Fitness
Fitness
These are 10 of the best running races in Ireland for this year
Looking for extra motivation to keep your fitness on track? We’ve got you covered! Find your perfect challenge this year and hit the ground running!
Wings for Life World Run will return on Sunday, May 10, 2026. For registration updates, complete global results, and unforgettable highlights: visit www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com and download the new Wings for Life World Run App for iOS or Android.
Signing up for a race is a great way to keep your motivation up – and your fitness regime on track. Having something to work towards beats aimlessly running on the gym treadmill or pounding the pavements. A running race can also be a great way of exploring new places, taking you through some beautiful landscapes and wild terrain.
Why runners should try HYROX training in 2026
To give you a little extra inspiration, we’ve picked out Ireland’s best running events for 2026. So whether you're an expert runner or new to the racing game, we've got you covered.
Road Running Races
01
Connemarathon
19 April, 2026
Runners at Connemarathon
© Andreas Riemenschneider.
With half, full and ultra-marathon options available, this is one of Ireland’s most popular running races. Every year sees more than 3,000 entrants from 30 countries run through the dramatic landscape of Connemara. Starting and finishing in Maam Cross, the course winds its way past bogs, hills, lakes and the Twelve Pin Mountains.
Runners in the mood for a challenge will be happy to know the revamped ultra course, with its additional 10 mile section, returns. The 39.3 mile long ultra-marathon kicks off in Recess at 9am, while the full and half marathon will follow two hours later in Lough Inagh and Leenane respectively. We'll see you at the finish line – or more specifically, the afterparty in Galway.
02
Wings for Life World Run
10 May, 2026
Wings for Life World Run in Dublin, Ireland
© Dan Sheridan for Wings for Life World Run
The beauty of the Wings for Life World Run – a global race which sees participants chased down by a catcher car in the name of raising money for spinal cord research – is that even those who can't make it down to a flagship race are able to compete anywhere they like thanks to the app and its digital catcher car. Indeed, be it in the Wicklow Mountains or pounding the streets of Galway, you and friends can enjoy your fill of the action close to home.
Simply visit Wingsforlifeworldrun.com and download the new Wings for Life World Run App for iOS or Android.
03
Belfast City Marathon
03 May, 2026
Belfast City Marathon
© Belfast City Marathon
Attracting newcomers and seasoned veterans (competitors have recently been able to earn both domestic and international ranking points) alike, the Belfast Marathon is always worth pencilling in the diary no matter how busy your spring is looking.
Kicking things off at the Stormont Estate, competitors venture right across the city from east to west, finishing in Ormeau Park. In 2026 there's also a Team Relay option on the same route in case you want to split up a run with the help of some friends.
If you’ve missed out on entry, there's always the Belfast Half Marathon later this year (20 September) which is sure to draw quite a crowd as well. Just be sure to follow some of these marathon training tips and you’ll be in for a memorable time.
Also, that's not the only big event happening at Stormont in 2026, as the Red Bull Soapbox Race comes to Belfast on 17 May. Don't miss it.
04
Cork City Marathon
31 May, 2026
The Cork Marathon, much like the city's favourite son, Roy Keane, has zero interest in your feelings. It expects you to be ready and to do your job. But don't worry – whether you want to run or walk the course that's up to you. It's also one of the flattest marathons in the country with the option of a cheeky half marathon should you want it. Best of all, it's a picturesque race inside the hallowed walls of a historic city drawing some of the most supportive and enthusiastic runners out there, giving you ample reason to chase that new PB.
05
Portumna Forest Marathon
06 June, 2026
Choose your adventure: 10k? 21k? 42k? Or 50k?
© Sinéad Cochrane/Flickr Creative Commons
Set in thick woodland, this event is described by organisers as “a spiritual experience” that tests the body and soothes the mind in equal measure. Covering an area of 450 hectares, the forest – located near a town called Portumna, which means “landing place of the oak tree” – is home to fallow deer, red squirrels, Scots Pine and Norway spruce. There are four route distances to choose from – 10km, 21km, 42km, 50km – which are based around 5km loops. Overnight camping is not allowed, but there are plenty of scenic spots your loved ones can cheer you on from come race day.
06
Achill Half Marathon and 10K
04 July, 2026
With its towering sea cliffs and pristine beaches, it’s easy to see why the island of Achill attracts so many athletes from around the world for its annual half marathon and 10km race. Starting and finishing in Keel, the full course meanders for 13.1 miles through the island’s spectacular scenery, with vast mountain, bog and coastal trails ensuring a varied route. The Atlantic Ocean will be your constant companion as you run around the island.
Trail Running Races
07
Forth Mountain Trail Run
21 March, 2026
Hailed as "undoubtedly the most scenic race in the southeast" by its organisers, Forth Mountain Trail Run, located just outside Wexford Town, will be a real test for the legs and the mind. Put in the effort on those steep hills and the majestic views spanning north Wexford will make you forget all about that early alarm clock. Together with a packed field of competitors you'll traverse 13km of the Three Rocks Trail on Forth Mountain, which are comprised of well-maintained gravel trail and short sections of forestry road.
08
Bray Gaelforce 10k
11 April, 2026
How about a sunset run along the clifftops? A super accessible run for race newbies, this 10km route starts at the Belmont Estate with a run towards the fringes of a mountain requiring a 2km climb. Once you've drank in those magnificent views of the Irish Sea, you’ll descend via what the organisers refer to as ‘heather paths, trails and ancient woodland’, returning to finish the loop at Belmont Demesne. In the past it’s been known for runners to finish with a sprint across the beach before the celebratory fistpumps at Bray Promenade's bandstand.
09
Mourne Mountain Marathon
19-20 September, 2026
Competitors at Mourne Mountain Marathon
© Mark Pruzina/Mourne Mountain Marathon
Ireland’s only two-day endurance and navigation event returns to the beautiful mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland. Attracting hikers and ultra-runners of varying abilities, it requires competitors to find their own way through the beautiful Co Down countryside using a map and camp under open skies. You’re also expected to be self-sufficient, carrying all your own gear, food, and water for the duration of the event. Complete it all in one day if you think you're good enough... If regular races have started to feel slightly samey, now could be the time to take it up a gear at Mourne.
10
Maurice Mullins Ultra
28 March, 2026
A test for even the most expert runners, this 50k course (the same as 2023’s edition) is a way to experience the ruggedly beautiful Wicklow Way like never before. Prepare to sweat – there is 1940m of ascent along the way – but at least the epic scenery should help distract you as you trace this famous long-distance trail from Glencullen to Ballinastoe. For a softer option, there is a 25.1km course that follows the latter half of the 51km out and back course.
