Why Winter is the Best Time to Sign Up for the Belfast Marathon (No, Seriously)

It’s winter. The days are short, the nights are long, and the only running you’re doing is to the thermostat when you realize you’ve forgotten to turn the heating on. But here’s the thing, this miserable, frosty, dark time of year? It’s perfect for signing up for the Belfast City Marathon. Why? Because nothing says “I’m not afraid of winter” like committing to running 26.2 miles in the heart of Northern Ireland.

And with Christmas around the corner, what better gift can you give yourself than a solid reason to avoid Aunt Maureen’s sixth mince pie? Let’s talk about why you should sign up now (or commit if you haven’t already) and how you can use winter to your advantage, before that box of roses takes over your life.

Why Sign Up?

An Excuse to Eat All the Carbs
Pasta? Absolutely necessary. Bread? Vital. A family-sized pizza? Part of the training plan. You’re not overeating, you’re fueling. And science says you need it. So, go ahead, carb-load like it’s your job.

Why the Belfast City Marathon?

Apart from the obvious bragging rights, the Belfast City Marathon is a race like no other. You’ve run through a city with a fascinating if not layered history, electric crowds in all parts of the city, and just the right amount of hills to make you regret your life choices for a second before feeling completely invincible.

The People
Belfast knows how to put on a show. Strangers will cheer your name, offer you jelly babies, and if you’re lucky, someone might even slip you a cheeky pint at mile 22. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll love every second of it.

Winter: The Best Time to Train (Seriously!)

A New Year’s Resolution You Can Start Early
Why wait for January to announce, “New Year, New Me”? Be the overachiever who gets a head start. By the time everyone else is struggling through “Dry January,” you’ll already be in peak form, hydrated, motivated, and slightly insufferable.

The Christmas Connection

Let's face it, training for a marathon is the perfect excuse to skip those insufferable Christmas parties.
“Oh, I’d love to stay, but I’ve got a 10K in the morning.” Boom. Instant excuse.

And Christmas dinner? Don’t even worry about it. Every roast potato, every pig in a blanket, every extra helping of stuffing? It's all just “fueling the engine.” You’re not overeating; you’re carb-loading. Granny might give you a side-eye when you pile your plate high for the third time, but hey, she doesn’t need to know about your marathon goals.

If You’re Thinking About Signing Up...

Let’s be honest, if you’re sitting there thinking, “I couldn’t possibly” or “I’m not fit enough,” then take a moment to look at yourself and say, “Nonsense!” Humans landed on the moon. You can jog around Belfast.

The Atmosphere is Electric: Belfast will be buzzing on marathon day. Strangers will cheer your name, there’ll be bands, and at mile 19, someone will definitely offer you jelly babies (whether you want them or not).

What Stage Should You Be At?

If you’ve just signed up, don’t panic. You’ve got loads of time. Here’s how to get through winter:

February: By now, you’re in full swing. You’ll start looking forward to your long runs (or at least not dreading them), and you’ll probably convince yourself that hills actually build character. Spoiler alert: They do.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’ve just signed up, you’re on the fence, or you just need one more nudge, here it is: Do it. Winter is your training ally, Christmas is your carb-loading playground, and Belfast is waiting to show you a good time.

Commit now, and by the time spring rolls around, you’ll be fitter, stronger, and ready to show the city who’s boss.

Go on, sign up. Belfast is waiting. And so is the finish line. Just don’t forget your thermal socks for the rest of the winter.