Northern Ireland

Marathon times adjusted but organisers under fire for bag drop 'chaos'

Marathon runners make their way down the Andersonstown Road Picture by Mal McCann.
Marathon runners make their way down the Andersonstown Road Picture by Mal McCann. Marathon runners make their way down the Andersonstown Road Picture by Mal McCann.

BELFAST City Marathon has adjusted the times of all runners after admitting "human error" resulted in its new course being 0.3 miles too long.

Those taking part welcomed times being changed to reflect the true distance, but organisers are now under fire for "chaos" at the bag drop at the end of the race.

There were claims that runners were "standing about freezing" for an hour or more.

On Sunday, marathon chairman David Seaton apologised after the lead car diverted twice from the published route.

Times for every finisher were later adjusted downwards.

It was the first time the event took place on a Sunday and there was a 60 per cent increase in the number of participants.

Organisers are facing further criticism, however, over the length of time runners were made wait to collect their bags afterwards.

Runners typically set aside warmer clothes or extra layers, which are then taken to a bag drop for them to collect as soon as they finish.

Several pictures and videos were posted on social media on Sunday showing massive queues at the end of Sunday's event at Ormeau Park.

There were reports of people fainting and requiring first aid as they waited in the cold.

Fewer than 5,000 runners completed the entire marathon distance on Sunday.

Those who took part in the London marathon just a week earlier - which attracted 43,000 runners - said they received their bags without a wait.

Runner Steve Smyth from Belfast said the disappointing bag drop facility "marred the event badly".

"Standing for almost an hour, in the cold, having ran 26.2+ miles, I've heard some were standing longer," he said.

"This was surely very dangerous for the health and safety of the runners? I witnessed some collapsing and needing medical attention. The whole idea of a bag drop is to have quick access to clothing to keep warm. Very poor show in that respect and a shame that such a simple lack of thought towards a very important aspect of runners health and safety has for me overshadowed the many positives."

Pauline Mullan from Dungiven said she waited "nearly an hour, shivering cold, and my leg was in pain, l was ready to pass out".

Patrick McParland from Belfast, whose son was taking part in his first marathon, said it was concerning.

"People were waiting over an hour for their bags. It was very cold and people were standing around in vests and shorts after having run. I saw one woman had to be taken off and needed first aid," he said.

While adjusted times have been issued, is in unclear whether they will be accepted as qualifying standards for other events including London and Boston.

From 2013 to 2015, the Greater Manchester Marathon course was 380 metres short, due to a measuring error. UK Athletics later declared the times of those races invalid.

Ireland international marathon runner Stephen Scullion said Belfast would learn from the mistakes of Sunday.

"We should be celebrating the fact as a great city, we still have a home marathon to compete in/be proud of," he said.