Skip to content

Record chasers and rookies lace up for Belfast race

Matt Fox and Chloe Gibson
BBC News NI
Elaine McAnulty A woman with blonde haired tied up, wearing sunglasses in front of an orange marathon banner. She is wearing a blue and yellow vest and has a large medal around her neck, on a red lanyard. She is holding four fingers up and smiling.Elaine McAnulty
Elaine previously ran four marathons in four days in Donegal

As the 43rd Belfast City Marathon approaches, the city buzzes with energy, excitement, and the sound of running shoes hitting the pavements.

From elite runners, to first-timers just hoping to cross the finish line on Sunday, thousands of people are gearing up for one of Northern Ireland's most celebrated sporting events.

For some, it's a chance to compete at the highest level; for others, it's about personal achievement or raising money for a cause.

BBC News NI spoke to four people taking part this weekend.

'If I can do it anyone can'

Elaine McAnulty, from County Down, hopes to become the first woman in Northern Ireland to complete 400 official marathons, marking the milestone on the streets of Belfast, where her running journey first began, and cementing her name in history.

"It's a special achievement, but I believe if I can do it anyone can," she told BBC News NI.

"I don't consider myself a runner, it's a hobby for me and I hope to continue for as long as I am able and enjoying it."

The 54-year-old Banbridge woman said she was "bitten by the running bug" 10 years ago and she enjoys the "real adrenaline rush" when crossing the finish line.

'Enjoy every minute'

Elaine McAnulty A wall showing hundreds of medals hanging, they all have colourful lanyards and are arranged by date with markers highlighting significant achievements - 200, 300 etc... The rails they are hanging off say "It's all about the bling"Elaine McAnulty
Elaine has completed 399 marathons to date

From Belfast to the Bahamas, Elaine has travelled the world competing in marathons, including four of the six majors.

Listed in the prestigious World Mega Marathon Rankings as the 118th female marathon runner in the world, Elaine's next big goal is to break into the top 100.

"As someone who isn't a professional athlete and juggling a busy job it would prove that anything is achievable... If it happens, it happens, I'm not putting any pressure on myself."

Elaine plans to celebrate this weekend with "a big mug of tea" at the finish line.

As a seasoned marathon runner, Elaine's advice to newcomers is: "Put your head down, get your shoes on and get on with it. Don't leave it too long before signing up to do your next one and enjoy every minute of it."

'It's probably changed my life'

Self-confessed reluctant runner Scott Lawther is also taking to the streets this Sunday in his bid to complete a personal challenge.

He started running last June, with weight loss as an initial motivation, and regularly shares his progress with thousands of followers on TikTok in an effort to hold himself accountable.

"I really didn't enjoy it that much but I just persevered, everything I heard was, 'you have to break through the barrier'. It took about eight weeks before it actually became enjoyable," he said.

"In the build up to a marathon, you're meant to do a fair bit of volume, there's definitely times where I could not be bothered at all, but there's also runs where you feel on top of the world."

Scott Lawther A man with short brown hair wearing a red tshirt and a black running vest, he is smiling at camera as he takes a selfie, running alongside the water in Belfast. There are high rise waterfront apartments visible on the horizon.Scott Lawther
Scott has been documenting his run-journey on TikTok

Approaching the race, Scott said he is excited and anxious.

"Part of the nerves is that I've put myself out there to the world," he said.

"I am the definition of the least runner-type person, now after doing it for a year I love it.

"It's a bit cringey but it probably has changed my life in a way. It does suck absolutely at times, but it has lots of perks."

Aiming for a time of under four hours on Sunday, Scott is already looking forward to next year when he hopes to compete in the London marathon.

His advice for aspiring athletes? "Take it slow, build it up and if you're consistent you'll reap the rewards of it."

'It's not about disability - it's about her ability'

Derek Goodfellow A man in a red vest, hat and sunglasses, pushing his daughter - a young girl with brown hair and a black top - in a specialist green run chair. They are both smiling, the girl is waving. There are numerous runners following behind them.Derek Goodfellow
Derek Goodfellow and his daughter Katie-Louise are running Belfast City Marathon for a second time

Also preparing for Sunday's race is Derek Goodfellow from Belfast, who aims to complete the marathon alongside his daughter, Katie-Louise.

The pair returned this week from Manchester, completing the full marathon in just under five hours, despite "phenomenally warm" conditions.

"We ran with Jessica and her daughter Darcy," Derek said. "We managed to cross the finish line together, and now they're flying over to stay with us and run Belfast," he said.

Derek started running in 2013, weighing 20 stone at the time, and has since competed in numerous parkruns and marathons.

Derek Goodfellow A man in a red vest, yellow and black tutu and striped socks, a hat and sunglasses, posing beside a young girl with brown hair and a black top - in a specialist green run chair. They are pictured beside a woman with long blonde hair and glasses, in a navy top and patterned skirt, who is also beside a young brown haired girl in a specialist red run chair. There are numerous marathon goers in the background.Derek Goodfellow
The pair ran Manchester marathon last week and were joined by new friends Jessica and Darcy, who they met on an online assisted running group

After a few years off due to injury, he knew he "had the bug back" when his son joined him for a run two years ago.

"Week three of trying to go, Katie-Louise decided 'no, I want to go too', so we joined junior parkrun as a family," he said.

"It quickly became apparent Katie-Louise loved it as much as anyone else.

"For Katie-Louise it's the pure sense of inclusion and acceptance for who she is, despite her disability - it's not about disability, it's about her ability."

Getty Images Six runners in vests and shorts, sprinting past Belfast City Hall, a large stone building with a blue, domed roof. There are a number of spectators cheering the athletes on.Getty Images
The 26.2 mile route will take participants across the city, past landmarks including City Hall and Parliament Buildings, before finishing in Ormeau Park

Supported by Mallusk Harriers and Monkstown Spartans run clubs, who started a major fundraising drive, the family soon purchased a specialist running chair for Katie-Louise.

"The running community is just absolutely amazing, the support, the encouragement," he said.

"Katie-Louise loves running around the streets of Belfast. We came out of the Waterworks last year and there was a woman struggling at mile 20, Katie-Louise must have sensed it, she held her hand until mile 21 and just looked up and gave her a smile.

You can get information on the Belfast Marathon here.

BBC Northern Ireland will have live coverage of this year's Belfast City Marathon across BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Ulster and on the BBC Sport NI website.