Course Map
Elevation Profile
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 166m
- Elevation loss
- 170m
- Highest point
- 42m
- Lowest point
- 64m
- Net drop
- 4m
- Start
- St. Mel's Cathedral, St. Mel's Road
- Cutoff time
- 8h 30m
About this Race
The Abbott Longford Marathon is a single-loop tour of Ireland’s scenic midlands, starting on Main Street in Longford Town beside the historic, 19th-century St. Mel’s Cathedral before weaving out of the urban center and guiding runners over the iconic stone bridges of the River Shannon. The route then stretches across three counties—Longford, Roscommon, and Leitrim—into the expansive, flat vistas of the rural Irish heartland, guiding runners along quiet, peat-bordered country roads and tranquil, hedge-lined national lanes. The course eventually loops its way back toward the town limits, tracking alongside the peaceful waters of the Royal Canal before delivering a grand, community-centered finish back in the heart of Longford Town. Affectionately known as "The Friendly Marathon," the race is defined by its deep community vibe and exceptionally warm local hospitality, balancing a quiet, mentally testing rural middle section with an energetic, supportive atmosphere at the water stations and town checkpoints. It draws a passionate, tight-knit field that blends international marathon tourists with Ireland’s regional championship contenders, all competing via an accessible, first-come, first-served general registration system rather than a lottery ballot. It perfectly suits adventurous debutants looking for a supportive environment and seasoned racers seeking a flat, rhythm-based course, rewarding runners who pace themselves intelligently through its gently undulating terrain and save enough energy to push through the exposed, windy country straits around kilometer 25.
Course Insight
The Main Street start gives you immediate adrenaline on wide tarmac beneath the shadow of St. Mel's Cathedral, but you face the first tactical test within the first two miles as you weave out of Longford Town; the flat, urban asphalt lets you find a quick rhythm, but you must actively monitor your pace before the route transitions onto the wide-open country roads. The long southwest stretch toward Tarmonbarry is a classic pacing trap where fresh legs make the pancake-flat roads feel completely effortless, so back off your target pace early and save energy for the isolated miles ahead. The descent down toward the banks of the River Shannon offers a gentle gravity assist, but do not chase free speed as the course opens into unsheltered territory where sudden late-August winds can break your rhythm. The halfway mark arrives deep in the quiet countryside across county lines, opening into vast scenic expanses where the field thins out significantly, tempting you to drift mentally—a trap you must resist by locked-in pacing. The true defining test begins around kilometer 25 (mile 15.5) with the most exposed sections of the course—a steady, unrelenting stretch on open country lanes that arrives precisely when early fatigue sets in and where runners without a strategy are broken by the headwind. Over the crest of the Shannon bridges, you are rewarded with a welcome flat trend and a scenic view of the Royal Canal way as the loop heads back toward the town limits.
Difficulty Breakdown
A balanced marathon with no single defining challenge.
Race History
The Abbott Longford Marathon began in 2002 as a passionate local initiative spearheaded by local running legend Liam Fenelon and community organizers, drawing a maiden field of enthusiastic runners to celebrate Fenelon completing his milestone 100th marathon. The event established an immediate foothold on a flat, rhythmic course layout spanning three counties—Longford, Roscommon, and Leitrim—that quickly became a certified favorite on the Athletics Ireland calendar. Over its first two decades, the race steadily evolved from a compact regional road race into a highly anticipated weekend festival, expanding its lineup to include a 5K, Half Marathon, Team Relay, and a grueling 39.3-mile Ultra Marathon to welcome all tiers of endurance athletes. Famously preserving its intimate "Friendly Marathon" moniker even while expanding through corporate backing from title sponsors like Abbott, the race has earned a reputation for its deep charitable impact and warm midlands hospitality. Now regularly serving as a marquee event in the Irish running circuit, the race attracts a record-growing field of well over 1,200 multi-distance participants annually, offering accessible general registration to international destination runners eager to conquer its scenic, tree-lined country loops.
Plan Your Trip
Longford Town Centre for start line walking distance, Tarmonbarry for scenic riverside guesthouses on the course, and Carrick-on-Shannon for premium hotels and a lively tourist hub a short drive away.
- Nearest airport(s)
- NOC Ireland West Airport Knock, DUB Dublin Airport
- Best area to stay
- Longford Town Centre for start line walking distance, Tarmonbarry for scenic riverside guesthouses on the course, and Carrick-on-Shannon for premium hotels and a lively tourist hub a short drive away.
- Getting to the start
- Longford Town is served by regular Bus Éireann and Irish Rail services from Dublin; the start line is in the town centre, walkable from local hotels, making public transport a very practical option.
- Race expo
- Longford Arms Hotel (Saturday before marathon.)