Antrim Coast Half Marathon becomes first event in Ireland and only the third in the UK alongside the Virgin Money London Marathon & The Cardiff Half (host to the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships) to join the prestigious series of IAAF/World Athletics Road Race Label Events

Touted as the most beautiful road race in the world, the event is held on the iconic Antrim Coast road in Northern Ireland, and the event will sit alongside major cities Houston, Mumbai, Dubai, Napoli, Osaka, Lagos, Seville, Tokyo, Istanbul, London, Valencia, Barcelona, Warsaw, Shanghai, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires on the prestigious roster. World Athletics have also confirmed they will be sending a delegate to the race in August.

Celebration of road running

After the success of the 2020 race which saw Sir Mo Farah and Lily Partridge break the Irish All -comers records and Gary O’Hanlon and Tommy Hughes break age group World Records
The race is planning to welcome back the mass entry for 2021 with spectacular on course entertainment planned for the runners and spectators, who will all being well be welcomed back to truly make the event the celebration of Sport which we missed in 2020.

Exciting editions for the 2021 event will see Port Isaac’s most famous sons ‘The Fisherman’s Friends’, headline the race after party which promises to be a celebration of sport with an outdoor concert at the prestigious Cairndhu Golf Club located at the top of the stunning Coast road cliffs on the half-marathon course.

The Cornish Fisherman made famous by the 2019 film documenting the true story of their record deal with Universal records have headlined The Albert Hall, Twickenham Stadium, played to the Queen and the Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury and are now thrilled to be headlining the 2nd Antrim Coast Half marathon. Tickets go on sale from the 1st March via the event website priced at £15.

An event for all

Immediately after the main race the organisers plan to launch the first ever Antrim Coast mini-marathon Kids Race which will take in the length of the town main street before finishing near the race entertainment hub at Sandy Bay. Consistent with the adult’s race which will be started by the headline sponsors passenger ferry the European Highlander’, the kid’s race will be started by the Town Hall clock in a call out to ‘Chariots of Fire’ . Already lending their support to the kid’s race is European Champion and 5 x Olympian Jo Pavey who’s family will be competing, with a host of the elite entry planning on bringing family.

All age groups welcome with accompanying adults allowed for the Under 9’s. All competitors will receive a competitor’s tee and medal identical to the IAAF Label main race.

Antrim Coast Half. Credit: Steve Donegan Photography

With the majority of last year’s entry already signing up for the 2021 race the race organisers have set the ambitious target of the first ever sub 60 min men’s half marathon and sub 70 women’s half marathon in Ireland. Race organiser James McIlroy stated;

“the 2021 race really will be amazing when you think we will have the best runners in the world running on one of the most beautiful roads in the world, whilst also welcoming the masses back, who not only will get to race with some of their hero’s returning from the Tokyo Olympics but due to the out and back nature of the course road, they’ll also get a great view of the elite race – which we hope will be a record breaking race like last year.

We also should be in a position to welcome the American and African competitors confirmed for last year’s race but who were not able to travel due to COVID restrictions, AND hopefully topping it all off with the best after party in athletics!”

Fast Running’s Tom Craggs said “It is great to see James and the team at Antrim Coast Half have been award World Athletics Road Race Label status. Having worked closely with the James in the spring last year I know the dedication and passion of the team, focused on putting on one of the best road races in the world. Achieving this status after such a challenging year last year is a credit to them. Well done to all.”

All the details to enter can be found at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon website.