The Antrim Coast Half Marathon takes place on Sunday 23 August 2026, starting near Sandy Bay Playing Fields in Larne. Here's everything you need to know before race day.
The Basics
Date: Sunday 23 August 2026
Start time: 11:00am
Location: Larne, Co. Antrim
Entry fee: From £42
More info: antrimcoasthalfmarathon.com
| Ascent | 70m |
| Profile | Undulating |
| 2025 winning time (M) | 59:51 |
| 2025 winning time (F) | 1:05:38 |
The Course
70m ascent | Undulating | Along the Antrim Coast Road
View the full interactive course map and elevation profile
The race begins near Sandy Bay Playing Fields and Larne Town Park, launching runners onto one of Northern Ireland's most scenic stretches of road. From the start, the route sweeps through Larne Harbour and the town centre before joining the world-famous Antrim Coast Road.
This is the heart of the course. For several miles, runners get the Irish Sea on one side and rolling green hills on the other, passing landmarks like the historic Black Arch along the way. The surface is predominantly level tarmac, and the course holds its undulating rating honestly — there's no single sustained climb, just a steady rhythm of gentle rises and drops that keep things interesting without ever threatening a fast time.
The turning point comes at the picturesque village of Ballygally, where the route doubles back along the scenic shorefront for the return leg into Larne. The race finishes at the historic Chaine Memorial Tower, a fitting landmark end to a coastal out-and-back.
Where to push: The coast road itself is the most consistent running on the course — settle into rhythm here and use the sea views to your advantage rather than letting the scenery slow your focus.
Where to be careful: An 11:00am start in late August on an exposed coast road means wind and sun exposure are real factors — the return leg from Ballygally can feel very different depending on conditions on the day.
Finish: Chaine Memorial Tower, Larne.
Note: The course map on RaceRoutes is based on the most recently available route. Always confirm the final route with the race organisers before race day.
Course Profile
At 70m of ascent over 21.1km, the Antrim Coast Half Marathon comes out as an undulating course — not flat, but nowhere near hilly either. The course is World Athletics certified (valid through 2029), meeting the governing body's record-eligibility geometry (net elevation drop capped at 1m per km of race distance, start and finish no more than 50% of the race distance apart) — so times set here count for record purposes, not just a personal best.
That said, this is a coastal out-and-back rather than a loop — the outbound and return legs run close to the same shoreline road, just with the town-centre and harbour sections adding some variety at each end.
On the Day
- The race starts near Sandy Bay Playing Fields — arrive with enough time to find parking, as Larne town centre will have road closures in place
- An 11:00am start is later than most Irish/UK road races — factor in a later breakfast and warm-up window than you might be used to
- The Antrim Coast Road is exposed to sea wind — dress for conditions rather than just the forecast temperature
- The route is predominantly tarmac throughout, so standard road shoes are fine
About the Event
The Antrim Coast Half Marathon puts runners on one of Northern Ireland's most photographed stretches of road, linking Larne to the coastal village of Ballygally and back via the Antrim Coast Road. With the Irish Sea on one side and the Antrim hills on the other, it's as much a scenic day out as it is a serious half marathon.
Race website: antrimcoasthalfmarathon.com