Belfast City Marathon: Race under way with record entrant numbers

By Mark Simpson & Amy Stewart

BBC News NI

The Belfast City Marathon is under way with a record number of entrants aiming to complete the 26.2-mile course.

There will be numerous road closures and traffic disruption as the route makes its way across the city.

There are more than 5,000 marathon participants as well as 12,500 relay runners who each complete one of five legs of the route.

More than 1,000 participants are taking part in an eight-mile walk.

On Friday organisers appealed to runners not to sell or swap race numbers if they cannot take part.

It is a “massive problem”, according to the marathon’s executive manager.

In a message to competitors, Claire O’Neill said: “You might think ‘it’s okay I’m not fit to do it, take my number, they’ve sold out’… but it does have issues for us.

“We don’t know who you are. If you have taken a number off somebody, we don’t know your medical history, we don’t know your age.

“That affects insurance and it also affects you if something were to happen to you physically, and you took ill, and couldn’t continue. We would have no way of contacting your family so it is important to update the information.”

The age-category results of a race can also be affected.

“We need to make sure people are in the right categories and it can mess up the results, especially if males exchange with females,” Ms O’Neill said.

Yes – coverage on BBC iPlayer began at 08:45 BST and will continue after the races have finished.

You can also listen on Radio Ulster.

You can get in touch with BBC Northern Ireland on their social channels if you’re running and would like a shout out from presenter Mark Simpson and the team.

The marathon started at Stormont at 09:00 and takes in all areas of the city – the route starts in the east before going to the south west, north and then back to the south again by the time runners cross the finish line in Ormeau Park.

Spectators can stand at any point along the route to spectate and offer any encouragement.

There will be disruption for the duration of the marathon, from about 06:00 BST until 16:30.

Roads along the route will close and open again, wholly or partially on a staggered basis, as marathon runners pass through,

An extensive list of what roads will be closed and when can be found here, which can be used to plan your day on Sunday if you’re planning to travel across the city.

This is particularly relevant if you are planning to travel along the Ormeau Road, as many parts will be closed with only some local or event access.

The marathon team has also put together a map of road closures.

Motorists are asked to follow diversion signs and take direction from stewards on the route.

However, organisers say that once participants have passed points on the route, roads will be reopened as quickly as possible.

Yes, if there are road closures on your bus route.

Translink is also putting on some special services.

For those who want to watch the race kick-off, Translink is running a free shuttle bus to the start line at Stormont.

It will depart from Belfast City Hall (outside SS Moore sports shop) from 07:00 to 08:00 and Lanyon Place Train Station from 07:30 to 08:00.

There is also a shuttle from Stormont that will take spectators from Massey Avenue (the entrance to the side of Parliament Buildings) to Ormeau Park after the race begins.

Transport for those taking part in team relays will be from 8:00 to 10:00 – it runs from Annadale Embankment at Dunnes Stores and will drop runners off at each relay changeover point on a loop.

If travelling back to Belfast City Centre there is a shuttle bus from the Ormeau Embankment to the city centre from 11:45 to 16:00.

Meanwhile, a free Glider bus service will run from SS Moore or Wellington Street to Stormont every 15 minutes until 16:30.

If you’re getting the train to Belfast, early services will depart on the Londonderry, Larne, Bangor and Newry lines, with all arriving in Belfast’s Lanyon Place Station before 08:00.

Describing the extra services, Translink said it wanted to “make it as easy as possible for runners and spectators to use our services as they make their way to the start line”.

The team relay consists of five legs, of varying distance, with changeover points across the route:

• Leg 1: Stormont Estate to Montgomery Road, 4 miles
• Leg 2: Montgomery Road to Boucher Road, 7.8 miles
• Leg 3: Boucher Road to Falls Road, 4.2 miles
• Leg 4: Falls Road to North Queen Street, 5 miles
• Leg 5: Duncairn Gardens to Ormeau Park 5.5 miles

Participants must complete the marathon run, wheelchair race or team relay within six hours and the eight-mile walk event within two hours and 30 minutes.

You can walk the main event if you wish. You cannot run the eight-mile walk.

In-ear headphones are not permitted but bone conducting headphones are allowed.

There will be pacers and you can find a list of pacers for your time here.

Participants can be disqualified for:

• Urination in any area other than that of designated toilets on route
• Swapping numbers
• Deviation from run route
• Tampering with timing chip
• Refusing to obey the instructions of race officials
• Unsportsmanlike conduct
• Offensive actions or language to race officials, volunteers, participants or spectators

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