Belfast City Marathon: Race returns for May Day weekend

Runners began the marathon at Stormont Estate on Sunday morning

Thousands of runners have taken part in the Belfast City Marathon, as it returned to its traditional date during the May Day bank holiday weekend for the first time in three years.

The event was put on hold due to the pandemic but came back last October.

Irish Olympic athlete Paul Pollock won the men's race in a time of two hours, 16 minutes and 13 seconds.

The Holywood man had to speed away from the finish line as his wife is expecting the couple's second child.

North Belfast's Gladys Ganiel won the women's race ahead of St Peter's Lurgan athlete Gillian McCrory.

This year's event, which is celebrating its 40th year, is being held for the second time on the Sunday of the May Day holiday weekend.

The decision to change days was made in 2019, after a request from the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce - it said the first May bank holiday should be a significant trading day and a Sunday event would boost visitor numbers.

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The race started from Prince of Wales Avenue at the Stormont Estate at 09:00 BST.

The 26.2 mile-long (42.1 km) race takes runners across east, north, west and south Belfast, before finishing in Ormeau Park.

Runners faced a rainy start when the raace got under way at 09:00

Roads along the route have been closed since 06:00 and will reopen again once all runners have passed.

A relay and wheelchair race is following the same route as the marathon, and there is also an eight mile (12.8km) walk.

The marathon began at Stormont and ends at Ormeau Park more than 26 miles later

Last October's men's marathon was won by Irish Olympian Mick Clohisey, while Fionnuala Ross was first in the women's race.

It was Northern Ireland's largest mass participation sporting event since the pandemic began and attracted a record number of entrants.