It is mid August, the Dublin Marathon training plan has started to bite and the weekend long run is no longer a pleasant trot followed by coffee. It now involves an alarming number of gels, several hours of running and at least one moment when you question every decision that brought you here.
A September half marathon can make one of those weekends considerably more enjoyable. You get a measured course, water stations, other runners and a finish line, rather than another lonely tour of every housing estate and country road within ten miles of your front door.
It is also a useful chance to practise pacing, fuelling and your race morning routine before Dublin. The danger, of course, is getting carried away, racing every step and spending the next week walking downstairs sideways.
The 2026 calendar is still taking shape, with some organisers yet to open entries or confirm their plans. We will continue updating this list as more September half marathons are announced.
What Is on the Menu for 2026
Here are the September half marathons confirmed so far:
Leinster
- Sunday 6th September - Barretstown Half Marathon - Kildare - €75 - A new fast course from Naas Racecourse through Kill and Sallins, with proceeds supporting Barretstown.
- Saturday 12th September - Ratoath AC Half Marathon - Meath - €41 - A fast, flat course starting at Fairyhouse and finishing with a lap of the famous racecourse.
- Sunday 13th September - The Fauna Trail Running Half Marathon - Wicklow - €37.45 - A forest trail race near Donard for anyone willing to swap smooth roads for woodland tracks.
- Saturday 19th September - Rhode AC Half Marathon - Offaly - €60 - A largely flat rural course featuring scenic miles beside the Grand Canal.
- Saturday 26th September - East of Ireland Half Marathon - Dublin - €32.10 - An early morning Howth race with several distance options, although final course details are still to come.
- Sunday 27th September - The Village Run Half Marathon - Laois - €41.73 - A flat and fast route through the Ballylinan countryside that should appeal to runners hunting a personal best.
Connacht
- Saturday 12th September - Clew Bay Half Marathon - Mayo - €42.80 - Rolling coastal roads around Louisburgh, complete with Atlantic views and a 2,200 year old dolmen along the route.
- Saturday 19th September - Céide Coast Atlantic Run Half Marathon - Mayo - €44 - A coastal journey from the Céide Fields past Ballycastle Beach and Downpatrick Head before finishing in the village.
- Saturday 26th September - Aughagower AC Half Marathon - Mayo - €50 - A new race through rolling countryside and the historic landscape once travelled by St Patrick.
Munster
- Sunday 20th September - Lahinch Half Marathon - Clare - €55 - A coastal loop through Liscannor and the Clare countryside, with the Atlantic never too far away.
- Saturday 26th September - IMRA Glen of Aherlow Trail Half Marathon - Tipperary - €35 (you'll need to pay an additional €10 IMRA membership fee if you are not already a member) - A 22.5km trail test with 300 metres of climbing and constant views of the Galtee Mountains.
Ulster
- Saturday 12th September - Break 4 the Border Half Marathon - Down - £47.50 - A point to point run from Newry to Carlingford Marina along the traffic free greenway beside Carlingford Lough.
- Saturday 12th September - Giant’s Causeway Coast Half Marathon - Antrim - £65 - A rugged trail race along the Causeway Coast with cliffs, beaches and some of Ireland’s finest coastal scenery.
- Saturday 26th September - Annaghmore Running Festival Half Marathon - Armagh - £25 - A friendly rural road race through Annaghmore and the surrounding mid Armagh countryside.
- Sunday 27th September - Monaghan Phoenix Marathon Festival Half Marathon - Monaghan - €30 - A measured forest course around Rossmore Park with refreshments waiting afterwards, because Monaghan knows what runners actually want.
Why Run a Half Marathon During Dublin Training?
A September half marathon gives you an opportunity to:
- Practise your breakfast, travel and warm up routine before a proper race morning.
- Test your gels, hydration and clothing without waiting until Dublin to find out something does not agree with you.
- Check that your planned marathon pace feels controlled rather than wildly optimistic.
- Complete part of your long run with company, marshals and water stations instead of plodding around alone.
- Add a little excitement to the training plan at the point when motivation can start to wobble.
The main thing is to decide what the race is for before the gun goes. It can be a controlled effort, a section at marathon pace or a genuine attempt at a personal best, but trying to do all three at once is asking for trouble.
Conclusion
Choose a half marathon that fits your training plan and treat it as preparation for Dublin. A fast course can help you judge your pace, while a tougher route can provide a serious training effort, but neither should leave you unable to run properly for the following fortnight.
If a personal best happens along the way, happy days. Just remember that the real target is still waiting for you in Dublin.
You can also find 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, ultras and plenty more on the Run Republic race calendar. It remains one of the most comprehensive running calendars in Ireland, and we will keep updating it as new events are announced. View the full calendar here.
