Belfast City Marathon
Belfast, Northern Ireland · Sunday 21 June 2026
The event takes place annually in Belfast, Northern Ireland, typically in early May, and features a course that traverses all four areas of the city: North, South, East, and West. The route starts at Stormont Estate in the east and finishes at Ormeau Park in the south, covering a standard marathon distance of 42.2 kilometers (26.2 miles).\n\nParticipants run on paved city roads in a single-loop course with a rolling hills profile, which introduces varied elevation but no major sustained climbs.
Difficulty Calculator
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Adjusted Time
3:58:12
Time difference: -1.8 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Course Details
Elevation Gain222m
Elevation High62m
Elevation Low2m
Weather Forecast
High13°C
Low10°C
Chance of Rain46%
Belfast City Marathon 2026 Course Analysis
Belfast City Marathon is a full marathon held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, scheduled for Sunday 21 June 2026. The course is run on road surface with 222m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 62m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Belfast City Marathon website.
Elevation Profile
With 222m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 2m to 62m above sea level (60m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Expected Race Day Weather
Based on historical weather data for June, the expected race day conditions are as follows. Near-ideal running temperatures are expected, ranging from 10°C to 13°C. This temperature range is widely considered optimal for marathon performance, allowing efficient heat dissipation without cold-related issues. There is a moderate chance of rain (46%). Runners may want to prepare for wet conditions but shouldn't expect persistent rainfall.
Surface Type: Road
Belfast City Marathon is run on road surfaces, which provide the fastest and most predictable conditions for marathon running. Road courses allow for consistent pacing and are typically the best choice for runners targeting a personal best time.
How Difficult Is Belfast City Marathon?
Our difficulty rating for Belfast City Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Belfast City Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.