Almost 3000 runners complete the 2021 Belfast Marathon - Sun 3rd Oct 2021

The 2021 Belfast City Marathon was held on Sunday the 3rd of October and a total of 2958 runners are listed in the results. That is in marked contrast to what was possible up to recently with all of the restrictions.

From my understanding, it wasn't all plain sailing with participants waiting for 2-2.5 hours on the previous day to collect their race number and some serious questions were being asked about the organisers.

Notwithstanding that, the race got underway the next morning. With no Dublin marathon this year, the Belfast race also doubled up as the national championships.

Here are the first 3 men & women...

1.    Mick Clohisey Raheny Shamrock AC 2.20.42
2.    Kyle Doherty City of Derry AC 2.22.48
3.    Colin Heron Keep Er Lit Running 2.27.25
1.    Fionnuala Ross Armagh AC 2.43.43
2.    Ciara Hickey Brothers Pearse AC 2.44.40
3.    Gladys Ganiel North Belfast Harriers 2.45.03

The first thing I noticed when I saw the results was that the winning times were slower than those posted by Irish runners in Berlin the previous week but Berlin is also known for being a faster course.

I have listed the men under 3 hours and the women under 3h 30m below. 

The results I noticed in the men's race was Michael Morgan of St.Finbarr's AC finishing in 10th place in a time of 2h 32m.

In the women's race, Adele Walsh of St Senan's AC posted a fine time of 2h 54m. Adele does a lot of the races in Co.Waterford and does some of the bigger Cork ones at times. Also noted was Catherine Murphy of Eagle AC who was just over the 3hour barrier with a nice time of 3h 01m.

Results below...

2021 National Marathon Championships are to be held in Belfast in October

Athletics Ireland announced today that the 2021 National Marathon Championships will be held in Belfast this year on the 3rd of October. 

Normally it is part of the Dublin City Marathon but that event had to be cancelled this year.

In a news release, Athletics Ireland said... 

"We are delighted to be working with Athletics Northern Ireland and the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon in hosting the 2021 National Senior Marathon Championships on Sunday October 3rd.

There will be 100 male and 100 female National Championship entries available, and expressions of interest is now sought from athletes who have acquired suitable times over the last 3 years.

The form must be completed by Thursday 19th August 2021.

Runners already entered in the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon will have the opportunity to be included in the National Championships at a later date.

The price of registration is £63."

See link... https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/2021-national-marathon-championships/

Mum of four Laura Graham from Co.Down runs Belfast Marathon in 2:49

Back in May of 2015, mother of four Laura Graham from Newry, Co.Down ran the Belfast Marathon in a time of 3h 21m...a good time but nothing exceptional. In the Dublin Marathon in October of 2015, Laura finished in a time of 2 hours 56 minutes and 21 seconds, a huge improvement which saw her take a Bronze medal in the National Championship.

In the recent Belfast marathon at the start of May, Laura finished in second place in a time of 2h 49m 18s.


What's even more amazing is that she ran the London Marathon just eight days earlier in 2h 48m 03s! To put those times into context, the qualifying standard for women for the Olympics in Rio is 2h 45m, just three minutes faster.

All this with four young children and still only 30 years old.

It makes you wonder is there more undiscovered talent out there?