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Run Galway Bay

October 3, 2026 · 8:30 AMGalway, County Galway, Ireland

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Race snapshot

Race Day

57°F

50–59°F · Feels cold

Total elevation gain

131ft

Relatively flat course · Net elevation change +0 ft

Participants

3,000

Medium-sized race

Crowd Rating

6/ 10

Good crowd energy

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The Lowdown

Run Galway Bay is a flat, waterfront road race along the shores of Galway Bay in Galway, Ireland, offering a full marathon, a half marathon, and a 10K on the same out-and-back course. The race starts at Nimmo's Pier in the Claddagh and follows the promenade through Salthill and Blackrock before returning to a crowd of supporters at the finish line, back in the Claddagh. Race Director Ray O'Connor oversees the annual event, which draws roughly 3,000 combined finishers across its three distances. Because the course narrows at points along the Salthill seafront, organizers have eliminated official pacing groups. The marathon starts at 8:30 AM, the half marathon at 9:30 AM, and the 10K at 11:30 AM. Entry fees for the 2026 edition were EUR 70 for the marathon, EUR 55 for the half marathon, and EUR 40 for the 10K; all three distances are now sold out. Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable, though registered runners can request a deferral by emailing the organizer before September 1, 2026. Race packets, including the timing-chip bib, are posted to entrants ahead of time rather than collected on-site. The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Course Highlights: 01Nimmo's Pier, the Claddagh - race start and finish
02Salthill Promenade - the course follows Galway Bay along Salthill
03Blackrock - the marathon route's turnaround point along the bay
04The Claddagh - crowds gather along the waterfront finish
Also on this race weekend: Half marathon · 10K
Time Limit: 6 hours
Boston Qualifier: This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.

Minimum Age: 18 years
Entry Methods: Online via the official rungalwaybay.com website; all three distances are sold out for the 2026 edition
Bibs, including the timing chip, are posted in advance to entrants; there is no in-person race-day packet pickup
Eligibility: Estimated minimum age 18 for the marathon and half marathon, consistent with standard Athletics Ireland road race guidance (not explicitly published by the organizer for this event)
Required Documents: None published by the organizer; bibs are posted to entrants in advance rather than collected in person
Cancellation & Refund Policy: Entries are non-refundable and strictly non-transferable per the organizer's FAQ
Distance-change requests are accepted via the confirmation-email link, but only into distances that remain open; changing into the half or full marathon is no longer possible once those distances sell out
Deferral requests must be emailed to the organizer by September 1, 2026

01: All three 2026 distances (marathon, half marathon, and 10K) sold out ahead of race day, per the organizer's own FAQ.
02: Race Director Ray O'Connor leads the event, which draws up to roughly 3,000 combined finishers across its three distances each year.
03: The course is deliberately narrow at points along the Salthill promenade, which led organizers to eliminate official pacing groups.
04: Water and aid stations are placed roughly every three miles: the 10K has stations at mile 3 and the finish; the half marathon at miles 1, 4, 7, 10 and the finish; the marathon at miles 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23 and the finish.

Questions about the Run Galway Bay 2026

When is the Run Galway Bay 2026?

This edition ran on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The 2027 date is to be confirmed.

What is the Run Galway Bay time limit?

6 hours.

What is the Run Galway Bay course like?

40 m of total elevation gain. It passes Nimmo's Pier, the Claddagh, Salthill Promenade and Blackrock.

What is the weather like at the Run Galway Bay?

Race-day temperatures are usually 10–15 °C (50–59 °F).

Is the Run Galway Bay a Boston qualifier?

Yes. This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer131ft gain, 57°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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