Run Phoenix Park by effort
The long, gradual rise to Castleknock comes early, when you feel strong. Let the pace slow a little there. You’ll get it back on the drop to Chapelizod.
Dublin, Ireland · Sunday, October 25, 2026
Dublin Marathon race guide
Dublin is a friendly, rolling city course with a generous seven-hour limit. It starts downhill from Leeson Street, crosses the Liffey, climbs through Phoenix Park, loops south through Inchicore, Crumlin and Terenure, and saves its hardest climbs for the last 10 km on Clonskeagh and Roebuck Roads and “Heartbreak Hill” near 35 km, before a flat run along Merrion Road to the finish.
Pace plan
Plan your race on this course
Set your goal and start time. Your checkpoints, the time of day you’ll reach each one, and the course guide below all update to match.
Build your plan01
Pacing
A little slower on the climbs, a little faster on the downhills and flats, for the same finish time. Based on where this course climbs. Treat it as an effort guide.
Enter your wave’s start time from your e-ticket or race programme. You need to be in your wave by 8:00 a.m.
Splits
Your Dublin Marathon02
Average pace
4:59/km
- First half
- 1:45:12
- Second half
- 1:44:48
- Finish line
Hover or tap a bar to see that km.
| Checkpoint | Elapsed |
|---|---|
| The Liffey3 km · After the first climb. Settle in | 14:48 |
| Castleknock11 km · Course high point. Behind pace here is fine | 55:16 |
| Halfway, Crumlin Road21.1 km · Even pace, or a little behind | 1:45:12 |
| Terenure30 km · Save something for what’s next | 2:29:33 |
| Heartbreak Hill35 km · The last big climb | 2:54:26 |
| RTÉ, Nutley Lane38 km · Flat from here. Race it | 3:09:08 |
| Finish42.2 km · Pepper Canister Church | 3:30:00 |
Save it to your phone, or send the link to the people cheering for you.
- Date
- Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Start time
- Four waves; your wave’s time is on your e-ticket
- Start
- Leeson Street Lower
- Finish
- Mount Street Upper, by the Pepper Canister Church
- Time limit
- 7 hours
- Elevation gain
- About 150 m
- Official site
- irishlifedublinmarathon.ie
- Profile
- Rolling, with a long rise through Phoenix Park and the hardest climbs at km 32–35
- Best for
- A big, friendly city marathon with a 7-hour limit
- Biggest mistake
- Pushing Phoenix Park, then having nothing for Heartbreak Hill
- Time limit
- 7 hours
The course
The course, at your pace
- km0–6
Georgian Dublin to the Liffey Rolling
A downhill start from Leeson Street past St Stephen’s Green and through the Liberties by St Patrick’s Cathedral. Patrick Street brings the first climb toward Christchurch, then it’s down to the Liffey and over to the Northside.
5:00 /km6 km at 30:03
- km6–16
Phoenix Park & Castleknock Climb
Into Phoenix Park at around 6 km, past Dublin Zoo and up Chesterfield Avenue. The course rises gradually to its high point, about 69 m near Castleknock around 11 km, then re-enters the park at Knockmaroon Gate and drops to Chapelizod. Run the long rise by effort.
4:58 /km16 km at 1:19:40
- km16–22
Inchicore, Kilmainham & Crumlin Rolling
Through Inchicore and past Kilmainham Gaol, then gently up and down toward Dolphin’s Barn and the Crumlin Road, where you pass halfway.
5:01 /km22 km at 1:49:47
- km22–30
Terenure Flat
The flattest stretch: Cromwellsfort and Fortfield Roads, then downhill along Templeogue Road into Terenure, completing 30 km. Bank energy here, not time.
4:58 /km30 km at 2:29:33
- km30–36
Milltown, Clonskeagh & Heartbreak Hill Climb
Down Dartry Road, up Milltown Road, then a long climb of about 3 km along Clonskeagh and Roebuck Roads that tops out at “Heartbreak Hill” near 35 km. Shorten your stride and keep your effort steady. The downhill on Fosters Avenue follows.
4:58 /km36 km at 2:59:22
- km36–42.2
Merrion Road to the finish Flat
Onto Stillorgan Road and over a flyover, then Nutley Lane at RTÉ around 38 km, and a straight, flat run along Merrion Road past the RDS to the finish at the Pepper Canister Church.
