The Border Half Marathon returns on Sunday December 6th with a new organiser, a new event base and, for the first time, a six mile race joining the programme.
Around 1,000 runners are expected at Cloonlara GAA on the Clare side of the county boundary, where the half marathon will begin at 9am before the new six mile event sets off at 9.30am.
The race has always had one of the more literal names on the calendar. The half marathon begins in Clare, crosses into Limerick and returns to Clare for the finish. This year, runners who like the idea but are not in the market for 13.1 miles can finally take part over a shorter distance.
That new option is the main addition for 2026.
A New Six Mile Race For 2026
The six mile event gives The Border a much broader appeal without turning the morning into a crowded programme of distances.
It is long enough to provide a proper road race but manageable for runners who are not ready to take on a December half marathon. It should also suit anyone looking for one final competitive outing before Christmas without committing the rest of the day to tired legs and a very slow walk towards the sofa.
The six mile race will begin at 9.30am, half an hour after the main event, with Clonlara GAA serving as the event base. Entry costs €40 and registration is currently open.
Organisers have already shared the proposed route through the event’s social channels, with further race information expected closer to December.
For clubs, running groups and families travelling together, the two distances also make the event easier to fit around different goals. One runner can attack the half while another takes on six miles, with both starting and finishing their morning at the same venue.
Why It Is Called The Border
The half marathon begins and ends at Clonlara GAA in County Clare, but the route does not stay there.
Runners leave Clare, cross the county line into Limerick and later return to Clare for the finish. It is a simple idea, but it gives the race an identity that most rural road events cannot easily copy.
The 21.1km course follows quiet country roads and has been accurately measured. The organisers describe it as a route suited to runners chasing a personal best, with professional chip timing and instant results provided after the finish.
The roads will be fully marshalled, with water stations positioned around the course. Half marathon runners will have a three hour time limit, while pacers will cover targets from 1 hour 30 minutes through to 2 hours.
That should give runners a useful group to follow during the quieter sections of the course. December racing can be lonely when the field spreads out, so having an experienced pacer ahead can save plenty of watch checking and even more doubtful mental arithmetic.
One Last Half Marathon Before Christmas
Early December is an awkward point in the road racing calendar. Autumn marathons are finished, Christmas plans are beginning to take over and training can easily drift into a holding pattern until January.
The Border offers one final clear target. For runners who completed an autumn marathon, six weeks is enough time to recover and decide if there is one more strong race left in the legs. For those who spent the autumn building fitness without a major event, the half marathon provides a chance to put that work to use before the year ends.
The setting helps. This is not a large city race with packed streets and a complicated start area. The field is capped, the roads are rural and the race returns to the same GAA grounds where the morning begins.
Every finisher will receive a custom medal designed for the 2026 event. The half marathon costs €50, while the new six mile option costs €40.
Entries Remain Open
Registration remains available for both distances. The half marathon starts at 9am and the six mile race follows at 9.30am, giving each event its own start rather than sending everybody onto the road together.
Race pack collection arrangements will be emailed to registered runners once confirmed. Anyone travelling should also watch the organiser’s updates for final parking, route and arrival information.
The half marathon remains the event’s centrepiece, but the six mile addition changes the choice facing runners this year. The Border is no longer a case of taking on 13.1 miles or staying at home.
Two counties, two distances and one finish at Clonlara GAA make this a strong final target for 2026. The only remaining decision is how much of the border route you fancy running.
Race Essentials
- Event: The Border Half Marathon And Six Mile
- Date: Sunday December 6th, 2026
- Venue: Clonlara GAA, County Clare
- Half Marathon Start: 9am
- Six Mile Start: 9.30am
- Half Marathon Distance: 21.1km
- Half Marathon Entry: €50
- Six Mile Entry: €40
- Course: Quiet country roads crossing from Clare into Limerick and returning to Clare
- Half Marathon Route: View The Route On Strava
- Half Marathon Time Limit: 3 Hours
- Pacers: From 1 Hour 30 Minutes To 2 Hours
- Timing: Professional Chip Timing With Instant Results
- Field Limit: 1,200 Runners Across Both Events
- Entry Status: Open At The Time Of Writing
- Enter: Here
Image: drone.irish
