Medieval Marathon
Kilkenny City, Kilkenny
12 Sep 2026
⚠ Start times change frequently. Always check with race organiser or their website for this year's confirmed start time before travelling.
Course map
Adapted from the official site’s map
Elevation profile
About this race
The Medieval Marathon begins on High Street at the Tholsel, where runners depart from the heart of the city's historic center. The route initially weaves through Kilkenny’s narrow medieval streets, passing iconic landmarks such as Kilkenny Castle and St. Francis Bridge before transitioning onto the scenic country roads toward the Callan area. This course offers a blend of architectural history and lush rural landscapes, featuring a terrain that is characterized by gentle, rolling gradients rather than steep inclines. After completing the countryside loop, participants return to the city center for a spectacular finish in front of the Butler Gallery or along The Parade.
Course profile & record eligibility
World Athletics record-eligibility rules cap net elevation loss at 1m per km of race distance, and require the start and finish to be no more than 50% of the race distance apart — both meant to stop a course gaining an unfair edge from downhill grade or a point-to-point tailwind. This is based on this course's recorded elevation and GPS data, not an official measurement or certification.