FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anne Donegan
Media Relations Officer
Belfast City Council
Tel: 028 9027 0646

Belfast City Marathon Goes In New Direction

Belfast City Marathon is going in a new direction this year, taking in some
of the delights of the North Down and Newtownabbey Borough Council areas as
well as large parts of Belfast.

The new course is designed to be flatter and therefore faster and more
attractive especially for international runners interested in achieving
record running times. It also means that it should attract a wider Northern
Ireland audience with opportunities to view the race around the Holywood
area, Hazelbank Park and cycle path alongside Belfast Lough.

Chairman of the Belfast City Marathon Committee, Danny O Connor, said: "The
Belfast City Marathon has grown numerically over the past few years with
over 11,000 participants taking to the streets last year.

"It is now a major community sport event for the City and the Province and
interest continues to grow. Similarly there is a growing interest from the
international runner. However the present route is deemed to be tough,
hilly and not conducive to either the fun and fitness runner or the
international runner seeking a respectable time.

"We are therefore aiming to provide a world class course capable of
attracting really high class runners interested in breaking records and at
the same time better cater for the 'community' runner. That means a course
where records can be made, not just local records but international
records.

"We feel we have a really good course now and are delighted that it takes
in the wider metropolitan area. It is a great partnership between the
district councils and the marathon committee and I look forward to it
continuing."

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tom Ekin, spoke of the city's pride in
hosting this, the 24th Belfast City Marathon and thanked North Down and
Newtownabbey Borough Council's for their decision to allow part of the
course to pass through their area.

"The Marathon is an occasion for competitive running, for fun runners, and
for families. It is a fun day out on Bank Holiday Monday and attracts a lot
of people to the city in terms of support. It is a great opportunity to
raise money for charity. I hope this year's official charity the Meningitis
Trust can look forward to a large cheque at the end of the day."

This year’s marathon will start outside the city hall and will finish at
the Odyssey and organisers are hoping for winning times around the 2hrs 14.
Entry forms and more information are available from the marathon website on
www.belfastcitymarathon.com.

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