Dublin Marathon
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The Dublin Marathon is a marathon run every year in Dublin, Ireland, normally in late October, on a Monday which is a Public Holiday. Held since 1980, in 2005 there were about 10,000 race participants, half of whom were from overseas.
The course is generally reasonably flat. It starts at Nassau Street in the city center and concludes at Merrion Square, though exact routing varies.
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[edit] History
The race was founded in 1980 by a group led by Noel Carroll, who persuaded the Business Houses Athletic Association BHAA to take up the idea. In the first year, 2,100 took part, of whom 1,420 finished. Dick Hooper of Raheny club Raheny Shamrocks Athletic Club claimed first place, in a time of 2:16:14. The women's winner was Carey May who finished in 2:42:11. In mens second place was Neil Cusack, who returned in 1981 to post a winning time of 2:13:59.
The event record, shattered in 1982 by Jerry Kiernan in 2:13:45, is currently held by Aleksey Sokolov, a Russian national who ran the race in 2007 in a time of 2:09:07, the fastest Dublin Marathon since its inception. The women's record is by Ruth Kutol (from Kenya), being 2:27:22.
By 1988 the number of participants had increased to 8,700; up from the 4,000 the previous year. It was 2000 before the 1988 participation record was finally broken when 8,900 took part.
In 2001 the marathon became part of the Adidas Marathon Series.
A competitor died while running in the 2006 marathon. It is thought he died of heart failure. Approximately 11,000 took part in the 2007 event.
[edit] Prizes
The overall winner receives the Noel Carroll Memorial Trophy as well as €15,000 cash prize. Prizes are also given for first Irish finisher, first masters finisher and first team finishers. A €5,000 prize is also given to any competitor who breaks the Dublin marathon record.
