View source for Belfast Marathon

{{short description|Mass sport event in Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox athletics race
| bgcolour      = #174986
| image         = Belfast City Marathon, May 2011 (13).JPG
| caption       = Inflatable archway, outside Belfast City Hall, at the start of 2011 event
| location      = [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| date          = Early May
| type          = [[Marathon]]
| distance      = 26.2 miles (42.2&nbsp;km)
| est           = 1982<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-36131669 |title=Belfast City Marathon over the years |publisher=BBC News |date= 27 April 2017|accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref>
| sponsor       = [[Moy Park]]
| participants  = >5,700 (2021)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-58765441 | title = Belfast City Marathon: Race returns after Covid cancellations | publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2021-10-04}}</ref>
| record        = Men's: '''2:13:41''' (2012)<br>{{flagicon|ETH}} [[Negewo Ararisa]]<br>Women's: '''2:35:03''' (2024)<br>{{flagicon|KEN}} [[Beatrice Jepkemei]]
| homepage      = {{URL|https://www.belfastcitymarathon.com/|Belfast Marathon}}
}}
The '''Belfast City Marathon''' takes place in [[Belfast]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. The organisers describe it as the "largest mass sport participatory event in Northern Ireland" with between 15,000 and 18,000 participants taking part in several events.<ref name="belfasttelegraph2019">{{cite news|url = https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/belfast-marathon/belfast-city-marathon-2019-results-pictures-and-video-as-record-crowd-take-on-new-longer-route-38080990.html | newspaper = Belfasttelegraph | title = Belfast City Marathon 2019: Results, pictures and video as record crowd take on new 'longer' route | date = 5 May 2019 | quote = Around 18,000 took part in the full marathon, the wheelchair race, team relay, walk and fun run [..] With 5,000 taking part in the full marathon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/44022744 |title=Belfast Marathon: Kilkeel's Laura Graham aims for repeat win after 2017 triumph |publisher= BBC Sport |date=2018-05-06 |accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/clothes-tell-the-story-of-the-36th-belfast-marathon-1.3067607 |title=Clothes tell the story of the 36th Belfast marathon |publisher=Irishtimes.com |date=2017-05-01 |accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref> These events, typically scheduled over the [[May bank holiday]] weekend, include marathon, wheelchair race, team relay and 8-mile walk events. The organisers also stage Northern Ireland's largest [[half marathon]] event, which takes place annually in September.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

== Marathon ==
[[File:Belfast City Marathon, May 2013 (09).JPG|thumb|Participants in 2013 event]]
The Belfast City Marathon is an [[Association of International Marathons and Distance Races|AIMS certified]] race.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://aims-worldrunning.org/races/1113.html | website = aims-worldrunning.org | title = Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon | accessdate = 21 May 2021 }}</ref> The race traditionally starts at Stormont Estate at 9am and finishes in Ormeau Park.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-39657330 |publisher=BBC | title = Belfast City Marathon 2017: All you need to know | date = 1 May 2017 | accessdate = 21 May 2021 }}</ref>

5,000 runners took part in the 2019 "full marathon".<ref name="belfasttelegraph2019"/> Following this event, organisers apologised after it was noted that the course was 0.3 miles longer than the typical marathon standard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/48169540.amp |title=Belfast Marathon: Organisers apologise after course is 0.3 miles too long |publisher=BBC Sport|date=2019-05-05 |accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/belfast-city-marathon-4621034-May2019/ |title=Runners in Belfast City Marathon run extra 0.3 miles after course mix-up |publisher=Thejournal.ie |date=2019-05-05 |accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref>

