Why Winter is the Best Time to Sign Up for the Belfast Marathon (No, Seriously)

Phil Knox
By Phil Knox

December 3, 2024

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It’s winter. The days are short, the nights are long, and the only running you’re doing is to the thermostat when you realize you’ve forgotten to turn the heating on. But here’s the thing, this miserable, frosty, dark time of year? It’s perfect for signing up for the Belfast City Marathon. Why? Because nothing says “I’m not afraid of winter” like committing to running 26.2 miles in the heart of Northern Ireland.

And with Christmas around the corner, what better gift can you give yourself than a solid reason to avoid Aunt Maureen’s sixth mince pie? Let’s talk about why you should sign up now (or commit if you haven’t already) and how you can use winter to your advantage, before that box of roses takes over your life.

 

Why Sign Up?

  • It’s a Proper Story for the Pub
    “How was your weekend?”
    “Oh, you know, just ran a marathon, no big deal.”
    You win. You are now the most interesting person in the room. Forget about John’s new shed. No one cares. You’ve just conquered a city-wide endurance event.
  • Bragging Rights
    You’ll never need to carry shopping bags again to prove your strength. Just flash your finisher’s medal and casually say, “26.2 miles lad. Do you even lift?” It’s the ultimate humble brag that works every time.
  • An Excuse to Eat All the Carbs
    Pasta? Absolutely necessary. Bread? Vital. A family-sized pizza? Part of the training plan. You’re not overeating, you’re fueling. And science says you need it. So, go ahead, carb-load like it’s your job.

     

Why the Belfast City Marathon?

Apart from the obvious bragging rights, the Belfast City Marathon is a race like no other. You’ve run through a city with a fascinating if not layered history, electric crowds in all parts of the city, and just the right amount of hills to make you regret your life choices for a second before feeling completely invincible.

  • Winter Training = Spring Glory
    Training through winter means you’ll be in peak form come race day. While others are panicking in March, you’ll be cruising, fueled by months of chilly morning discipline.
  • The People
    Belfast knows how to put on a show. Strangers will cheer your name, offer you jelly babies, and if you’re lucky, someone might even slip you a cheeky pint at mile 22. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll love every second of it.

     

Winter: The Best Time to Train (Seriously!)

  • It Keeps You Moving
    Look, we all know how tempting it is to curl up with a blanket, binge-watch holiday specials, and wonder if cheese counts as a food group. Marathon training gives you a reason to leave the sofa. Plus, you’ll stay warm while everyone else is shivering and complaining about the cold. You’re not cold, my friend, you’re just “in the zone.”
  • Christmas Pudding Runs & More
  • Signing up now means you can ease into the holiday spirit with all those festive fun runs, Santa dashes, turkey trots, and yes, even running dressed as a reindeer. It’s base training with flair.
  • A New Year’s Resolution You Can Start Early
    Why wait for January to announce, “New Year, New Me”? Be the overachiever who gets a head start. By the time everyone else is struggling through “Dry January,” you’ll already be in peak form, hydrated, motivated, and slightly insufferable.

     

The Christmas Connection

Let's face it, training for a marathon is the perfect excuse to skip those insufferable Christmas parties.
“Oh, I’d love to stay, but I’ve got a 10K in the morning.” Boom. Instant excuse.

And Christmas dinner? Don’t even worry about it. Every roast potato, every pig in a blanket, every extra helping of stuffing? It's all just “fueling the engine.” You’re not overeating; you’re carb-loading. Granny might give you a side-eye when you pile your plate high for the third time, but hey, she doesn’t need to know about your marathon goals.

 

If You’re Thinking About Signing Up...

Let’s be honest, if you’re sitting there thinking, “I couldn’t possibly” or “I’m not fit enough,” then take a moment to look at yourself and say, “Nonsense!” Humans landed on the moon. You can jog around Belfast.

  • It’s Good for You: Running is scientifically proven to make you healthier, happier, and about 37% more smug on Instagram.
  • You Don’t Have to Run the Whole Thing: Walk, crawl, hopscotch, just keep moving forward. No one’s judging you. Well, except maybe that one guy in Lycra, but he's too fast to catch anyway.
  • The Atmosphere is Electric: Belfast will be buzzing on marathon day. Strangers will cheer your name, there’ll be bands, and at mile 19, someone will definitely offer you jelly babies (whether you want them or not).

     

What Stage Should You Be At?

If you’ve just signed up, don’t panic. You’ve got loads of time. Here’s how to get through winter:

  • December: Focus on building the habit. Start with short, manageable runs a couple of times a week. Think of it like laying the groundwork while everyone else is laying into their Christmas chocolates.
  • January: Start ramping up your mileage and adding some longer runs on the weekends. While your mates are limping through “Dry January,” you’ll be hydrated, motivated, and annoyingly productive.
  • February: By now, you’re in full swing. You’ll start looking forward to your long runs (or at least not dreading them), and you’ll probably convince yourself that hills actually build character. Spoiler alert: They do.

     

Final Thoughts

Whether you’ve just signed up, you’re on the fence, or you just need one more nudge, here it is: Do it. Winter is your training ally, Christmas is your carb-loading playground, and Belfast is waiting to show you a good time.

Commit now, and by the time spring rolls around, you’ll be fitter, stronger, and ready to show the city who’s boss.

Go on, sign up. Belfast is waiting. And so is the finish line. Just don’t forget your thermal socks for the rest of the winter. 

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