out there doing what I do and more but we all have the one goal to try and help the real warriors the Persons with CF. They are the ones who push me to achieve my dreams and if by doing so I can help them achieve their then I am happy. 

"The running is my pastime but this is their lives and with the support of their families they are doing their very best to achieve their potential. Please support those with CF if you can. Donation page is always open."

Gerard's chosen charity is Cystic Fibrosis Ireland who provide excellent and much needed support services to people with Cystic Fibrosis. The funds raised will be used for the purchase of vital equipment in the CF units around the country but also to assist Cystic Fibrosis Ireland with their Exercise Grant Scheme whereby they give a grant to persons with CF for part funding gym memberships or the purchase of home exercise equipment. The target for the fundraising is to raise a minimum of €50,000.

"I have been fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis over the past 30 years and in that time have raised in excess of €150,000 of which €100,000 was used for the purchase and refurbishment of the dedicated CF Outpatients unit in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. All funds will go to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and all expenses are borne by myself."

Cystic Fibrosis is a Genetic Disease which effects over 1,250 people in the Republic of Ireland which is the highest per head of population in the World. The Association is over 50 years in existence and over those years has contributed nearly 20 million to research and over 15 Million for the building of the dedicated centers around the country. These centers are invaluable to those with CF.

(10/25/2019) Views: 1,619 ⚡AMP
by Gavan Becton

Super grandma, 70, Collette O’Hagan is gearing up for her 695th marathon in dublin this weekend

The 70-year-old has no plans to stop there, as she’s aiming to bring her grand total to a cool 700 before the end of the year.

Colette has ran marathons all over the world including places such as Boston and New York.

Collette has run marathons all over the world, but Dublin holds a special place in her heart as it’s where she ran her first marathon 30 years ago.

She explained: “My running journey started in Dublin. I never looked back. I do love Dublin.”

While most runners spend months preparing for a big race, superfit Collette can easily clock up two or three marathons every weekend.

She has also completed all of the major marathons around the world including Boston 11 times and New York six times.

Her impressive list also includes Berlin, London, Chicago and Tokyo, making up the Big Six in marathon circles.

The Dundalk woman recalled how a small crowd joined her on her first Dublin marathon, but over the years the event has grown dramatically, “and now I am doing it with 22,500.”

She said: “I owe a lot to Dublin for getting me going and for my running journey.”

Collette began running with her husband Larry and as time passed her interest in it, and in running longer distances, outgrew his.

She gets a lot out of running and her advice is to “stay focused, keep yourself motivated and enjoy it.”

She said: “I particularly look forward to Dublin; the spectators are amazing, they bring you through it, they are just fantastic.

“Some of the women are out and ask do you want a cup of tea, they are so friendly, it is like a day out nearly going around Dublin, it is just fabulous, I’d say it will be a massive big party day on Sunday.

“It has special meaning and definitely is one of my favorites.”

While she doesn’t keep a close eye on the clock, Collette is happy now to complete a marathon within approximately five hours.

She explained: “I don’t push myself that I’m stressed, if you are stressing your body all the time, stress will bring on an injury.”

2019 is also a special year because it marked her golden wedding anniversary and she celebrated her 70th birthday.

She and Larry have five children and 10 grandchildren and that does not include over 80 children they have fostered over the years.

She said: “This is a special year, a lot of milestones this year and my ambition is to continue running and see how far the journey takes me.”

(10/25/2019) Views: 2,052 ⚡AMP
by Elaine Keogh

KBC Dublin Marathon is offering runners the chance to personalise their commemorative 40th anniversary medal with an iTAB medal insert

KBC Dublin Marathon Can Personalize Their 40th Anniversary Medal with iTAB. The small plate is laser-engraved with the runner’s name and unique finish time and is the perfect way to celebrate this memorable marathon or a hard-earned PB.

Taking place on Sunday 27th October, the iconic event is the fifth largest city marathon in Europe and has seen the number of participants grow from 2,100 in 1980 to 22,500 for their 40th event.

Race Director, Jim Aughney comments: “KBC Dublin Marathon has partnered with iTAB for the past 5 years and we are delighted with the runner's feedback.

The facility for runners to book an iTAB for their well-deserved medal adds greatly to the runner's experience in Dublin, which is celebrating its 40th year in 2019.”

iTAB Senior Account Manager, Kirsty Moulsley, will be flying to Dublin for the big day to run the marathon and says: “I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to run this great race in its 40th year! I’ve been told that the support and the Irish hospitality is second to none and I can’t wait to experience it for myself!”

(10/23/2019) Views: 1,716 ⚡AMP

KBC Dublin Marathon bosses have confirmed that October's race is now officially sold out with a record breaking 22,500 entries

An additional 2,500 tickets went on sale for the marathon this morning and over 8,000 runners were vying for a place.

