Did you miss the chance to enter the 2016 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon?
The race has sold out for the first time in its history and registration has closed earlier than many runners anticipated due to unprecedented demand for places.
An additional 2,000 places were made available, but it has already reached its capacity of 17,500. This year’s race will take place on Sunday, October 30th and the aim of moving the race from the traditional Bank Holiday Monday to Sunday was to encourage more people from abroad to take part. It seems it might have worked.
For those who didn’t get their entry in, a waiting list has been created and priority will go to those who have competed in the 2016 SSE Airtricity Race Series.
But if you have been training hard and want to enter an autumn marathon to keep you on track, we have found five alternatives for you...
TCS Amsterdam Marathon
Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands
When: Sunday, October 16th
The Venice of the North has a little something for everyone as a weekend destination and is easily accessible from Ireland. Its annual marathon is a diverse experience too with runners cruising through a fast urban and rural course. There’s the thrilling start and finish at the 1928 Olympic Stadium, a trip along the Amstel River and Vondelpark, and you pass through the heart of Rijksmuseum, home to art by Rembrandt and Van Gogh.
Registration: €70
[ tcsamsterdammarathon.nl/enOpens in new window ]
Venice Marathon
Where: Venice, Italy
When: Sunday, October 23rd
Organisers ask how you can resist the charm of Venice and they have a point. This is a flat, fast and spectacular course, starting in front of an 18th century villa in a small town west of Venice, called Stra. From there it heads back to the town centre, bringing you past all the sights as you cross 14 bridges. Cheering crowds congregate at the finishing line at Riva Sette Martiri.
Registration: €32
[ venicemarathon.it/en/Opens in new window ]
Ljubljana Marathon
Where: Ljubljana, Slovenia
When: Sunday, October 30th
If you are committed to the Bank Holiday weekend, the Ljubljana Marathon is the biggest running event in Slovenia. It’s growing in popularity every year after kicking off in 1996. There are no direct flights from Ireland with the quickest option being to transfer in Amsterdam. The circular course starts and finishes at Slovenska cesta in the centre of the city and the route is flat. It brings runners around the Mostec hill and takes in some of the best sites of this easy-going city.
Registration: €35 before August 18th, increasing to €40
[ vw-ljubljanskimaraton.si/en/maratonOpens in new window ]
Frankfurt Marathon
Where: Frankfurt, Germany
When: Sunday, October 30th
On the same day as the Dublin Marathon this year and with unlimited places, the Frankfurt Marathon could be an alternative for disappointed would-be Dublin runners. To make is easier, the course is relatively flat (and therefore fast) and the city is easy to access from Ireland. The race starts from the centre of Frankfurt, leading runners through the city past its fascinating skyline, onto the district of Sachsenhausen and the residential district of Hochst. Runners are then led back through the city centre for the "red carpet" finish at the Festhalle.
Registration: €85 until October 9th, with prices increasing after that. frankfurt-marathon.com/en/home.html
Athens Marathon
Where: Athens, Greece
When: Sunday, November 13th
It all started here 120 years ago and you can follow in the footsteps of the Greek messenger Pheidippides as it has not yet reached the 18,000 capacity (in 490 BC, legend has it that he ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the Athenian victory at the Battle of Marathon). The course brings you over challenging hills and into the finishing arch at the white marble Panathenaic Stadium, with Greeks cheering you on with calls of “bravo” the whole way. By the way, Pheidippides died of exhaustion after his run …
Registration: €30. Register before August 30th to receive personalised bibs. athensauthenticmarathon.gr
