Antrim Coast Half Marathon

Sold Out
Larne, County Antrim, United Kingdom
Aug 23, 2026 at 11:00 AM

The Lowdown

The Antrim Coast Half Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label road race held every August Bank Holiday weekend in Larne, Northern Ireland, on the shores of the North Channel. First run in 2020 -- when Mo Farah won the inaugural men's race -- it has quickly become one of the fastest half marathons in the world, drawing Olympic and world champions to a flat, net-downhill course (a 19-meter net decrease over the 13.1-mile distance, within World Athletics' legal tolerance for record purposes) that hugs the Antrim Coast Road past Larne harbour, through the town, out to the village of Ballygally, and back to the finish at the Chaine Memorial Tower. The men's course record of 58:36 was set by Kenya's Daniel Mateiko in 2023; Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw ran an unratified 1:03:44 women's time in 2021. A companion 5K starts at 09:00, two hours before the half marathon's 11:00 start. The half marathon field is capped at roughly 2,500 entrants drawn from more than 40 countries, and entrants must be at least 17 years old on race day. Entry for the 2026 edition sold out ahead of the race, though a limited number of charity places remain available through partner organizations such as The Welcome Organisation.

Race Day

Weather Forecast

summer
mild

Elevation

Terrain Profile

⛰️

Relatively flat course

Participants

Field Size

👥
2,500RUNNERS

Medium-sized race

Crowd Rating

Spectator Support

🎉
7/ 10

Excellent spectator turnout

Course Highlights
1

Larne Town Park -- event hub and 5K start/finish area

2

Larne Harbour -- course passes through the port town early in the route

3

Ballygally village -- coastal turning point of the out-and-back course

4

Chaine Memorial Tower -- half marathon finish line on the Larne seafront

Race Weekend

Other distances available during the event weekend:

Half Marathon (13.1 miles / 21.1 km)
Destination

Larne, County Antrim, United Kingdom

GB

Est. Hotel Cost
$95/ night

Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line

Minimum Age
17years
Time Limit
3:30:00

Eligibility

  • Minimum age 17 on race day

Required Documents

  • Photo ID may be requested at race number collection

Entry Methods

  • Online entry via antrimcoasthalfmarathon.com (sold out for 2026)
  • Guaranteed charity place through official partner charities with a minimum fundraising pledge

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Review the official race terms at antrimcoasthalfmarathon.com/race-terms/ before entering

One of only two half marathons in the UK and Ireland with a World Athletics Elite Label designation.

Course record: 58:36 (men, Daniel Mateiko, Kenya, 2023).

Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) ran 1:03:44 in 2021, an unratified women's time due to a course measurement issue.

Co-founded in 2020 by Olympian James McIlroy and international rowing coxswain Ruth McIlroy; Mo Farah won the inaugural 2020 men's race.

Held annually on the last weekend of August (Northern Ireland's August Bank Holiday weekend).

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