A major test before the 2026 Dublin Marathon arrives in Co. Meath this Sunday as the Life Style Sports Irish ¾ Marathon returns to Longwood.
Taking place exactly three weeks before thousands of runners head for the Dublin Marathon start line, the 31.646km event gives participants the chance to rehearse their pacing, fuelling and race routine over a distance long enough to expose any weaknesses, but short enough to leave time for recovery.
Now in its 15th year and its eighth in Longwood, the race has become a familiar date in the autumn calendar. Entries remain available at the time of writing, although online registration is listed to close at 00:00 on Friday October 2nd.
Three Quarters of a Marathon?
The distance is what gives this event its identity. At 19.664 miles, it sits well beyond a half marathon but stops before the full marathon distance begins to take its heaviest toll.
For runners preparing for Dublin, Sunday can provide a proper rehearsal. Breakfast timing, travel plans, clothing, gels, hydration and target pace can all be tested in a race setting. The organised course, timing system, water stations and other runners should make it easier to settle into a rhythm than it would be during a solo long run.
The main challenge will be keeping the bigger goal in mind. Runners heading to Dublin three weeks later do not necessarily need to attack every kilometre in Longwood. A controlled effort at planned marathon pace may offer more value than an all out race followed by a difficult recovery.
That question gives Sunday an interesting edge. Some runners will chase a time, others will treat it as their final long training run, and plenty will fall somewhere between the two.
A Course Made for Controlled Pacing
The certified 31.65km route follows an anticlockwise loop through the countryside around Longwood and along stretches of the Grand Canal corridor.
With less than 80 metres of total elevation gain, the course is gently rolling rather than severely hilly. That should allow runners to establish a consistent effort while still facing enough variation to test tired legs in the closing kilometres.
The race starts at Longwood GAA Grounds and finishes at the Village Green. All runners begin at 10.00am, with pacers provided for athletes working towards sub 3, sub 3.30, sub 4 and sub 4.30 marathon targets.
Those pacing groups should be particularly useful for Dublin entrants. Sitting with the relevant group offers an opportunity to judge how the intended marathon effort feels without having to monitor every split alone.
Fuelling Practice Could Prove Just as Valuable
At this stage of a marathon build, runners should have a fair idea of which drinks and gels suit them. Sunday provides one final chance to put that plan under pressure before Dublin.
Water stations are positioned at approximately 5km, 10.5km, 15km, 21.5km and 26.5km. Water will be served in cups, so runners who intend to use the event as a full rehearsal should account for that when planning their hydration.
The same applies to pace. The opening kilometres may feel comfortable, but the final third of the race is where the useful information should emerge. Holding form and concentration after 25km will tell runners far more than charging through the first hour.
Race Essentials
Event: Life Style Sports Irish ¾ Marathon 2026
Date: Sunday October 4th
Location: Longwood, Co. Meath
Start: Longwood GAA Grounds
Finish: Village Green, Longwood
Start time: 10.00am
Distance: 31.646km or 19.664 miles
Terrain: Road
Course: Certified anticlockwise countryside and canal loop
Total elevation gain: Less than 80 metres
Time limit: 4 hours 30 minutes
Pacers: Sub 3, sub 3.30, sub 4 and sub 4.30 marathon pace
Entry fee: €65, with a €2 one day licence required for runners without annual Athletics Ireland membership
Entry deadline: Online sales are listed to close at 00:00 on Friday October 2nd
Included: Chip timing, bespoke running top, finisher medal and finish refreshments
Entries Remain Open
Late entrants will need to collect their race number, as the postal deadline has passed. The organiser advises runners to arrive well before the 10.00am start, with the bag drop beside Longwood GAA Grounds opening from 8.00am.
At €65, this is not a cheap training run. The appeal lies in receiving a certified course, pacers, support stations and a genuine race environment at the point when Dublin preparation becomes very real.
For marathon runners, Longwood is less about proving fitness than confirming that the plan works. Three weeks later, there will be another 10.5km still to run. Knowing when to hold back on Sunday might be the most useful rehearsal of all.
