2026 Causeway Coast Marathon - Sep 12 Countdown

Q: How do you register for the Causeway Coast Marathon?

Entry is open and first-come — there is no lottery. You register online through the organiser's ticketing page and entries stay open until the field fills. The 2026 full marathon opened at an early tier near &pound;50 and the current standard entry is around &pound;80, with prices rising further as places sell out — so book early. The event runs on Saturday, 12 September 2026.

Q: Is the Causeway Coast Marathon a road race or a trail race?

It is an off-road trail marathon — billed as one of Ireland's premier off-road events. You run on clifftop paths, beaches, mud, sand and seaweed, including the Portbraddon rock scramble near White Park Bay. The organiser is explicit that road shoes are not suitable; you need trail shoes with grip.

Q: How much climbing and how far is the course?

The course is over standard marathon distance: ITRA measures it at 42.5 km (versus the usual 42.195 km) with +995 m of total ascent. It is run out-and-back along the Causeway Coastal Path between Portballintrae and the Ballintoy area, so you cover every climb twice. It earns 1 ITRA point and is regarded as one of the tougher marathons in the UK and Ireland.

Q: Is there a time limit?

Yes — the overall cut-off is 8 hours, with intermediate cut-offs along the route (typically at the halfway turnaround and again before the final section). The generous limit reflects the demanding terrain; plenty of finishers walk the steepest, rockiest sections rather than running them.

Q: What should I wear and carry?

Wear trail shoes with aggressive grip and bring a lightweight waterproof jacket — the Atlantic clifftops are exposed and windy (~31 km/h average) with a roughly 39% chance of rain in September. Carry your own fluids and gels between aid stations, since the remote coastal route has limited support, and a small first-aid layer is wise on the cliff sections.

Q: Is the Causeway Coast Marathon a Boston qualifier?

No. Because the course is off-road, over standard distance and uncertified, finish times here are not eligible for Boston Marathon qualification. Run it for the scenery and the challenge — the Giant's Causeway coast is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape — rather than for a qualifying time.

Q: Where exactly does the race take place?

The marathon is based in the village of Portballintrae on the North Antrim coast, with the route tracing the Causeway Coastal Path past the Giant's Causeway, White Park Bay and Ballintoy. The nearest large towns are Bushmills and Portrush, and the start/finish area is roughly an hour's drive from Belfast.

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Race Information

Race	2026 Causeway Coast Marathon - Sep 12
City	Portballintrae
Date	2026-09-12 at 09:00
Time Limit	8 hours
Cutoff pace	11:23/km
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	26 Extreme Ltd
Registration	Register · 80 GBP

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	13.3°C / 56°F
Humidity	87%
Wind	27.1 km/h
Rain Chance	58%
Typical Conditions	Cool, very humid and windy Atlantic-coast morning with a high chance of showers

What to Prepare: Mid-September on the Antrim coast is cool (avg ~55°F / 13°C) but the exposed clifftops are windy (~31 km/h) and humidity sits near 84%, so showers are likely. Pack a lightweight waterproof and grippy trail shoes — road shoes are not suitable on the wet rock and sand.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 27.1 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	11.3°C	13.2°C	15.6°C
Dew point	8.5°C	11°C	14.1°C

Wet-day chance: 58% Runnability: 66/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Out-and-back (off-road trail)
Elevation Gain	995m
Terrain	Off-road trail (clifftop paths, beach, rock scramble)
Profile	A genuinely tough off-road TRAIL marathon, not a road race. ITRA records the route as 42.5 km (over the standard 42.195 km) with +995 m of ascent, run out-and-back along the Causeway Coastal Path. Expect clifftop singletrack, beach sand, mud, seaweed and the Portbraddon rock scramble near White Park Bay. Not a Boston qualifier (off-road, over-distance, uncertified).

Prepare for 2026 Causeway Coast Marathon - Sep 12

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you register for the Causeway Coast Marathon?

Entry is open and first-come — there is no lottery. You register online through the organiser's ticketing page and entries stay open until the field fills. The 2026 full marathon opened at an early tier near £50 and the current standard entry is around £80, with prices rising further as places sell out — so book early. The event runs on Saturday, 12 September 2026.

Is the Causeway Coast Marathon a road race or a trail race?

It is an off-road trail marathon — billed as one of Ireland's premier off-road events. You run on clifftop paths, beaches, mud, sand and seaweed, including the Portbraddon rock scramble near White Park Bay. The organiser is explicit that road shoes are not suitable; you need trail shoes with grip.

How much climbing and how far is the course?

The course is over standard marathon distance: ITRA measures it at 42.5 km (versus the usual 42.195 km) with +995 m of total ascent. It is run out-and-back along the Causeway Coastal Path between Portballintrae and the Ballintoy area, so you cover every climb twice. It earns 1 ITRA point and is regarded as one of the tougher marathons in the UK and Ireland.

Is there a time limit?

Yes — the overall cut-off is 8 hours, with intermediate cut-offs along the route (typically at the halfway turnaround and again before the final section). The generous limit reflects the demanding terrain; plenty of finishers walk the steepest, rockiest sections rather than running them.

How hard is the Causeway Coast Marathon compared to a road marathon?

Significantly harder than a flat city marathon. Between the +995 m of climbing, the extra distance, and footing that includes wet rock, soft sand and a scramble, expect your finish time to be well slower than your road PB — many runners add an hour or more. Treat it as a scenic adventure run, not a time-trial.

What should I wear and carry?

Wear trail shoes with aggressive grip and bring a lightweight waterproof jacket — the Atlantic clifftops are exposed and windy (~31 km/h average) with a roughly 39% chance of rain in September. Carry your own fluids and gels between aid stations, since the remote coastal route has limited support, and a small first-aid layer is wise on the cliff sections.

Is the Causeway Coast Marathon a Boston qualifier?

No. Because the course is off-road, over standard distance and uncertified, finish times here are not eligible for Boston Marathon qualification. Run it for the scenery and the challenge — the Giant's Causeway coast is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape — rather than for a qualifying time.

Where exactly does the race take place?

The marathon is based in the village of Portballintrae on the North Antrim coast, with the route tracing the Causeway Coastal Path past the Giant's Causeway, White Park Bay and Ballintoy. The nearest large towns are Bushmills and Portrush, and the start/finish area is roughly an hour's drive from Belfast.