The evenings are shrinking. There’s a damp smell off the pavements that says summer has packed up and legged it. The Dublin Marathon bibs are long gone and, if you were banking on a late transfer, that ship sailed weeks ago. Galway Bay on 4 October? Sold out. You start scrolling through race calendars with the same dread as checking your bank balance after a weekend in Temple Bar. Nothing.
This is the time of year when plenty of runners quietly shelve their big mileage plans. Maybe a couple of parkruns, maybe a turkey trot in December if you’re feeling energetic. But if you’re one of the die-hards who still wants to squeeze in a proper marathon before the clocks go back, you’re probably thinking: it’s over.
Hold your horses, there still is a way to get your marathon fix this October.
Enter the McKinney Games Marathon
The McKinney Games Marathon place on the same date as the Galway Bay Marathon, Saturday the 4th of October, but just (a bit) up the road at the Eikon Centre near Lisburn, about twenty minutes from Belfast.
It’s not a trail sufferfest. It’s road, looped, and flat enough to keep your quads screaming bloody murder.
The course starts near the Eikon Centre before looping around the Maze area and the Down Royal Racecourse. Three laps, and no mad hills to ruin your pacing plan. When you’re a few gels deep and your brain is working on dial-up speed, predictable loops are your best mate.
For anyone in Northern Ireland or a quick hop up the motorway from Dublin, this is about as hassle-free as a marathon gets. No overnight stays unless you fancy one. No 5 a.m. bus roulette. Park at the Eikon, grab your bib (unless it’s being delivered?), and you’re away.
An Affordable Late-Season Marathon That Actually Works
The timing is bang on: three weeks before Dublin.
If you’re desperate for one last big 26.2 to cap the year, or want a structured long run without playing race organiser yourself, this is your window. For runners who treat autumn as “one more go before the headtorch season,” it’s ideal.
And the price? £49.50 (just under €60).
Compare that to the €115 you’d cough up for Dublin, it’s incredible value. Even with a bit of fuel money or a hotel splurge, it still comes out cheaper than the capital’s big show.
The Wildcard: Prize Envelopes
Here’s the kicker. Every finisher gets a sealed envelope. Inside: anything from a token freebie to a slice of the £100,000 prize pot. Forget chasing a podium. You can plod five hour marathon and still walk away with a holiday voucher or a wad of cash.
It levels the playing field in a way most races never do. Normally the only prize for middle of the pack mortals is a banana, water and a participation medal. At McKinney, you could be halfway through your recovery burger when you find out you’ve bagged a few hundred quid. That’s worth the entry fee alone.
Why do the McKinney Games Marathon?
Because you didn’t get a Dublin bib. Because Galway’s full. Because you know you’ll sulk all winter if you don’t bag a marathon this year. And because nothing says “October well spent” like ticking off 26.2 miles and maybe leaving with more than a banana.
Maybe you’ve had a sneaky good training block and want a proper benchmark. Or maybe you just want to finish a year that started with great intentions and a few too many pints with something to show for it.
Whatever the reason, the McKinney Games Marathon fits the bill. It’s accessible, affordable, and just the right side of flat. It doesn’t demand you remortgage the house for travel or gear. It’s a chance to end the running year on your own terms and maybe with an envelope that pays for the celebratory takeaway..
Enter here
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