| Great Ireland Run | |
|---|---|
 TheWellington Monument inPhoenix Park – the race venue | |
| Date | Mid-April |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Event type | Road |
| Distance | 10 km |
| Established | 2003 |
| Official site | www |
TheGreat Ireland Run is an annual 10-kilometreroad running competition which is held inPhoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, in mid-April.[1] It is part of theGreat Run series of athletics competitions. It is sponsored bySPAR and features both an elite race and a popular race.[2]
The 10 km race course begins at Chesterfield Avenue and loops around in a clock-wise circuit to finish on Furze Road.[3] A 2.5 kmfun run for 8–15-year-old runners is also featured on the programme of events.[4] Over 11,000 people took part in the day's events in 2010.[5] The elite races in 2010 also doubled up as the Irish 10K Championships.[6]
Past participants have included formermarathonworld record holderPaul Tergat,[7] and World Championship medalistCraig Mottram, as well as some of Ireland's foremost athletes such as 1995 World ChampionSonia O'Sullivan andcross country specialistCatherina McKiernan. The course record holders are both Ethiopian –Kenenisa Bekele with his 27:49-minute run in 2012 andMeselech Melkamu with her record of 31:41 set in 2006.[8]
The 2023 edition was marred in farce and controversy when the course for all participants ended 1.5km shorter than the 10km distance. This was due to poor planning arising from competitors being directed the wrong way near the start of the route, and no fail-safe to remedy such a situation once it occurred. Athletics Ireland issued a statement "apologising for the unforeseen circumstances" which led to the course distance running short.[9]
Key: Course record Irish championship race
Winners by country[edit]
| Multiple winners[edit]
|
