Weather Outlook for Dublin Marathon 2017
Perfect Day - Weather Outlook for Sunday's Marathon
SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon 2017
9am, Sunday October 29th 2017
This page will be updated over the coming days, as weather (in particular) firms up
11pm, Thursday Oct 26th: 58 hours to go! The weather, in Marathon terms, continues to improve. Wind predictions have slackened further, with little or no wind expected, along with no rain. There should be light cloud cover, and temperatures in the lower teens, shy of 15C. The only factor to 'disimprove' has been temperature, but if it stays in the region of 12 to 14C, I think everyone should be happy. Lookin' Good!
Midnight Tuesday Oct 24th: Just over four days to go, and the weather outlook is looking perfect. It's a little early still to be definitive - 48 hours or less and we'll get a far more accurate picture, but, as of now - Tuesday night - it's looking pretty much ideal! Let's hope that there are no surprises.
Weather Outlook, 9am, Sunday - Updated 11pm Thursday
Predicted Rainfall: Nil
Predicted Wind: Little or no wind
Predicted Temperature: 12C - 14C
Cloud cover: Light cloud
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| Predicted Cloud Cover, 10am | Predicted Rainfall, 10am | Predicted Wind, 10am | Predicted Temperature,10am - see scale below |
Follow Your Clubmates, Friends or the Front Runners Live on the Day - Your Choice:
Tracker
Live Streaming
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon will be live streamed via the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon YouTube Page.
Fans will be able to watch every moment of the action live, from 8am-5pm. The commentary team for the day will comprise of some well-known names from Irish Athletics, including Ian O'Riordan, Dave Hooper, Frank Greally, Catherina McKiernan, Liam Moggan and Feidhlim Kelly
Social Media
You will also be able to keep up to date with all the action on the Dublin Marathon Twitter and Facebook pages
Course Video
Course Maps & Elevation Profile
Course Map
Course Map - Satellite View
Technical Map
Water stations, Portaloos, First-Aid etc 
Print or Download Technical Map
Course Elevation Profile
Water Stations
There will be 1,486 volunteers helping on the course on the day.
There will be ten water stations along the route, giving out over 61,000 litres of Tipperary water, and 13,500 bottles of Lucozade Sport:
3 Miles
5 Miles
7 Miles
9.5 Miles
11 Miles
13 Miles
16 Miles
19 Miles
21 Miles and
24 Miles
Pacing Groups
Pacers will be running at 10 minute interval target paces, between 3 hours and 5 hours, running the distance at a steady pace, to get their particular pace group over the line at their indicidual target time. Normally each pace has two, or more, pacers. Towards the later stages, in particular, they tend to split, with one of the pacers leading the group, while the other drops towards the back of the group, offering encouragement to those who may be going through a bad patch.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund is €120,000, and the men’s and women’s winners will receive €12,000 each. There are time bonuses on offer to Irish athletes for breaking certain times.
Any Irish man who breaks 2:09, or woman who comes in sub-2:30, will get an extra €10,000
Elite Men
| Number | Athlete - Country | Bio |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Benard Rotich - Kenya | Benard won the Belfast City Marathon in May in a time of 2:16:04. |
| 3 | Asefa Bekele - Ethiopia | Asefa is back for the third time having finished in 3rd place last year and 2nd place in 2015 in times of 2:15:01 and 2:14:21 respectively. |
| 4 | John Koech - Kenya | This will be John's debut marathon. He has personal best times of 65:22 for Half Marathon, 28:38 for 10K and 13:58 for 5000 metres indoors. |
| 5 | Moses Koech - Kenya | |
| 6 | Dan Tanui - Kenya | Dan won the SSE Airtricity Walled City Marathon in Derry in June this year only a month after finishing in 2nd place in Belfast. He finished in 8th place in Dublin in 2015 in a time of 2:18:46. Dan finished in 3rd place in the Cardiff Half Marathon 2015 in a time of 63:12. |
| 7 | Jacob Rotich - Kenya | Jacob ran the very tough Kass International Marathon (between Kapsabet and Eldoret) last year and finished in 8th place. He has run 63:43 at altitude for a half marathon. This will be Jacob's first marathon outside Kenya. |
| 8 | Hosea Rutto - Kenya | Having won the Pune Marathon in India in January, Hosea went on to win the Salzburg Marathon in Austria in May in a time of 2:17:49. |
| 9 | Peter Wangari - Kenya | Peter finished in 4th place last year in a time of 2:15:54. His personal best is 2:13:48 set in Vienna in 2016. |
| 10 | Freddy Sittuk - Kenya | Freddy won the Belfast Marathon in 2014 and the Walled City Marathon in 2015. He finished in 5th place in Dublin in 2015 in a time of 2:15:19. |
| 11 | Yurii Ruskyuk - Ukraine | Yurii finished in 5th place last year in a time of 2:16:16. |
| 12 | Ivan Babaryka - Ukraine | Ivan has a personal best of 2:11:48 from Barcelona 2012. |
