The streets of Belfast will turn every shade of green again next spring as entries open for the Spar Craic 10K, the city’s St Patrick’s Day road race that’s become a fixture in the spring calendar.
More than 5,000 runners are expected to line up at City Hall on Monday 17 March, weaving through the city before finishing with a flourish in Ormeau Park. Since its first outing in 2015 the race has gone from a small St Patrick’s Day add-on to one of Belfast’s biggest mass-participation runs. It isn’t officially part of the parade, but it feels like the starting gun for the day’s celebrations.
Green gear is practically mandatory. Think leprechaun hats, foam ginger beards, shamrock socks and the odd fluorescent wig. You’ll see plenty of yours erious club runners, but the fun run aspect is just as strong, with club athletes mixing it up alongside families and first-timers.
Organisers have been upping their sustainability game too. Single-use plastics are out, recyclable materials are in, and the wooden finisher’s medal introduced last year will make a welcome return.
Entry is live now with a super-early bird price of £20 available until 1 January. Miss that and it jumps to £25 for the early-bird window in January, then £27 for standard entry. You can enter through the link here.
Image: Aisling Events