Thousands taking part in Belfast City Marathon 2025

The 43rd Belfast City Marathon has started with thousands of runners aiming to complete the 26.2-mile course.

The race started at Stormont at 9:00 BST and will finish in Ormeau Park.

Record numbers have taken part this year - organisers say 6,500 full marathon runners signed up along with 2,750 relay teams (which have between two and five people in them) and 1,200 walkers.

A number of roads are closed and there are changes to public transport.

The course starts in Stormont in east Belfast and heads south, taking in the Boucher Road, west on to the Falls Road, then north, past the Waterworks, as well as through the city centre, before ending in Ormeau Park.

The relay consists of five legs, of varying distance, with changeover points across the route.

There are some slight changes to the route in 2025 compared to previous years.

Last year, Kenyans Mathew Kiplimo Kembo and Beatrice Jepkemei won the men's and women's races respectively.

Chairman John Allen said the organisation was "delighted" to welcome participants of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Michael Walker had not run in a decade.

"I'm running for the charity Angel Eyes who helped my son," he told BBC News NI.

"It's been hard back training and it's been a culture shock."

Sophie Millar, is running a leg of the marathon as part of a relay, for the first time.

"I'm very nervous and I'm hoping my knee will hold out," she said.

This is also Ciara McEvoy's first marathon experience.

"I'm taking part in the relay for a special needs school," she said.

"It's brought the whole community together. We've been training at lunchtime."

SDLP leader Claire Hanna is also among those running the marathon.

She had been planning for months to run the marathon but did not make it public until close to race day, as she was not sure whether she had prepared enough.

Posting on Instagram, she showed a picture of her race number and running top and said running had become a big part of her life.

DUP MLA Brian Kingston, who has run a number of marathons including Boston, is also due to run on Sunday.

For a full comprehensive list of what roads are closed and when they reopen you can click here.

There will be some disruption for the duration of the marathon, with the Upper Newtownards Road closed at the Comber Road junction until 11:00 BST.

Roads along the route will open and close on a staggered basis as runners pass.

Organisers say roads will reopen as quickly as possible as runners pass key routes.

The last road to reopen will be the Ravenhill Road from the Rosetta Roundabout to the Ormeau Embankment (where local access is being maintained) which closes at 09:00 and does not reopen until 16:00.

Marathon organisers have asked that motorists please follow the traffic diversion signs and take direction from stewards.

"These traffic management measures are set up to prioritise safety for participants and road users," said chairman John Allen.

To help people going to the marathon there special trains are running from Londonderry, Larne, Bangor and Newry to Belfast Lanyon Place.

For a list of all special departure times click here.

Public transport around the city will be affected due to several road closures.

Ulsterbus, Metro and Glider bus services within Belfast will be subject to delay or disruption.

You can watch live coverage of the race on the BBC iPlayer and BBC NI Sport website or listen on Radio Ulster.

Mark Simpson and Nicola McCarthy are presenting live coverage from around the course.

There will also be updates here on the BBC News NI website.