The event organisers of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon are delighted to OPEN entries for the 2020 event, celebrating its 39th year on Sunday 3rd May. The event was launched this morning (Wednesday 9th October) by John Allen, Chairman of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon at the Olympia Leisure Centre, Belfast.
This year the largest single participatory sporting event in Northern Ireland experienced a number of positive changes – the launch of a new marathon route, a new start location on the grounds of the iconic Stormont Estate and history was made by moving the event to a Sunday for the first time ever.
Back by popular demand, the event will take place on a Sunday again with a full line up of events to suit all levels of fitness including the Marathon and Wheelchair Race, the Team Relay, 8 Mile Walk and Fun Run. The same great new marathon route will be back with a few revisions, including a new Team Relay changeover point. A Fun Run of approximately 3 miles will start and finish in Stormont this year with transport provided for those wishing to go to the Ormeau Park finish. All other events will start in Stormont and finish in Ormeau Park.
This year the event will be working with Eventmaster who also provide an online registration service for the prestigious Dublin Marathon.
Further exciting developments include new sponsors – Cool FM, the No 1 Commercial Radio Station in Northern Ireland (Official Radio Sponsor) and Four Star Pizza (Official Food Sponsor). The event is also delighted to confirm they will be working closely with one Official Charity Partner for two years – Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. Participants are encouraged to #MakeItCount and run, walk or wheel for team Cancer Focus NI in 2020 to help more people survive from cancer.
That’s not all, the 2020 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon has been announced as a qualifying event for the first time in the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings, giving runners the chance to earn ranking points ahead of the world championships taking place in the spring of 2021. Details here www.worldmarathonmajors.com/agwr/how-it-works
Furthermore, the event is delighted to introduce a new marathon development initiative in partnership with Athletics Northern Ireland called Marathon Potential 2024. Designed to feed into the ANI Podium Potential Programme and the Dublin Marathon Mission, it aims to identify athletes with marathon potential and will provide training and competition support.
John Allen, Chairman of the Belfast City Marathon organising committee, commented:
“This was a record year for the event with around 5,000 taking part in the marathon alone. With all the positive changes ahead and continuation of a popular Marathon Sunday option we look forward to seeing the event grow from strength to strength, attracting a wider audience from across the Globe. This year also sees the introduction of a new Marathon Development initiative, a project which will aim to support athletes, and their coaches, that have not yet moved to the marathon distance but have the potential to do so and hope to bring the next generation of Northern Ireland’s marathon runners through.”
The Chairman further commented:
“I’d like to thank all sponsors and partners for their support in 2020, this prestigious international event would not be possible without their generosity. We look forward to working with all parties to help deliver Northern Ireland’s biggest mass participation sporting event on Sunday 3rd May 2020.”
Deep RiverRock will be the title sponsor of the event for the 14th year.
Hilary Hughes, Marketing Manager at Deep RiverRock said;
“We are very proud to be the title sponsor of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon, in its 39th year. As Northern Ireland’s favourite water brand, we will be there on the day, taking part in the marathon. We will ensure that runners are kept hydrated with dedicated water stations along the 26.2 mile route and at the finish line. We will be distributing our new 100% Recycled AND Recyclable water bottles which are made to make a difference. We will work closely with Belfast City Marathon to ensure that all bottles used on the day are collected and recycled to reduce the impact on the environment. To everyone taking part in the marathon in May, best of luck with your training, enjoy every step of it, stay hydrated and I look forward to seeing you at the finish line”
The Official Charity Partner for 2020 is Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. Roisin Foster, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus NI, said:
“Cancer Focus NI is delighted to have been chosen as the sole charity partner for the next two years for the Belfast marathon. All the money raised will stay in Northern Ireland and will fund a new research project looking at the treatment of esophageal and pancreatic cancer – two cancers which at present have very low survival rates.”
Entries are NOW OPEN at www.belfastcitymarathon.com via the brand new Eventmaster online registration station. Entries can be made via mobile or desktop with an early rate available until 30th November 2019. Details of the 2020 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon route can be found here also.
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Athletics Northern Ireland, Daily Mirror, Belfast City Council, Better, Cool FM (Downtown Radio and Downtown Country), Translink, Daily Mirror, Spar, Belfast Live, Framar Health, Tayto and Four Star Pizza. This year’s official charity is Cancer Focus Northern Ireland.