Entry procedure for the 2025 Dublin City Marathon

The next Dublin Marathon is coming up on the 26th of October 2025. The organisers have recently released the details on how to enter.

Note the key entry dates... Mon 18th Nov 2024 & Thurs 21st Nov 2024.

Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2025 entries... "The Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2025 entries will open to the 2024 participants for 72 hours from Monday 18th of November to Wednesday 20th of November. It will also open for the same time frame for all women who entered the 2024 Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon, this is to encourage and support more female entrants to the marathon.

Applications for entries for the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon via the lottery system will go live on the event website (https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/) on Thursday 21st of November 2024 and will close midnight on Wednesday 27th of November.

There is an administration charge of €5 per lottery entry which is redeemable against an entry fee of €110 if successful and non-redeemable if unsuccessful.

Registrants will learn their entry status from the lottery via email / SMS on Monday 2nd of December. One entry per person is permitted."

Reminder about number swapping for the 2024 Dublin Marathon

Every year, a small number of people take part in the Dublin Marathon running with someone else's race number. While this can seem innocent enough, it can play havoc with the results with people winning prizes or championship medals that they are not entitled to.

The rules of the Dublin marathon state the following...

The sale, swapping, or bartering of Marathon/Race Series Entries or Numbers is strictly forbidden.

If you attempt to sell, swap or barter your Marathon/Race Series Entry or Marathon/Race Series race number, you may be banned from future Dublin Marathon and/or Race Series events.

The Dublin marathon also doubles up as the national marathon championships. Athletics Ireland are less ambiguous and state that any club athlete running with someone else's number will be banned from future marathon championship events.

From Athletics Ireland... "Number swapping is strictly prohibited. Please do not give your number to another Participant. Both Dublin Marathon and Athletics Ireland prohibit numbers to be transferred to another person🤝

📣Any marathon championship entry who swaps their number will be removed from the results and unable to compete in future national marathon championships."

Training programme for the 2024 Dublin Marathon

The 2023 Dublin Marathon is coming up on Sunday the 27th of October 2024. If anyone would like to optimise their training then I will be starting individualised training programmes soon. 

The marathon programme is 18-weeks and it starts on the 24th of June. The cost is €135.

The length of programme really depends on where you are as a runner and what your initial endurance fitness is like.

After an initial consultation and we agree on what days you can train, a programme is sent out every week by email and weekly feedback is required. That will determine what the programme is like for the following week.

If interested, send an email to johndesmondrunning AT gmail DOT com

If you have another event in mind then send an e-mail to the above address.

Irish Guide Dogs have Dublin Marathon places on offer...

The Irish Guide Dogs have a number of charity places on offer for the 2024 Dublin Marathon to anyone who is willing to fundraise for them. This might be of interest to anyone who missed out on the lottery entry.

Info as follows... "How does it work? You can apply for a place to run for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind through the Dublin Marathon’s Official Charity Programme, in partnership with RealBuzz.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a guaranteed entry into the marathon.

Once accepted, you’ll need to  pay a deposit of €100 to secure your place and agree to reach the minimum fundraising target of €1,500."

If interested, go to https://www.guidedogs.ie/events/dublin-marathon-2024

Entry procedure for the 2024 Dublin Marathon

While many runners are still recovering from the 2023 event, entries for the 2024 Dublin Marathon next October are about to open.

The conditions are shown above. The key point is that 2023 registered participants will be given priority access for 2024 and should enter straight away. 

The lottery for everyone else opens on the 2nd of November and closes on the 19th.

The website for the Dublin Marathon is... https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/

If you've never done the Dublin marathon before then it really is a special event. It's at the right time of year for good times as it's cool and there are always large crowds of runners and spectators. 

There are lots of other regional marathons like Cork, Waterford, Galway, Belfast & Limerick but Dublin really is the national marathon.

Update: Just a quick note on the €5 lottery fee. Last year, they charged €10 and refunded €7 if the applicant was unsuccessful. i.e. the cost was €3. This year, the cost is €5.

Training programme for the 2023 Dublin Marathon

The 2023 Dublin Marathon is coming up on Sunday the 29th of October 2023. If anyone would like to optimise their training then I will be starting individualised training programmes soon. 

The marathon programme is 18-weeks and it starts on the 26th of June. The cost is €135.