| 13 | Youssef Sbaai - Morocco | Youssef set a personal best of 2:13:42 when winning the Turin Marathon last year. |
| 14 | Alemu Gemechu - Ethiopia | Alemu won the 2015 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in a time of 2:14:02. |
| 15 | Yared Derese - Ethiopia | |
| 16 | Fikru Teshager - Ethiopia | |
| 17 | Mthandazo Qhina - South Africa | Mtahndazo is a regular top 10 finisher in the famous Two Oceans Marathon, finishing in 2nd place in 2013. He has a marathon best time of 2:17. |
| 18 | Tebogo Mathiba - South Africa | Tebogo is coached by former Dublin Marathon winner Zacharia Mpolokeng. |
| 20 | Sergiu Ciobanu - Ireland | Sergiu is the current Irish National Marathon Champion. He was first Irishman in last year's SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in a time of 2:17:40. His personal best is 2:15:14 set in Berlin 2015. |
| 21 | Gary O'Hanlon - Ireland | Gary may be 42 years old, but age is not slowing him down. In August, he won the Longford Marathon in a time of 2:25:33. Weeks later, he smashed his personal best when he won the Masters title at the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:19:25. |
| 22 | Stephen Scullion - Ireland | Stephen ran 2:17:59 in the London Marathon in April. He won the SSE Airtricity Frank Duffy 10 in August in a time of 50:36 and finished in 2nd place in the Belfast City Half Marathon in September in a time of 66:11. |
| 23 | Eoin Callaghan - Ireland | |
| 24 | Tom Fitzpatrick - Ireland | |
| 25 | David Mansfield - Ireland |
Elite Women
| Number | Athlete - Country | Bio |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Nataliya Lehonkova - Ukraine | Nataliya won the 2015 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in a time of 2:31:09. She won the Belfast Marathon in 2013 and set a personal best when winning the Los Angeles Marathon in 2016. |
| 103 | Emmah Kiprono - Kenya | Emmah is now coached by Lezan Kimutai. She has a personal best time of 2.47.32 from the Tiberias Marathon in 2012. |
| 104 | Nelly Chelimo - Kenya | Nelly is looking at Dublin to rekindle her running career. She ran the Kuala Lumpur Marathon a number of years ago and then took time away from her running career to have children. |
| 105 | Tsehay Alemu Maru - Ethiopia | Tsehay finished in 5th place in last year's SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in a time of 2:37:02. |
| 106 | Ashu Kasim - Ethiopia | Ashu has personal best times of 68:56 (2013) for half marathon and 2:23:09 in the 2012 Xiamen Marathon. In January this year, she won the Marrakesh Marathon in a time of 2:30:18. |
| 107 | Beshadu Bekele - Ethiopia | |
| 108 | Megertu Megersa - Ethiopia | Some of her best marathons as follows: |
| 109 | Viktoriya Khapilina - Ukraine | Viktoriya won the Ukraine National Marathon Championship last year in a time of 2:37:44. In February this year she won the 3000 metre indoor Championship and she recently ran a fast 75:18 in the Gdynia Half Marathon in Poland. |
| 111 | Gemma Rankin - Scotland | Gemma ran a personal best when she finished in 8th place in last year's SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon. In August, she finished in 2nd place in the SSE Airtricity Frank Duffy 10 in a time of 58:57 and earlier this month she finished in 4th place in the Great Scottish Half Marathon in a time of 76:37. |
| 112 | Barbara Sanchez - Ireland | Barbara has a personal best of 2:37:14 set in 2013. |
| 113 | Caitriona Jennings - Ireland | Caitriona has a personal best of 2:36:14 set in Rotterdam in 2012. In August, Caitriona picked up the silver medal in the National Half Marathon Championship in a time of 78:57. |
| 114 | Laura Graham - Northern Ireland | Laura is the current Irish National Marathon Champion with her win in last year's SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in a time of 2:41:54. |
| 115 | Maria McCambridge - Ireland | Maria won the Dublin Marathon in 2013 in a time of 2:38:51 and was beaten in a sprint to the line the following year when she set a personal best time of 2:34:19. |
| 117 | Pauline Curley - Ireland | Even at the age of 48, Pauline continues to win marathons. In May, she won the Great Limerick Run in a time of 2:47:59 and in August she won the Longford Marathon in 3:00:19. |
| 119 | Natasha Cockram Wales | In her preparations for her debut marathon, Natasha ran 78:41 in the Swansea Half Marathon in June and 79:29 in the Cardiff Half earlier this month. |
Dublin Marathon Press Release
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon will be live streamed via the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon YouTube Page. Fans will be able The 38th running of the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon will take place this Sunday 29th of October, with a record number of 20,000 entries. Many international elite distance athletes are set to compete against Ireland’s top athletes. The race will also serve as Athletics Ireland’s National Championships. For many others taking part, this will be their first marathon and the achievement will be crossing the line.
SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Race Director Jim Aughney said: “We are delighted to have a record entry and to be the fifth biggest marathon in Europe. The marathon has grown 10-fold from just over 2,000 runners in 1980 to 20,000 in 2017.”
Anne McAreavey, Sponsorship Manager at SSE Airtricity, said: “The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon is a truly captivating event, and it’s incredible to see it get bigger and better every year. With 20,000 Irish and international entrants set to line up on Sunday, it’s clear that the passion for running continues to grow nationwide, and we’re really proud to be playing our part as title sponsors.
“Of course, it’s the runners that make this event so special, and this year we wanted to delve a little deeper and celebrate the exceptional and inspirational stories behind the participants. There are so many everyday heroes taking part, and we’re encouraging runners to share their motivations and personal journeys far and wide using the hashtag #TwentyThousandStories. We’re looking forward to celebrating and cheering each of the runners all the way to finish line!”
For the elite runners, there is a potential prize pot of €120k up for grabs at this year’s SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon. In the Men’s field, Ethiopia’s Asefa Bekele is back aiming for a top three placing, having finished 3rd in 2017 and 2nd place in 2015 in times of 2:15:01 and 2:14:21 respectively. Benard Rotich of Kenya is also likely to be a contender, having won the Belfast City Marathon in May in a time of 2:16:04. His fellow countryman, Peter Wangari finished 4th last year in 2:15:54. Irish-based Freddy Sittuk of Kenya will also line up, a two-time SSE Airtricity Walled City Marathon winner and previous winner of the Belfast Marathon who finished in 5th place in Dublin in 2015 in a time of 2:15:19.
The Clonliffe trio of Sergiu Ciobanu, Gary O’Hanlon and Stephen Scullion will all be looking to be in the mix with the elite field and vying for the national honours.
Ciobanu is the current Irish National Marathon Champion with a personal best of 2:15:14 set in Berlin 2015. 42-year-old Gary O’Hanlon won this year’s Longford Marathon in 2:25:33. Weeks later, he smashed his personal best when he won the Masters title at the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:19:25. Stephen Scullion ran 2:17:59 in the London Marathon in April and won the SSE Airtricity Frank Duffy 10 in August. Eoin Callaghan and Tom Fitzpatrick will also be in the mix.
In the women’s elite field, the 2015 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon winner Nataliya Lehonkova of Ukraine will be joined by fellow country women Viktoriya Khapilina, who won the Belfast Marathon in 2013. Tsehay Alemu Maru of Ethiopia will also race, after having finished in 5th place last year in a time of 2:37:02. Also from Ethiopia are Ashu Kasim Megertu and Megertu Megersa while Emmah Kiprono and Nelly Chelimo will be running for Kenya.
Gemma Rankin of Scotland ran a personal best when she finished in 8th place last year and will be again be looking for a top ten place. In August, she finished in second place in the SSE Airtricity Frank Duffy 10 in a time of 58:57.
Current Irish National Marathon Champion Laura Graham is set to line up, after taking the title in 2016 with a time of 2:41:54. In September she smashed her personal best with a time of 2:37:05 in Berlin.
Speaking about the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Laura said: “I really hope to defend my title in Dublin this year. I love this race, there is a great atmosphere with families and their children supporting you along the route. When I’m racing I can’t wait to get to the line and meet my family, that’s something I am really looking forward to in Dublin.”
