Dublin Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
An October bank-holiday institution through Georgian Dublin and the Phoenix Park, with support loud enough to earn the 'friendly marathon' nickname. The profile rolls all day: the long Phoenix Park rise before halfway, then the Roebuck Road drag at km 35 arriving exactly where glycogen runs lowest. Entry is by lottery — demand runs roughly double the 22,500 places.
The Dublin Marathon is moderately rolling — rated 3/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 760 ft (230 m) and loses 780 ft (240 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 4 (near mile 2.5), demanding about 8% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 6.3%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Dublin, IE |
| Total ascent | 760 ft (230 m) |
| Total descent | 780 ft (240 m) |
| Net elevation | -16 ft (-5 m) |
| Steepest grade | 6.3% |
| Difficulty | 3/5 |
| Field size | ≈22,500 runners |
| Race day | Last Sunday of October |
Kilometre-by-kilometre splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill kilometres get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Kilometre | GAP pace /km | GAP pace /mi | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -2 ft (-1 m) | 5:39 |
| 2 | 5:35 | 8:58 | -11 ft (-3 m) | 11:14 |
| 3 | 5:24 | 8:42 | -32 ft (-10 m) | 16:38 |
| 4 | 6:03 | 9:44 | +39 ft (+12 m) | 22:41 |
| 5 | 6:08 | 9:52 | +47 ft (+14 m) | 28:49 |
| 6 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +29 ft (+9 m) | 34:46 |
| 7 | 5:36 | 9:01 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 40:22 |
| 8 | 6:00 | 9:40 | +35 ft (+11 m) | 46:23 |
| 9 | 5:52 | 9:27 | +20 ft (+6 m) | 52:15 |
| 10 | 5:46 | 9:18 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 58:01 |
| 11 | 6:00 | 9:39 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 1:04:01 |
| 12 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:09:41 |
| 13 | 5:00 | 8:04 | -84 ft (-26 m) | 1:14:41 |
| 14 | 5:44 | 9:13 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 1:20:25 |
| 15 | 5:26 | 8:44 | -32 ft (-10 m) | 1:25:51 |
| 16 | 5:11 | 8:20 | -58 ft (-18 m) | 1:31:02 |
| 17 | 5:50 | 9:23 | +15 ft (+5 m) | 1:36:51 |
| 18 | 5:57 | 9:35 | +27 ft (+8 m) | 1:42:49 |
| 19 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -14 ft (-4 m) | 1:48:22 |
| 20 | 5:44 | 9:13 | +5 ft (+2 m) | 1:54:06 |
| 21 | 5:46 | 9:17 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 1:59:52 |
| 22 | 6:00 | 9:39 | +33 ft (+10 m) | 2:05:51 |
| 23 | 6:02 | 9:42 | +37 ft (+11 m) | 2:11:53 |
| 24 | 5:39 | 9:06 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:17:32 |
| 25 | 5:47 | 9:19 | +12 ft (+4 m) | 2:23:20 |
| 26 | 5:40 | 9:08 | 0 ft (0 m) | 2:29:00 |
| 27 | 5:38 | 9:05 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 2:34:39 |
| 28 | 5:52 | 9:27 | +21 ft (+6 m) | 2:40:31 |
| 29 | 5:22 | 8:38 | -34 ft (-10 m) | 2:45:53 |
| 30 | 5:41 | 9:09 | +1 ft (0 m) | 2:51:34 |
| 31 | 5:30 | 8:52 | -19 ft (-6 m) | 2:57:04 |
| 32 | 5:16 | 8:28 | -47 ft (-14 m) | 3:02:20 |
| 33 | 5:37 | 9:02 | -8 ft (-2 m) | 3:07:57 |
| 34 | 5:46 | 9:18 | +10 ft (+3 m) | 3:13:43 |
| 35 | 6:01 | 9:41 | +36 ft (+11 m) | 3:19:44 |
| 36 | 5:52 | 9:26 | +19 ft (+6 m) | 3:25:36 |
| 37 | 5:16 | 8:28 | -49 ft (-15 m) | 3:30:51 |
| 38 | 5:22 | 8:39 | -33 ft (-10 m) | 3:36:13 |
| 39 | 5:28 | 8:47 | -23 ft (-7 m) | 3:41:41 |
| 40 | 5:38 | 9:03 | -5 ft (-2 m) | 3:47:19 |
| 41 | 5:40 | 9:07 | -2 ft (0 m) | 3:52:58 |
| 42 | 5:46 | 9:16 | +9 ft (+3 m) | 3:58:44 |
| 42.2 | 6:29 | 10:25 | +16 ft (+5 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Dublin Marathon flat or hilly?
The Dublin Marathon is moderately rolling (3/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 760 ft (230 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Dublin Marathon have?
About 760 ft (230 m) of total ascent and 780 ft (240 m) of descent, for a net change of -16 ft (-5 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Dublin Marathon course?
Kilometre 4 (near mile 2.5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 8% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 6.3%.
When is the Dublin Marathon?
The Dublin Marathon is typically held on the last Sunday of October. The next edition is expected around October 25, 2026. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Dublin Marathon?
The field is roughly 22,500 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Dublin Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Dublin race
Marathons with a similar profile
- New York City Marathon — 770 ft (230 m) ascent
- Marine Corps Marathon — 770 ft (230 m) ascent
- Boston Marathon — 770 ft (240 m) ascent
- London Marathon — 770 ft (240 m) ascent
Official race site: https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/