Autumn Running in Ireland: Dublin Marathon, Mountain Races and the Christmas Calendar
Summer is over, and for Irish runners that means one thing: the best racing stretch of the year is here. The autumn and winter calendar is stacked — here's what to run, watch and enter over the next four months.
The Dublin Marathon (25 October)
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon is the summit of the Irish running year, with 22,000 runners taking over the streets of the capital. If you're running it, you're deep in taper territory now — trust the training, protect your sleep, and rehearse your fueling on every remaining long run.
If you're not running it, get to the course anyway. The crowd support on the drag up through the Phoenix Park is something every Irish runner should experience at least once.
The Autumn Marathon and Half Scene
Dublin isn't the only show in town. The autumn calendar is rich with big-distance options:
- Tralee Half Marathon and Shane's Castle Marathon — same day as Dublin, for those who want a different stage (25 October)
- Clontarf Half Marathon Autumn (14 November) — a fast, flat northside half that doubles as the perfect post-Dublin target
- Run the Line (14 November) — a unique fundraising race along the old Dublin tram line for Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue
- Seeley Cup 10k, Ormeau Park, Belfast (28 November) — one of Ireland's oldest and most competitive 10ks
Mountain Racing's Winter Season
The Irish Mountain Running Association doesn't stop when the clocks go back — it gets better. Night races, navigation challenges and the wild Western Way:
- IMRA Night Challenge series — Pier Gates (9 October) and Glendalough (23 October) under headtorch
- Nav Challenges — self-navigation races across Dublin/Wicklow, Wicklow and the Mournes
- IMRA Western Way Ultra (14 November) — 62.5km point-to-point from Maam to Leenane, one of the country's most dramatic races, with a 30k option for the sane
- IMRA Glanageenty (5 December) — half marathon, 10k and 5k options in a Kerry forest that drains the legs and lifts the soul
- NIMRA Turkey Trot (26 December) — the Mournes' answer to the St Stephen's Day walk
HYROX Keeps Growing
The hybrid fitness phenomenon shows no sign of slowing. HYROX Dublin 2026 lands at the RDS on 11 November, and simulations are running every few weeks around the country — Hyrox Kildare 6.0 (10 October) and the Killarneys Fitness Simulation series in Kerry among them. If you've been curious, a simulation is the ideal first taste.
The Christmas Calendar
Christmas races are an Irish tradition and the entries are already open:
- Santa Dash Dublin (6 December) — 5k and 10k festive dashes
- Wicklow Santa Dash (12 December) and Run Run Rudolph in Kildare (12–13 December), which now includes a half marathon
- Fields of Athenry 10K (26 December) — 40+ years of St Stephen's Day heritage on the streets of Athenry
- Grange Fermoy AC New Year's Eve 10K (31 December) — see out 2026 on the road
Early 2027: Book Now
If Christmas feels far off, remember that Donadea 50k 2027 (13 February) sells out every year, and the Galway Women's Mini Marathon (1 February) is already open for the St Brigid's weekend. Planning a spring marathon? The World Half Marathon Festival in Kildare (9–10 January) offers a rare double-weekend of halves and marathons as a mid-winter fitness test.
Find Your Next Race
The enduroeire calendar features races across all 32 counties — road, trail, mountain, HYROX and everything between. Head to the calendar, set your county and distance, and line up your winter of racing.
See you at the start line.