Earlier today, Dublin Marathon bosses apologized to members of the public who were experiencing difficulties while trying to book a place in the popular race due to a technical malfunction with their website.

The team said that an issue with the EventMaster database was causing problems for those trying to login to the site during peak demand.

Organizers confirmed the additional entries back in February, bringing the event to a field of 22,500 for the first time.

Dublin Marathon tweeted this morning: "The #KBCDublinMarathon is now sold out with a record 22,500 entries.

"We know that many of you are disappointed not to have secured an entry.

"We had over 8,000 vying for 2,500 entries which led to some technical difficulties with Eventmaster often encountered during peak demand."

The KBC Dublin Marathon will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The popular race completely sold out of the first 20,000 entries back in December - a whopping ten months before the big event.

The 42km race will take place on Sunday, October 27 at 8.45am across Dublin city center.

(07/01/2019) Views: 1,861 ⚡AMP
by Julieanne Corr

Asefa Bekele from Ethiopia won the 2018 men's Dublin Marathon

Ethiopia's Asefa Bekele won the 2018 men's Dublin Marathon while his fellow compatriot Mesera Dubiso won the women's race. Over 20,000 participants turned out for the annual race with Bekele coming home in a time 2:13:23 with Dubiso crossed over the finishing line in a time of 2:33:48 to take the women's title. Meanwhile, there was a strong Irish representation in the field with Mick Clohisey of the Raheny Shamrocks club claiming the Irish Athletics National Marathon, finishing in a time of 2:15:57. It was the fastest time to win the National title since 1991. The Dublin man placed sixth overall. Cork native Lizzie Lee took third place in the women's race and finished in an impressive time of 2:35:04 after winning the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon earlier this year. She also claimed the Irish Athletics National Marathon title in the process. Lee said: "An Irish woman on the overall podium, I am thrilled with that. I am thrilled with the time, I am thrilled with the place and I know my little girl is out there somewhere I can’t wait to give her a hug. I needed redemption after Berlin. "I felt like the last few miles got away from me. I am absolutely over the moon. I am a Mum of two small girls and I work full time. "Running is my hobby and I am on a podium with two Ethiopian girls.  I am thrilled,"  said Lizzie Lee with a smile. (10/29/2018) Views: 1,560 ⚡AMP

Doctors told Anais Maniere she’d never walk again is running the Dublin marathon

A woman who was warned by doctors that her incurable disease would confine her to a wheelchair for the rest of her days is aiming to prove her medical team wrong by running this weekend's Dublin Marathon. Anais Maniere, a Dublin-based nurse, was diagnosed last year with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a little-known rheumatological condition that leaves sufferers with constant pain and stiffness from the neck down to the lower back. In the case of Maniere, the symptoms were at one stage so severe that everyday actions like walking, dressing, driving, and sleeping became extremely challenging. And doctors warned the 28-year-old to expect things to go from bad to worse, telling her she would be in a wheelchair in her thirties. However, determined Anais, whose courage has earned her a prestigious Lord Mayor's medal nomination, has vowed to push herself through the pain barrier this weekend and not only complete the Dublin Marathon, but run the entire, grueling course. She said, "I've suffered from pains since when I was a child, but it wasn't until January of last year when I was diagnosed, and at the beginning of this year things got really bad, and it was hard for me to walk, stand up or even be static. "I was also told by a doctor at the time that I'd be in a wheelchair in my thirties, and that was horrible to hear. It upset me, but I'm determined to prove that doctor wrong. "In February I started a new treatment and things have improved. Although this condition can't be cured, it's about controlling the pain and learning to live as normal a life as possible." (10/27/2018) Views: 1,513 ⚡AMP

Lizzie Lee will lead the Irish charge at the Dublin Marathon on Sunday

Lizzie Lee, Mick Clohisey and Gary O’Hanlon are expected to lead the Irish charge at the Dublin Marathon on Sunday, October 28.  Lee finished 29th in the marathon at the European Championships in August, will face Remalda Kergyte of Lithuania, Caroline Jepchirchir of Kenya, and Ethiopian duo Motu Gedefa and Mesera Dubiso. Kergyte, has a personal best of 2.35.13, while Jepchirchir won this year’s Belfast Marathon. Lee has a personal best of 2:32.51 from Berlin in 2015 and last competed in the Dublin Marathon in 2006. The Olympic marathoner has shown good form this season, setting a new personal best of 1:13:19 at the World Half Marathon Championships in March.  The Irish national title will be a battle between Lee and fellow Olympian Caitriona Jennings who placed second in the 2017 National Championships. (10/24/2018) Views: 1,624 ⚡AMP