Most runners spend race day trying to avoid traffic. At Mondello Park, the road is closed because it is normally occupied by racing cars.
The Trasna Race Series 10K & Half Marathon will take over the County Kildare motor racing circuit on Sunday December 6th, on the smooth tarmac of one of Ireland's most recognisable sporting venues.
It is a proper change from the usual town centre start line. There are no public roads, no moving traffic and no impatient driver wondering why several hundred people in shorts have appeared in front of them.
Entries remain open for both distances, with the official participant list already containing more than 1,800 names.
Swap The Racing Line For A Start Line
Mondello Park is normally associated with engines, tyre smoke and considerably faster lap times. On December 6th, runners will have the circuit to themselves.
The event takes place on a completely private, traffic free course. Organisers describe it as fast, flat and accurately measured, making it an appealing prospect for runners targeting a personal best before the year is out.
The controlled setting is also part of the attraction. There are no junctions carrying live traffic and no changes between road, path and trail. It is smooth tarmac from start to finish, with the familiar bends and landmarks of the circuit returning as the race unfolds.
The exact lap arrangements have not yet been published on the registration page, so entrants should watch for the final race information closer to the date.
Choose The 10K Or Half Marathon
The 10K is the more accessible option and gives runners the novelty of racing at Mondello without committing to the longer distance. Entry costs €40.
The half marathon costs €60 and offers a more demanding morning on the circuit. A flat course removes one excuse, though 21.1 kilometres still has a reliable way of finding another.
Both races begin at 10am and will be professionally timed. Water stations and full event support will be available around the course.
Each entrant also receives an official Trasna Race Series jersey and an exclusive finisher's medal.
Race Alone Or Bring A Team
The Trasna format gives runners more than one way to compete. Entrants can race as individuals, join with another runner in the doubles or mixed doubles categories, or represent a club, gym, company or larger team.
For doubles, both finishing times are combined to create the team result. Runners still receive their own individual time and placing, but also gain another result to argue about on the journey home.
The series also includes an overall club competition, where every runner contributes points, and a fastest club category based on the combined performances of a club's first six finishers.
That structure gives the event a useful social element. A runner can chase a time alone, enter with a training partner or turn the trip to Mondello into a club outing.
Part Of A Growing Race Series
The Mondello event forms part of the Trasna Race Series, which began with a 5K in Naas before moving into longer distances and new formats.
The broader series includes individual standings, team competitions and league points across its races. Mondello is the latest step in that idea, pairing conventional road race distances with a venue that very few runners will have experienced from the middle of the track.
It also gives December racers something other than a festive fun run. There is nothing wrong with a Santa hat and a mince pie, but some runners would sooner finish the year chasing a quick time on a motor racing circuit.
Entries Are Still Open
The official ticket page is currently accepting entries for both races. The 10K costs €40 and the half marathon costs €60.
Interest is already strong, so leaving it until the final few days would be a gamble. The venue is unusual, the course is traffic free and the two distance choices give it broad appeal.
For runners searching for a final target before Christmas, Mondello offers something that will not feel like another lap of the local roads. The engines will be quiet, the circuit will be closed and, for one Sunday morning, the quickest thing around the track may well be wearing carbon plated shoes.
Race Essentials
- Event: Trasna Mondello Park 10K And Half Marathon
- Date: Sunday December 6th, 2026
- Start Time: 10am
- Location: Mondello Park, County Kildare
- Distances: 10K and half marathon
- Course: Flat, accurately measured motor racing circuit
- 10K Entry: €40
- Half Marathon Entry: €60
- Entry Includes: Race jersey, finisher's medal, professional timing and water stations
- Registration: Enter The Trasna Mondello Park Races
