Somewhere around Clonskeagh, you might have sworn you were never doing another marathon. By Monday evening, you were looking at race calendars. By Wednesday, you were wondering if a marathon abroad could reasonably be described as a holiday.
It happens.
For runners who finished the Dublin Marathon with an appetite for more, the opening months of 2027 offer several possibilities. You could head to Madeira, plan a Spanish city break or stay closer to home for a very different sort of challenge in an Antrim forest.
These five events fall between late January and mid March, roughly three to five months after Dublin. That gives you something to work towards without waiting another year, although the right date will depend on your recovery and how much training you want to take on through the winter.
Funchal Marathon, Madeira
Sunday, January 31st, 2027
A marathon in Madeira at the end of January has an obvious attraction when your alternative is another wet Sunday morning at home.
Funchal is the earliest race on this list, falling 14 weeks after Dublin. Its road course uses repeated circuits, including sections around the city’s waterfront. The entry listing describes it as flat, but do look at the route before booking: there are multiple laps and turning points, which will appeal more to some runners than others.
This could suit someone who wants to combine another marathon with a few days away. There are also half marathon and shorter race options, useful if your travelling companion has no intention of spending their holiday running 42.2km.
The organiser lists marathon entry at €70 until October 31st, €75 throughout November and €90 during December, with registration scheduled to close at the end of December. Entries are currently available.
Check flights into Madeira and the full cost of the trip before committing. A reasonable race fee is only one part of the holiday budget.
If you want another marathon without booking flights, the Rabbit Run offers an option at Ballypatrick Forest near Ballycastle.
Organised by We Run Wild NI, the marathon consists of two laps on a mixture of forest trails and road, all within the forest and away from traffic. The route is marked, with a GPX file also available, and runners start and finish at the same location.
This is a change of scene from Dublin. Go into it for the forest setting and the challenge of a different surface, rather than expecting a direct comparison with your road marathon time. A February outing in Antrim also calls for a rather different packing list from a Mediterranean trip.
The organiser’s calendar currently advertises registration as open. Half marathon and 10km options are available too. Check the selected distance and full payment amount when entering, as the booking system includes deposit options. Runners must carry their own refillable bottles and comply with the event’s kit requirements.
Nothing says romance quite like asking your partner to hold your spare socks while you run a marathon.
Castellón falls on Valentine’s Day, 16 weeks after Dublin, and offers another Spanish option for runners considering a February race. The officially certified urban course starts on Avenida Vila Real and finishes in Parque Ribalta.
The entry price makes it worth a look. Registration is currently open at €55 until November 15th, rising to €60 until December 31st and €90 from January until February 7th. A compulsory €5 day licence applies to runners without one of the qualifying Spanish licences, so most visiting Irish runners should budget for that too.
For travel planning, compare arrivals into Castellón and Valencia, factoring in the onward journey and accommodation. The cheapest flight is less impressive if it leaves you with an awkward transfer before race day.
This is one to consider if you fancy a Spanish marathon and are happy to look beyond the most familiar city names.
Malta gives Dublin finishers 18 weeks between marathons, with a race beginning in Mdina and finishing on the waterfront in Sliema.
There is one detail to check before getting carried away with the prospect of a few days abroad: the full marathon has a strict five hour limit. Intermediate time checks also apply. If you expect to need longer, this is not the right full marathon to book.
The published route information describes an overall descent towards the coast, but that does not mean the entire race is downhill. There is climbing along the way, and the organisers say the final 2027 route remains subject to confirmation.
Applications are open, with entry costing €55 until November 30th and €60 from December 1st until the scheduled closing date of January 15th, subject to availability. Transport from Sliema to the start can be booked for an extra €5. The marathon starts at 6.45am, so that holiday lie in will have to wait.
If January feels too soon and February still sounds a bit ambitious, Barcelona offers a later target, 20 weeks after Dublin.
Its urban course takes runners through the city, making it a natural option for anyone who wants another city marathon alongside a weekend away. The organiser also lists pacers for several target times, from 2:45 through to 4:30.
The later date gives you more room in the calendar before your next race, although it still means preparing through winter. Those long runs will not organise themselves just because you have booked somewhere appealing for March.
At the time of checking, the official registration form offers standard race entry at €100, excluding management fees. More expensive packages include extras, so check what you are selecting before paying.
Barcelona would suit someone who wants the next marathon to feel like an occasion, with time away built around it. Price accommodation alongside the entry and flights before settling on a budget.
Having another marathon to look forward to can help fill the gap Dublin leaves behind. It does not mean you need to return immediately to a demanding training schedule.
Give yourself time to recover and think about what you actually want from the next one. A faster time, a forest run and a weekend abroad are different goals, and each could lead you towards a different race.
There is also the small matter of training through Christmas. Before entering, be honest about how enthusiastic you will feel about a long run on a dark January morning.
The medal is the appealing part. Getting out the door is still your job.
Dates, advertised entry availability and fees were checked on October 31st, 2026. Confirm your entry and current event details before booking travel.