4:57 /kmFinish at 3:30:00
Every km split for 3:30:00
| Km | Terrain | Pace /km | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 4:57 | 4:57 |
| 2 | Flat | 4:57 | 9:53 |
| 3 | Flat | 4:57 | 14:50 |
| 4 | Climb | 5:05 | 19:55 |
| 5 | Climb | 5:06 | 25:01 |
| 6 | Flat | 5:00 | 30:02 |
| 7 | Flat | 5:02 | 35:04 |
| 8 | Flat | 5:04 | 40:08 |
| 9 | Flat | 5:00 | 45:08 |
| 10 | Flat | 5:01 | 50:09 |
| 11 | Flat | 5:04 | 55:14 |
| 12 | Downhill | 4:55 | 1:00:09 |
| 13 | Downhill | 4:52 | 1:05:01 |
| 14 | Downhill | 4:54 | 1:09:55 |
| 15 | Downhill | 4:53 | 1:14:48 |
| 16 | Downhill | 4:52 | 1:19:41 |
| 17 | Flat | 5:03 | 1:24:43 |
| 18 | Flat | 5:02 | 1:29:45 |
| 19 | Flat | 4:57 | 1:34:42 |
| 20 | Flat | 4:59 | 1:39:41 |
| 21 | Flat | 5:01 | 1:44:42 |
| 22 | Climb | 5:05 | 1:49:47 |
| 23 | Climb | 5:03 | 1:54:50 |
| 24 | Flat | 5:00 | 1:59:50 |
| 25 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:04:47 |
| 26 | Flat | 4:58 | 2:09:45 |
| 27 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:14:45 |
| 28 | Flat | 4:57 | 2:19:42 |
| 29 | Flat | 4:55 | 2:24:37 |
| 30 | Flat | 4:56 | 2:29:33 |
| 31 | Flat | 4:55 | 2:34:28 |
| 32 | Flat | 4:55 | 2:39:23 |
| 33 | Flat | 4:59 | 2:44:22 |
| 34 | Flat | 5:00 | 2:49:22 |
| 35 | Flat | 5:03 | 2:54:25 |
| 36 | Downhill | 4:57 | 2:59:22 |
| 37 | Downhill | 4:52 | 3:04:14 |
| 38 | Flat | 4:55 | 3:09:09 |
| 39 | Flat | 4:56 | 3:14:04 |
| 40 | Flat | 4:57 | 3:19:01 |
| 41 | Flat | 5:00 | 3:24:01 |
| 42 | Flat | 5:00 | 3:29:01 |
| Finish | Flat | 5:00 | 3:30:00 |
Lap your watch at each marker; GPS distance drifts over 26.2 miles. Even-pace card for 3:30:00
Race strategy
How to pace the Dublin Marathon
Save energy for 32–35 km
The hardest climbs come late, on Clonskeagh and Roebuck Roads and Heartbreak Hill. Runners who arrive there with something left pass a lot of people.
Finish strong on Merrion Road
After Fosters Avenue the last 6 km are flat or downhill. If you paced the hills well, this is where you can pick it up.
The last few weeks
Train for this course
- Put a sustained climb in the last third of your long runs to rehearse Clonskeagh and Heartbreak Hill.
- Practice running gradual climbs by effort in the first half of long runs.
- Train in wind and rain if you can. Late October in Dublin can bring both.
Race-day weather
Late October in Dublin is usually cool, around 8–13°C, often with wind and a chance of showers. Dress for the start, and expect breezier stretches in Phoenix Park and along Merrion Road.
Race morning
Getting to the start
- Be in your colored wave at Leeson Street Lower by 8:00 a.m. Your race number color shows your wave.
- Bag drop is on Merrion Square North, with opening times by wave. Allow 15–20 minutes to walk to the start.
- Only official Dublin Marathon bags with your baggage label are accepted.
- After the finish, follow the one-way route back to the baggage areas. The family meeting point is at Lincoln Place.
Questions runners ask.
How hilly is Dublin?
It rolls. The main climbs are the long rise through Phoenix Park to about 69 m near 11 km, and the late climbs on Clonskeagh and Roebuck Roads up to Heartbreak Hill near 35 km. The last 6 km are flat or downhill.
What is the time limit?
Seven hours. Tail walkers support runners near the cut-off.
Where is Heartbreak Hill?
Around the 35 km mark, at the end of a roughly 3 km climb along Clonskeagh and Roebuck Roads, just before the downhill on Fosters Avenue.
When does my wave start?
Wave times are on your e-ticket and in the race programme. Be in your wave by 8:00 a.m.
Last checked October 20, 2026. This is an independent guide from Miles. We’re not affiliated with the race organizer. Start times, cutoffs, and logistics can change, so confirm everything on the official race site before race day.
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