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Preview of the Cork City Marathon...

The Cork City Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the country outside of Dublin. It is held on the Bank Holiday Sunday at the start of June every year.

The route for the full marathon takes in much of the city including the Jack Lynch Tunnel. Starting on Patricks St in the city centre, the course does a loop up around Blackpool before heading east to the Dunkettle Roundabout and the tunnel beyond. The 7 mile mark is passed just before the tunnel and the route is pretty flat up until this point.

Any climbs in the marathon are pretty modest and are mostly between 6.5 miles to 8.5 miles and around 18.5 to 21.2 miles.

The large red numbers on the map below shows the end of each of the relay legs.

Click on the each of the relay legs below to get a better idea of each section...
a) Leg 1 can be seen HERE
b) Leg 2 can be seen HERE
c) Leg 3 can be seen HERE
d) Leg 4 can be seen HERE
e) Leg 5 can be seen HERE

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Preview of 5th leg of 5 in the Cork City Marathon Relay...

Course...Leg 5...The 5th and final leg of the Cork City Marathon Relay and also the easiest at 4.8 miles. It starts at the relay changeover point at around 21.7 miles on the Model Farm Road. There is a very slight pull from here to the 22 mile mark by the County Library.

Mile 22......Carry on past the County Council Library on the left and then soon, you will begin the steep descent by the Tennis Village. Around the left bend, along the flat and onto Inchagaggin Bridge.

You turn right just after the bridge and along a flat section until you join the Straight Road. You'll see the County Hall way off in the distance but not as far as in previous years. Soon, you'll come to the 23 mile mark.........(~mile 10 in the Half-Mara). An easy mile.

Mile 23......This is an easy mile. Dead flat. The county hall starts off in the distance but you are right alongside it at the 24 mile mark.....(~mile 11 in the Half-Mara)

On the left is the Kingsley Hotel.

Mile 24..........It starts near the County Hall and proceeds to Victoria Cross. A slight pull over the bridge and then left at the traffic lights and then right onto the Mardyke....past the sports ground.....past Fitgeralds Park....and at the end, you turn left onto the public walkway and on to the distinctive pedestrian bridge.

The 25 mile mark is here......A flat and easy mile. (The 12 mile mark for the Half-Marathon is on the other side of the bridge on the walkway)

Mile 25......Now you are onto a public walkway. Across the new Mardyke bridge and then a sharp right onto the riverside walkway. Here things can get a bit congested. Runners running 3 or 4 abreast can completely block your path. The whole area is wooded so it makes a change from the open roads. After a few hundred metres, you're back out on the North Mall and the wide public road again. Along the North Mall until you get to the junction with the road to Shandon.

You turn right onto the bridge and then down North Main Street. There are cobblestones and ramps along this section so take care. At the end, you come out onto Washington Street and left towards the Grand Parade, You pass the 26 mile mark here.

Grand Finale...Starting on the 26 mile mark, you now have 352 metres to go to the finish....
You turn left onto the Grand Parade and then right onto Patrick's Street with the crowds on both sides. It's about here that the Half-Marathon runners will pass their 13 mile mark. Up the main street and the finish is just around a slight bend.

That's it, all done. For Marathon runners, you've just completed 26.22 miles and a full marathon.

Overall.......The shortest and easiest leg with the buzz of finishing on Patrick's Street with the crowds.

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Preview of the 4th leg of 5 in the Cork City Marathon Relay....

This is the 4th stage of 5 and is 5.7 miles in length. Of the five, it is the hardest legs even though it isn't the longest. For Marathon runners, this stage starts at roughly 15.9 miles on Victoria Road.

Course...Leg 4.....Mile 17......Just after the Relay changeover point on Victoria Road, it's left onto the quays, past Carey's Tools and left again onto Albert Street. Now the road really opens out as you go past the next 2 bends, past Brownlows and onto the South Link Road. From here, there is a slight climb up to the next junction as shown below.

After running on the flat for so long, this will test the Marathon runners to see if they can maintain the pace. Then it flattens out as you run out the link road. Again, there is another railway connection here as you are running along the route of the old Cork to Bandon railway line. Soon, you'll see the 2nd overhead bridge. So, it's under it and then take a left for a very steep short climb. You hit the 17 mile mark around here. An easy mile with plenty of commotion in the middle!