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled as a response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland]], with all registrants given the option of either running the race virtually or transferring their entry to 2021, 2022 or 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/52905715 |title=Belfast Marathon: Coronavirus pandemic forces organisers to cancel 2020 event |publisher=BBC Sport|date=2020-06-03 |accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref><ref name="2020.cancellation">{{cite web | url=https://belfastcitymarathon.com/news/General/2020-Deep-RiverRock-Belfast-City-Marathon-CANCELLED |title=2020 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon CANCELLED &#124; Belfast Marathon News &#124; General &#124; news |publisher=Belfast City Marathon |accessdate=2021-05-21}}</ref> The 2021 event was rescheduled from May to October 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2021/01/29/news/belfast-marathon-moved-to-september-with-virtual-half-race-in-may-2202349/ | publisher = Irish News | website = irishnews.com | title = Belfast Marathon moved to September with virtual half race in May | date = 29 January 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.belfastcitymarathon.com/news/Marathon/39th-Deep-RiverRock-Belfast-City-Marathon-Rescheduled-to-3rd-October-2021 | publisher=Belfast City Marathon | title = 39th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon Rescheduled to 3rd October 2021 | date = 16 June 2021 | accessdate = 1 October 2021 }}</ref>

Previously sponsored by [[Deep River Rock]],<ref>{{cite web|url = https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/05/europe/belfast-city-marathon-course-long-gbr-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN| title = Belfast City Marathon course was too long, organizers say | date = 5 May 2019 | accessdate = 21 May 2021 }}</ref> the 2022 event (scheduled for May 2022) was reported to be [[Mash Direct]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/Events/Mash-Direct-Belfast-City-Marathon | website = belfastcity.gov.uk | title = Mash Direct Belfast City Marathon | accessdate = 11 January 2022 }}</ref>

== Half marathon ==

First launched in 2013, the Belfast City Half Marathon is an extension of the May Marathon event.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} The race starts at Ormeau Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Moy Park Belfast City Half Marathon |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events/belfast-city-half-marathon |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Belfast City Council |language=en}}</ref>