The length of programme really depends on where you are as a runner and what your initial endurance fitness is like.

After an initial consultation and we agree on what days you can train, a programme is sent out every week by email and weekly feedback is required. That will determine what the programme is like for the following week.

If interested, send an email to johndesmondrunning AT gmail DOT com

If you have another event in mind then send an e-mail to the above address.

The 2022 Dublin Marathon and the missing 10,000...

 

Just after the 2022 Dublin Marathon, the Irish Independent carried an article titled 'How did 10,000 runners ‘go missing' from Dublin Marathon?'

The article leads with the statement... "More than 10,000 runners failed to make it across the finishing line of the Dublin Marathon, suggesting a drop out rate of 40pc. Organisers had boasted about 25,000 people being “registered and ready" to take part in the race last Sunday."

I had a look at the numbers for 2022 and they are shown in the chart above. On the day, a total of 14,847 runners crossed the finishing line with a further 329 starting the race but not finishing (DNF).

The obvious answer for the 10,000 shortfall is that most of those people entered the race back at the end of 2019. Then along comes the pandemic and there's the best part of a three year gap between when people entered and when they were supposed to run.

In that time, a lot of people have moved on to other things or just lost interest. For the likes of a  marathon, it's a big commitment for most people in terms of time and training. It's not like a 5k or 10k race where regular runners could just turn up and get around.

Race Director Jim Aughney told the Irish Independent as much in his response... “We had 25,000 registered, but we had entries from 2020, transferred to 2021 and then again into 2022. Many, it looks like, had not continued their training, and decided not to go on Sunday, but we had no way of determining that in advance. We would have a fall-off each year, but because of the three-year gap on most entries, the fall-off was higher than normal this year.”

The percentage of 'no-shows' in 2022 was around 39%. I had a look back at 2019 and the percentage then was 21% which probably around the norm for a race of this length.

It's very probable that this 'missing 10,000' was just a one-off and it'll be back to around 20% no-shows again in 2023.

Entries for the 2023 Dublin Marathon...

Updated 3rd Nov 2022...

As you can see, it's all explained in the image above.

For the latest updates, go to https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/

From the Dublin Marathon... "Our lottery system will be open from 9am on 3rd Nov until Midnight on 16th Nov via our website 👉🏻 www.irishlifedublinmarathon.ie "

....

Update 1st Nov 2022...

Guest Post: 10-Things about the Dublin City Marathon ...by Proinnsias O'Keeffe

10 things about the Dublin City Marathon 

1 in many ways this was my first real marathon! Cork has the relay and the half marathon group join you. Kilkenny has 30k, half and 10k at the same start. Dublin is only a marathon!

2 the race starts and finishes in Dublin 2!

3 the support throughout the course was superb. Kids giving high 5’s, the guy on the enervit table running after me with a gel because when I ran past he was opening a new pack and I wouldn’t wait!

4 family and friends providing support throughout the course and before and after the event. I’ve had 3 meals already today and if no trick or treaters arrive, all their stuff will be eaten too!

5 the feeling of running uphill and into the wind when we were on the south side- yuck!

6 the weather! Jim Aughney definitely had the child of Prague out on Saturday night! Imagine if it had been Saturday or Monday!!

7 parkrun which is responsible for me being out there. From the gang at Bushy Dublin to the bag drop team to the runners including a 25 volunteer from St Anne’s to 100 and 250 shirts on the course you are amazing 

Gotta squeeze the club in here! Joining you and going out on Tuesday Thursday and the occasional Sunday and the strength and conditioning were a major factor in my finishing. Shouts of Go Eagle around the course from strangers were a great lift 

8 to my buddy- not sure whether it was 498 or 499 but you flew down Leeson Street into Stephen’s Green - what an honour to know you 

9 at one stage yesterday I was finisher 9999

10 the (not)parkrun but coffee and cake Saturday friends- stop sending messages so I can finish this please! Your support, encouragement and confidence in me got me over the line 

If I can do it, you can!

#IrishLifeDublinMarathon #parkrunireland

Guest Post: Dublin City Marathon Mile by Mile ...by Pat Walsh

 **DCM Mile By Mile ** 

Pure repost from 2019. Nothing has changed. correct me if I am wrong. Was asked for it. Maybe I will cycle it 😃 I will add more about THE DAY, last few hours and post race stuff.