Mile 18...... It starts with a steep climb up from the South Link Road but it's only 50 metres or so long. Then left, over the bridge, through the next junction and a short steep downhill section to Turners Cross. Left at the junction here and onto the Curragh Road. Now, the road is pretty flat as you head for the Kinsale Road and pass the turn off for Ballyphehane. Just after this is another water station. As well as offering plain water, they may have sports drinks here as well. If you are doing the relay, you don't need to take them. If you are doing the full marathon, you should consider taking one as the glucose from the drink will help you to conserve your bodies own supply. Note that sometimes Sports drinks don't agree with everyone, especially when they are running. The glucose will also take a while to get into your system.....perhaps 2 to 3 miles later.On to the junction by Woodies, right onto the Tramore Road and past the back of the Musgrave Park rugby grounds. A  slight downhill and then a long flat secton. Out along here is the 18 mile mark. An easy enough mile but that short sharp climb can be difficult on tired legs.

Mile 19......Right at the next turn off and a slight pull uphill. For 2017, you turn right...through the crossroads and a gradual climb up to Tory Top Park.

This is a new hill and not a welcome one for marathon runners. After Tory Top Park, the running is reasonable. A slow enough mile.

Mile 20.........Left onto Pouladuff Road and down into Ballyphehane. Right then towards the Lough. Now onto Hartlands Avenue and there is a slight uphill section from here until the next set of traffic lights, straight through and left onto the 20 mile mark. A reasonable mile...very fast downhill start and a slow hills in the second half.

Mile 21.........After the 20 mile mark, there is a gradual downhill until you cross over onto College Road. You turn left onto Orchard Road and then downhill to the road by Victoria Cross. This section of the course is very fast. You pay for it however on the other side when you enter Farranlea Road.

There are some nasty pulls along here which will be felt especially by the marathon runners. Overall...the downhill running at the start of this mile won't compensate for the second half. Expect to lose time here.

After the 21 mile mark, there is a slight climb out of Farrnalea Park which is another effort.

Once you're onto the Model Farm Road, there is another tiny pull but this is the end of the climbing.

From there, it's downhill to the relay changeover at about the 21.6 mile mark.

Overall.......It's 5.8 miles in length and it is probably is the hardest leg of the five. Loads of small pulls which will have an impact on tired legs.

Click here for relay leg 5

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Preview of the 3rd leg of 5 in the Cork City Marathon relay...

The 3rd leg starts at the Relay changeover point in Ringmahon and as in previous years, you head towards Blackrock castle. Just before the castle, you turn right into the car park...

...and on to a walkway where you pass the 11 mile mark. A fast mile.

The walkway follows the waters edge for about 2 kms and you have a great view out over the inner harbour. For those of you not familiar with it, it may seem a bit narrow but the Marathon and Relay runners will be well spaced out at this stage so it shouldn't be a problem.

This is a really nice part of the Marathon route and is very popular with runners in Cork. Towards the end of it, you'll notice a very large radio mast which is no longer in use. The Half-Marathon mark is very close to this point. Just after that, the walkway ends in a slight ramp as you run up onto another pathway which heads back in towards the city. First of all, there's a little matter of a bridge to cross over.

This is the narrowest part of the course and without doubt, the steepest. It is however pretty short and very soon you'll be running down the other side and onto a dead straight walkway.

Pretty soon, you'll begin to see clues as to the origin of this walkway with a series of bridges. It was in fact an old railway line that went from Cork City to Rochestown, Passage, Monkstown, Carrigaline and Crosshaven.

After a while, you come to what was the old railway station in Blackrock until you reach the end of the walkway and you turn right on to the Marina.

Note......There is where the Half-Marathon route and Marathon route join again and it stays the same until the finish line.

From here, you run along a tree lined route all  of the ways to the changeover point just after the end of the Centre Park Road.

Overall...One of the longest relay sections at roughly 5.8 miles but also one of the flattest. Most of it is on walkways and quiet roads and is also probably the nicest section of the whole marathon route.

Click here for relay leg 4

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Preview of the 2nd leg of 5 in the Cork City Marathon Relay...

This is the 2nd stage of 5 and is 5.5 miles in length. Of the 5, it is probably one of the two toughest Relay legs. For Marathon runners, this stage starts just before the 5 mile mark at about 4.8 miles between the skew bridge and Silversprings hotel on the Lower Glanmire road.

For Relay runners, the mile markers for this stage will be for the Marathon. Since you are starting at 4.8 miles, the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 mile markers will be 0.2, 1.2, 2.2 miles and so on.

Course...Leg 2 of the Relay / Mile 6 of the Marathon......It starts just before the skew bridge with a slight pull over the bridge, down the other side and then join the new Relay runners. Past the Silversprings Hotel, past the 5 mile mark and you head east towards the tunnel on the right hand side of the road. Around the Dunkettle roundabout, you'll come to the 6 mile mark. Another pretty easy and flat mile.

