Portadown will set the tone for spring running season on Sunday March 22nd 2026, as the Portadown Running Festival returns with three distances, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K, all built for speed on the town’s famously flat roads.
With the spacious Portadown Rugby Club Grounds as HQ, the festival has earned a strong reputation among club runners and casual athletes alike. The courses follow the scenic Bann River towpath loop towards Gilford, offering a smooth mix of riverside views and urban stretches that are ideal for runners looking for a personal best.
The half marathon option lands exactly six weeks before the Belfast Marathon on May 3rd making it the perfect tune-up race for anyone targeting the Laganside this spring. With chip timing by Core Timing, fast roads, and full support on the course, it’s as close as you’ll get to a race simulation before the big day.
But the atmosphere goes well beyond the stopwatch. Everyone starts and finishes at the Rugby Club, where the post-race buzz and community feel have become central to the event’s identity. Expect a lively crowd, solid organisation, and a field that sells out quickly every year.
All finishers receive a unique medal and running buff, with technical tops for 10K and half-marathon participants. There’s also over £3,000 in prize money across male and female categories, enough to make even the Sunday joggers pick up the pace.
As with nearly every event in Ulster at the moment, entries are expected to vanish fast.
🏃♂️ Race Essentials
📅 Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
📍 Location: Portadown Rugby Club Grounds
🏃♀️ Distances: 5K, 10K, Half Marathon
⏱️ Timing: Chip timing by Core Timing
🏅 Finishers: Unique medal and running buff for all participants
👕 Extras: Technical top for 10K and Half Marathon entries
💰 Prize Fund: Over £3,000 in prize money
💌 Race Bibs: Posted to all entrants
🚗 Parking: Within 5-minute walk of the start area
💖 Organiser: Non-profit event supporting local charities
So don't delay. Enter here
Image: Catriona Shatwell