Mile by Mile guide.. If it helps 😃  🏃♀️🏃♂️

Mile 1 the “Shuffle Mile”. Nervous smiles all round but we are on the way. Be careful of tripping in the crowds and don’t do too much weaving in and out. RELAX. Don’t worry if you lose a few seconds.

Mile 2 has a downhill from Christchurch to the river and pace can pick up. Try to stay easy.

Mile 3 slight uphill through Stoneybatter and careful of footing at first water stop. Lots of bottles on the road.

Mile 4 can get narrow as you enter the Phoenix Park, so just relax and settle.

Mile 5 to 7 through the Park. Slight uphill all the way but lots of room on the road to relax and take it all in. Now we are motoring. The race has started. Shake out the shoulders to relieve tension and get to the #HAPPYPLACE.

Mile 7 at Castleknock is the first of the WELCOME villages. Great crowds, atmosphere. Now you know you are in a Big City Marathon. Take it all in.

Mile 8 has a nice downhill back into the Park and will be quick enough. Don’t go MAD. #PWR 

Mile 9 -10 is back in the Park with a few up and downs but nothing serious. Relax before you head out to the crowds again. 

Mile 11 has the first decent uphill where you run under the Motorway after Chapelizod. Take it easy and it will be gone in a few minutes. Lose time if you have to but don't fight it. Better to be running later

Mile 12 to 16 is back in town with crowds and water stations. Settle yourself. Analyse how you feel and what pace is comfortable. Take in the day and the crowds. Big cheers as you go over the Canal. They do help and lift the spirits. Passing halfway have a smile. On the way home.

Mile 16 to 19. Lovely area through Kimmage, Terenure, Rathgar,. Fairly flat. Great crowds and buzz. Keep the legs turning you are on the way home. Make sure to keep drinking and fuelling. Vital time coming up.* 

Mile 19 to 22 is Make or Break. * 😍😱😍😱 #PWR

Mile 19 to 20 Downhill first half of 19 and relax as nice pull out of Milltown for 2nd half of this mile. Just get up it handy and don't force it.

Mile 20 to 21 nice gentle downhill into Clonskeagh but take it easy and use it to relax focus and draw breath. You have come a long way. We will get home.

Mile 21 to 22 is the toughie and just get up that hill at any pace but keep moving.

Mile 22 to 23 has a nice downhill on Fosters Avenue that you can use to get Heart Rate back on track and steady yourself for home

Mile 23 to 24 is reasonably flat except for climb at UCD flyover where you cross the Road

Mile 24 to HOME. turn the corner at Merrion Shopping Centre. Focus, dig in.. It is straight from here to finish line. No twists or turns, No ups or downs. So 1 foot in front of the other and dream of glory.

“Go on Bull, ‘tis your field” 🏆💪🥉

To sum up the hills to watch --- Mile 10.5 to 11; Mile 19.5 to 20; and 21.5 to 22

Hope this helps…!!

#PWR

Training programme for the 2022 Dublin Marathon

The 2022 Dublin Marathon is coming up on Sunday the 30th of October 2022. It is 18-weeks from the 26th of June.

If anyone would like to optimise their training then I will be starting individualised training programmes. 

The programme is sent out every week by email and weekly feedback is required. That will determine what the programme is like for the following week.

The cost is €124 and it starts whenever you're ready. Obviously the sooner the better and it should be really start at the latest by the 10th of July which is 16-weeks.

If interested, send an email to johndesmondrunning AT gmail DOT com

Cork runner Lizzie Lee wins national marathon title

As predicted, conditions were pretty much perfect for running at this years 2018 Dublin City Marathon and the first Irish woman across the finish line was Lizzie Lee of Leevale AC in Cork.

Lizzie's finish time was 2h 35m 03s which isn't that far off her PB of 2:32:51 which she set back in 2015 in Berlin on a much flatter course.

This is Lizzie's first national title in the marathon and she is of course coached by Donie Walsh of Leevale.

There was quite a gap between the finishing times for the first 3 Irish women.

Caitriona Jennings of Letterkenny AC was second with a time of 2h 41m 16s.

Jill Hodgins of Leevale AC was third with a time of 2h 47m 51s which means that Cork runners took 1st and 3rd.