The questions we are asked most
Hard. The marathon climbs about 800 metres on open road, most of it between 8km and 21km, and the last twelve kilometres are lumpy rather than flat. Most runners are twenty to forty minutes slower here than on a city course. Train on hills and plan to run by effort, not pace.
Yes. There are seven hour and three hour cut-offs for the marathon and half marathon, with a sweep vehicle behind the last runner. Intermediate cut-offs on the mountain section are published in the Competitor Handbook.
Aid stations are spaced further apart than on a city marathon and the high ground has no shops, taps or shelter. Carry your own bottle or soft flask and enough food for roughly an hour between stations.
No. Private vehicles cannot use the Upper Lake road on race morning. Take the Dublin coach to Race HQ, or park at Laragh GFC and use the free shuttle.
Both races finish in Laragh village. If you parked at Laragh GFC you can walk to your car; bags and keys are brought down from Race HQ to the finish.
Anything from warm sun to horizontal rain, and usually windier on the gap than in the valley. Plan for a ten degree drop between Laragh and the Sally Gap.
Supporters are very welcome at Laragh and at the waterfall car park. Cycling or running alongside a competitor on the mountain section is not allowed.
The courses are measured to the advertised distances of 42.2km and 21.1km and timed by chip. Certification details appear in the Competitor Handbook.
Fly into Dublin, allow 75 minutes to Wicklow by road, and book accommodation early: race weekend falls just before peak walking season. The Travel page has more.
A single reconciled policy covers refunds, transfers, deferrals and distance changes. It is published on the Legal and entry policies page and repeated at checkout.