Everything You Need To Know About The Frank Duffy 10 Mile

Entries for the Dublin Race Series open on Monday 23rd February. With that date looming, now is a good moment to lock in your summer race plans.

For many runners, the next logical step after the Fingal 10K (which we looked at on Monday here) is the Frank Duffy 10 Mile. It sits in the middle of the Dublin Race Series, feels like proper road racing, and gives you a solid taste of what longer efforts feel like before the half marathon and the Dublin Marathon.

The Basics

Location: Phoenix Park, Dublin
Date: Saturday, 15 August 2026
Start Time: 9:00am
Distance: 10 miles (≈ 16.1 km)

A Bit Of History

The Frank Duffy 10 Mile has been a staple of the Irish Life Dublin Race Series for years, bringing thousands of runners through Phoenix Park and giving serious club runners a real road race target in the summer. Held annually in August, it retains a strong reputation for good organisation, lively atmosphere, and a course that rewards honest pacing.

Where It Fits In The Race Series

This event sits between the Fingal 10K in July and the Dublin Half Marathon in September. For marathon trainees, it’s a key distance that tests endurance and race-day pacing over a distance that matters but doesn’t derail training. For others, it is a big-race experience with enough challenge in it to feel like an achievement.

Entry Fee

As with the Fingal 10K, exact 2026 pricing has not yet been published. Last year’s entry fee was €37.50 for this race, an increase on earlier seasons, and that gives a reasonable indication of what to expect for this year. Runners can hope the fee stays around that level, but until the organisers confirm the 2026 structure when entries open on Monday, the final figure remains unconfirmed.

Entry represents strong value for a fully organised, chip timed city race on this scale.

The Course

The Frank Duffy 10 Mile course takes place almost entirely within Phoenix Park, one of Europe’s largest enclosed urban parks and a favourite setting for Dublin’s road races. The route uses wide avenues and park roads that are runnable and fair. It is not pancake flat, but it's challenging enough without being feel brutal either on a good day.

Pacers

Pacers are provided on race day with target finish times at sensible bands (e.g. 70, 80, 90 and 100 minutes), which can help keep an honest tempo and keep you on track.

What You Get For Your Entry

In line with the Dublin Race Series model, finishers in the Frank Duffy 10 Mile receive:

-  Official race T shirt
-  Goodie bag

If the organisers decide to make any changes (for example, to include medals), they will confirm those details closer to the race.

The Practical Bits

Race numbers are posted out in advance, usually around ten days before race day. Lose yours and there will be a replacement fee to cover. Timing is chip based and attached to your bib.

There is no parking allowed inside Phoenix Park on race morning, so runners should plan transport carefully. A bike park and shuttle bus service at Parkgate Street have been provided in past editions to help people get to the start area. Buggies are not permitted.

Conclusion

Entries open in just four days now.

If you’re thinking about moving on from the 10K to something that will test both steady pace and endurance in a fast but scenic setting, the Frank Duffy 10 Mile on Saturday, 15 August 2026 is a perfect next step.

Get your entry in. See where your summer fitness actually is. Then set your sights on the Dublin Half Marathon and, if you’re still feeling brave and haven't sold your entry, the Dublin Marathon after that.

Images: Courtesy of Irish Life Dublin Marathon