== Winners ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2019}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="left: 1em auto 1em auto" 
|+ 
|- style="text-align:left;"
! 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 || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 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 || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 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 || {{flagcountry|ENG}} || 2:20:45  || Rosaleen Hayden || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:58:31
|- 
| 1990 || [[Jerry Kiernan]] || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:18:58 || Eleanor Hill || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:50:07
|- 
| 1991 || [[Joel Kipchumba]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:18:56 || Brenda McNamara || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:55:25
|- 
| 1992 || [[Jerry Kiernan]] || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:20:52 || Catherine Smyth || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:42:41
|- 
| 1993 || Gerard McGrath || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:18:12 || Catherine Smyth || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:45:05
|- 
| 1994 || Terry Mitchell || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 2:20:24 || Catherine Smyth || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:44:42
|- 
| 1995 || John Ferrin || [[Northern Ireland]] || 2:18:42 || Patricia Griffin || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:53:10
|- 
| 1996 || Terry Mitchell || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 2:21:36 || [[Trudi Thomson]]|| {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 2:44:57
|- 
| 1997 || John Ferrin || [[Northern Ireland]] || 2:20:17 || Olive Nolan || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 2:55:10 
|- 
| 1998 || Thomas Hughes || [[Northern Ireland]] || 2:23:33  || Jackie Newton || {{flagcountry|ENG}} || 2:57:25 
|- 
| 1999 || [[Samuel Okemwa]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:20:58 || Barbara Brewer || [[Northern Ireland]] || 2:58:49 
|- 
| 2000 || [[Willy Cheruiyot Kipkirui|Wilson Cheruiyot]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:24:13  || Mary Jennings || {{flagcountry|IRE}} || 3:02:31
|- 
| 2001 || [[Joseph Riri]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:26:00  || Debra Curley || {{flagcountry|ENG}} || 2:56:05
|- 
| 2002 || [[Simon Pride]] || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 2:22:21 || [[Trudi Thomson]] || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 2:49:39
|- 
| 2003 || [[Lezan Kimutai]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:17:09 || [[Trudi Thomson]] || {{flagcountry|SCO}} || 2:45:48
|- 
| 2004 || [[Peter Edukan]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:23:51 || [[Julia Myatt]] || {{flagcountry|ENG}} || 2:52:52
|- 
| 2005 || [[Eric Kiplagat]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:22:20 || [[Lemma Urge]] || {{flagcountry|ETH|1996}} || 2:41:33
|- 
| 2006 || [[Stephen Ndungu]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:16:51 || [[Joyce Kandie]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:43:11
|- 
| 2007 || [[John Mutai]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:16:24  || [[Desse Demelesh]] || {{flagcountry|ETH|1996}} || 2:46:45
|- 
| 2008 || [[John Mutai]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:16:31 || [[Marshet Jimma]] || {{flagcountry|ETH|1996}} || 2:39:22
|- 
| 2009 || [[John Mutai]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:17:35 || [[Joyce Kandie]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:47:44
|- 
| 2010 || [[Urga Negewo]] || {{flagcountry|ETH}} || 2:16:53 || [[Sarah Stradling]] || {{flagcountry|ENG}} || 2:44:03
|- 
| 2011 || [[Jacob Chesire]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:14:56 || [[Vera Ovcharuk]] || {{flagcountry|UKR}} || 2:46:04
|- 
| 2012 || [[Negewo Ararisa]] || {{flagcountry|ETH}} || 2:13:41 || [[Alice Chelangat]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:39:02
|- 
| 2013 || [[Joel Kipsang]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:19:28 || [[Nataliya Lehonkova]] || {{flagcountry|UKR}} || 2:36:50
|- 
| 2014 || [[Freddy Sittuk]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:18:30 || [[Bayrush Shiferaw]] || {{flagcountry|ETH}} || 2:41:20
|- 
| 2015 || [[Joel Kositany]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:19:36 || [[Berhan Gebremichael]] || {{flagcountry|ETH}} || 2:40:57
|- 
| 2016 || [[Joel Kositany]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:17:39 || [[Berhan Gebremichael]] || {{flagcountry|ETH}} || 2:48:26
|- 
| 2017 || [[Bernard Rotich]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:16:04 || [[Laura Graham]] || {{flagcountry|UK}} || 2:41:47
|- 
| 2018 || [[Eric Koech]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:18:19 || [[Caroline Chepkwony]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:41:23
|- 
| 2019 || [[Joel Kositany]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:18:41 || [[Caroline Jepchirchir]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:36:39
|-
| 2020 || colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| ''cancelled as part of the response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland]]''<ref name="2020.cancellation"/>
|-
|2021
|[[Mick Clohisey]]
|{{flagcountry|IRE}}
|2:20:42
|[[Fionnuala Ross]]
|{{flagcountry|IRE}}
|2:43:42
|-
|2022<ref>Belfast City Marathon. 2022. Belfast Marathon Results | results | Belfast City Marathon. [online] Available at: <https://belfastcitymarathon.com/results/2022#fullResults> [Accessed 13 October 2022].</ref>
|[[Paul Pollock]]
|{{flagcountry|IRE}}
|2:16:16
|[[Gladys Ganiel]]
|{{flagcountry|IRE}}
|2:43:49
|-
|2023<ref>Belfast City Marathon. 2023. Belfast Marathon Results | results | Belfast City Marathon. [online] Available at: <https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7192012> [Accessed 7 May 2024].</ref>
|[[Mohamed Oumaarir]]
|{{flagcountry|MAR}}
|2:22:54
|[[Shewaye Woldemeskel]]
|{{flagcountry|ETH}}
|2:37:20
|-
|2024<ref>Belfast City Marathon. 2024. Belfast Marathon Results | results | Belfast City Marathon. [online] Available at: <https://my.raceresult.com/278719/results> [Accessed 7 May 2024].</ref>
|[[Mathew Kemboi]]
|{{flagcountry|KEN}}
|2:14:44
|[[Beatrice Jepkemei]]
|{{flagcountry|KEN}}
|style="background:#a9f5a9;"|'''2:35:03'''
|- 
| 2025<ref>Belfast City Marathon. 2025. Belfast Marathon Results Available at: <https://belfastcitymarathon.com/results-search/results-2025> [Accessed 6 May 2025].</ref> || [[Tilahun Nigussie]] || {{flagcountry|ETH}} || style="background:#a9f5a9;"|'''2:13:37''' || [[Millicent Kibet]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}} || 2:38:30
|}

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Belfast City Marathon}}
* {{official|https://www.belfastcitymarathon.com}}

{{Marathons in the United Kingdom}}{{World Athletics Label Road Races}}{{Athletics in the UK}}
{{Sport in Ireland}}

[[Category:Sport in Belfast]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1982]]
[[Category:Athletics competitions in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Marathons in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Spring (season) in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Marathons in Ireland]]