The Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon returns to the Phoenix Park this Sunday, September 20, after selling out in record time in May.
Thousands of elite athletes, club runners and recreational participants will take on the 13.1-mile course in the third and final event of the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Race Series.
The race will also incorporate the Dublin Athletics Half Marathon Road Championships.
Michael Brady of Raheny Shamrock AC will target a third podium finish in this year’s series after winning the Irish Life Fingal 10K and finishing second in the Irish Life Frank Duffy 10 Mile.
His challengers will include Emmett Jennings of Dundrum South Dublin AC, Wayne Waldron of Donore Harriers and Colm Roche of Celbridge AC.
Meghan Ryan of Dundrum South Dublin AC will start among the leading contenders in the women’s race. Her personal best of 75:11 is faster than the existing course record of 75:45, set by two-time Olympian Michelle Finn in 2024.
Irish Life will recognise runners finishing in 250th, 500th, 1,000th and 2,026th places with €50 vouchers.
Sports Direct, the Dublin Marathon Group’s Official Pacing Team Partner, will support runners aiming for finishing times from 90 minutes to two hours and 50 minutes.
The Fingal 10K, Frank Duffy 10 Mile and Dublin Half Marathon have all sold out this year. The Irish Life Dublin Marathon on October 25 is also sold out.
Sport for Business Perspective
Selling out every major event in the Dublin Marathon Group portfolio demonstrates the continuing strength of mass-participation running.
This creates a valuable sponsorship environment because the relationship with participants extends across training, preparation, race day and recovery. It offers deeper, longer engagement than the visibility generated by a single day of competition.
Irish Life’s milestone rewards are a relatively simple activation, but they extend recognition beyond the elite field and create additional stories throughout the race. Sports Direct’s pacing partnership also provides a practical service directly connected to participants’ goals.
The Race Series and Marathon are now one connected annual journey, with year-round potential across health, footwear, nutrition, technology, fundraising and workplace participation.
What could be better than that on multiple fronts?
Irish Life, the Dublin Marathon Group and Dublin City Council are full members of Sport for Business. Dublin City Council is the official partner for our coverage of Community Sport and Participation.
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Image Credit: Dublin Marathon Group
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