In 2014, the start for the Cork City Half-Marathon moved from Mahon back closer to point closer to the centre of the city. It then joins in with the usual Marathon route at about the 2 mile mark.
The start point for the Half-Marathon is about 800m from the city hall and is very close to the third changeover point for the relay event.
The start is near Kennedy Park...
Almost straight way, you come to the Victoria Road roundabout where you stay left...
You then start the small loop with the Elysian building in the distance...
After another 100m or so, you take a sharp right next to Shalom Park...
...down a narrow road before turning right onto Albert Road...
...and from here, it's only about 100m back to the Victoria Roundabout and the end of the small loop.
From the roundabout, you head back towards the start line but before you get there, you take a left for Monahan Road....roughly 700m or so into the race.
The next section is on a reasonably wide road so there is plenty of time to pass out any slower runners in front of you. At 1.5 miles, you leave the road and go on to a narrow footpath...
...wide enough for about 3-4 runners...
This path brings you down by the Atlantic Pond...
At the end, you come to the first incline on the half-marathon course. Up to now, it's been dead flat. Now there is a sharp left and a short climb about 40m long.
At the top, you turn right onto the walkway and about 30m later, you join the full marathon course on the Marina
Very soon you pass the 2 mile mark. The Marina is one of the nicest parts of the course as you run alongside the River Lee...
From here, it's flat as you run past Pairc Ui Chaoimh, then down Centre Park Road and back to Victoria Road roundabout where you were earlier...
Just around the corner is the relay changeover point for the marathon.
To see what the rest of the half-marathon course is like then have a look at the previews for the 4th leg and 5th leg.