Other Irish contenders include Barbara Sanchez, Maria McCambridge and Caitriona Jennings. Sanchez has a personal best of 2:37:14 set in 2013. McCambridge won the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon in 2013 in a time of 2:38:51 and was beaten in a sprint to the line the following year when she set a personal best time of 2:34:19. She recently won the SSE Airtricity Dublin Half Marathon. She was followed home by Olympian Jennings who has a personal best of 2:36:14 set in Rotterdam in 2012.
Ardmhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath, Mícheál Mac Donncha welcomed the announcement of Mairead Tywang as the 2017 recipient of the Lord Mayor’s medal saying: “20,000 people are taking on the Challenge of the 2017 SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon, many for great causes, but I am particularly pleased that Mairead Tywang is this year’s winner of the Lord Mayor’s Medal. Mairead only took up running after Searlait’s death in January 2016 to remember her daughter and raise money for the charity Aoibheann’s Pink Tie which helped her and her family so much during her daughter’s illness. She has raised over €60,000 to date and will complete her first marathon here in Dublin. I wish her and her team of supporters all the best in this weekend’s marathon and I thank her for all her work for such a great charity which makes a real difference to families suffering the heartbreak of children’s cancer. Comhghairdeas le Mairead ar an obair iontach atá a déanta aici.”
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon will also mark the Dublin-wide celebration of the 350th anniversary of writer Jonathon Swift’s birth, with all finishers receiving a commemorative medal to mark the occasion. All those taking part will run past St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin where Swift was Dean.
Athletics Ireland Release - Feidhlim Kelly
National glory up for grabs at Dublin Marathon
Laura Graham (Mourne Runners) and Sergiu Ciobanu (Clonliffe Harriers) will bid to defend their National Ttles at the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon this Sunday (October 29), but they won’t have it all their own way.
Some 20,000 runners will stride out on Merrion Square South, at 9am, full of hope, with club runners, from Acorn AC right through to Youghal AC, in search of that runner’s high, and a coveted finishing medal.
For Ireland’s leading runners, it won’t just be about the finishers’ medals, but also national medals for individual and teams for both seniors and masters.
Laura Graham’s (Mourne Runners) free-running spirit and regular racing schedule shows no sign of slowing down just yet, and she is in contention to retain the national title, but she will face stiff competition from Caitriona Jennings (Letterkenny), with the likes of Barbara Sanchez (Clonliffe Harriers) and, potentially, Zola Flynn (Calry) in line for the minor medals.
The classic distance always springs some surprises and some newcomers to the distance running fraternity.
There should be no looking past a formidable Clonliffe Harriers for the men’s team and individual placings with Sergiu Ciobanu, Stephen Scullion, the evergreen Gary O’Hanlon, and David Mansfield in their ranks.
It will likely be a duel between Ciobanu and Scullion for the national title. The pair have been training at altitude, with Scullion, the younger man, making marked improvements the last 12 months. Ciobanu is an experienced campaigner, though O’Hanlon is fresh from a sub 2:20 clocking in Berlin – he will be there to pounce, in case of a slip up. Tomas Fitzpatrick (Tallaght) is another likely contender.
General Information
The reigning Irish National Marathon Champions are Sergiu Ciobanu and Laura Graham
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon is now the fifth largest marathon in Europe, with 20,000 runners
The Dublin record holders are Geoffrey Ndungu from Kenya in the men’s with 2:08.33, from 2011, and Tatyana Arysova of Russia, for women, with 2:26.13, from 2010
Founded in 1980 with 2,100 runners
Record number of participants every year since 2009 with 20,000 entries for 2017
SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon is now the largest marathon in Ireland and the 5th largest in Europe
Known as the ‘Friendly Marathon’, Dublin also hosts the Athletics Ireland National Championships
Voted ‘Best International Marathon’ in 2014, 2nd in 2015 & 2016, and ‘Best Mass Participation Event’ at the Sport Industry Awards 2016
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon Expo takes place in the RDS, on Friday and Saturday, and is expected to attract 25,000 visitors
The SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon is worth €21.6M to the city of Dublin
Related Articles
National Marathon Championship Countdown 2017
Athletics Ireland National Marathon Championship Entries 2017
Updated Athletics Ireland National Marathon Championship Entries 2017 - October 18th