Mile 7......Carry on past the roundabout and now there is a gradual climb up the slip road before it flattens out and then falls towards the tunnel entrance. The first 6 miles of the Marathon are pretty flat and easy. Things get 'interesting' from here on. Round the corner and down into the Jack Lynch tunnel under the River Lee. Now is not a good time to start thinking about the few hundred metric tons of water above your head and start looking for leaks ;o)


Two things here.....

1) The tunnel slowly curves away to the left. You SHOULD follow the racing line..i.e. stay on the left and take the shortest possible route. For example, in the photo above, you should stick as close to the traffic cones as possible. Every year, people are stuck to the right wall taking the long option. The course is measured over the shortest possible route. There are no medals for running longer than you have to.

2) The mile starts with a long downhill but as soon as you hit the middle, you have to start the long climb out again. It's not steep but it is long. See the photo below....this is the pull coming back out of the tunnel.

The 7 mile mark is near the climb out of the tunnel. A tough enough mile.

Mile 8..........After the climb out of the tunnel, the next section along the South Ring Road is flat and easy. You reach the 8 mile mark near the steep slip road for Mahon Point. A reasonable mile with a slow start.

Mile 9............The steep slip road for Mahon Point is tough enough although it's short.

This is the steepest section so far in the race. Then it flattens out and falls slowly towards the entrance to Mahon Point where things flatten out but soon you have to begin climbing. See below.......this is the slight downhill to Mahon Point followed by the climb on the other side all the ways to the CSO office. Nothing serious but uphill all the same.

Then right around the corner by the CSO office and on to the Skehard Road and the 9 mile mark. A slow mile.

Mile 10......The road falls slowly downhill and take the next right into a housing estate. Out of the estate....then left....a flat section and then left again on to Ringmahon Road. This section is dead flat as you pass the 10 mile mark. A very fast mile.

Just ahead, you'll see the mass of runners eagerly waiting at the 2nd Relay changeover point at about 10.2 miles (..or 5.5 miles for Relay runners doing only the 2nd leg).


Overall.........The 2nd leg is roughly 5.5 miles in length and there are plenty of sections where you had to put in a bit of extra effort. While it has the novelty of running through the Jack Lynch tunnel, it is still one of the harder relay legs when you consider the amount of climbing from the centre of the tunnel to the high point near the CSO office.

Click here for relay leg 3

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Preview of the 1st leg of 5 in the Cork City Marathon Relay...

Just to put this leg into perspective, there are 5 stages in the Cork City Marathon Relay event. Each leg is more or less the same length....roughly 4.8 to 5.8 miles in length.

The Relay runners will start at 9 AM on Patrick's Street along with all of the Marathon runners.

Course...Relay Leg 1Mile 1......It starts on Patricks Street, turns into the Grand Parade, then the South Mall, into Parnell Place and then left along the Quay's. Just as you pass Patricks Bridge, you see the 1 mile mark, a very flat and easy first mile.

Mile 2........You stay on the quays until you cross the bridge at the Opera House. From there, up Leitrim Street and past Murphys Brewery. The road should have barricades in the middle here as you'll be returning back down on the other side shortly. If perhaps you're not running so fast, you might even see some of the faster runners returning.

Soon, just where you turn off for the Watercourse road, left at the next junction followed by an immediate right onto Great William O'Brien Street. Carry on until you need to do a sharp turn just after the church.The 2 mile mark is around here...another fast mile.

Mile 3......From the sharp turn, past the church again, onto the Watercourse Road and head back towards the City Centre.

For the last few years (2010-2015), there was a slight kink here just to add the required amount to make sure that the full Marathon is the correct distance. See picture.....shown in Blue. As of 2016, it reverts back to the old route shown in Yellow.

Back down to the quays as you see some of the slower runners on the other side head towards the 2 mile mark. Then left onto Patricks Quay and the 3 mile mark...another fast mile.

Mile 4............Then onto Horgans Quay as you follow the River Lee through the City.

Continue along Horgans Quay until the end. Then left and then right onto the Lower Glanmire Road. The 4 mile mark is here...another fast and flat mile.

Mile 5............ For the 5th mile, you run alongside the river, you'll see the Marina and Pairc Ui Chaoimh on the other side. There is a slight climb up to the skew bridge and a slight fall after it and very soon, you see the mass of Relay runners eagerly looking for the approach of their running partners. If you are doing the full Marathon, this will be the first of 4 Relay changeovers stages that you'll run through and you'll see why the Relay event generates so much excitement!


Overall........Roughly 4.9 miles and a pretty flat and easy leg.

Click here for relay leg 2