BRC Race Series 2024 – Craic 10K – Belfast Running Club

Belfast Craic 2024

What’s the craic? It’s a question which can elicit various answers depending who is answering and for that matter who is doing the asking. However, these days, a decade after the inaugural 17th March 10k, to runners in Northern Ireland the ‘Craic’ represents the best way to start St Patrick’s Day; a 6.2 mile race which starts at Belfast City Hall and finishes in Ormeau Park.

By now the event attracts over 4,000 runners and the start especially has the feel and atmosphere of a big city racing event and it is a credit to the organisers. This year the weather was just about perfect for running, not too warm, no notable wind and the rain stayed away until later on our patron saints day. It was as if St Patrick himself had arranged the conditions and the BRC contingent took advantage of the ideal conditions and turned in some brilliant times.

BRCers have always supported and taken part in the event and this year, when the Craic 10k was included in the Race Series for the first time, it took on an extra significance in the BRC calendar.
In all we had 16 runners racing this event with many more supporting our members on the route.

First to finish was Callum Robinson, who had won his race place in the ballot at the legendary BRC Christmas party. Callum was flying down the Ormeau Road to come home in an amazing 37:26. with Fabrice Scoupe, David Hynes and Vernon Murphy (with a PB) also breaking the 40 minute barrier. Marie Therese Higgins was the first female home in 43:38 with Hannah Gray only 7 seconds behind.

The full list of results from the event and the age graded scores can be found on our race results page.
Well done to all our runners and supporters on the day. St Patrick would be proud and there is not a snake among yez!

So after two events in the 2024 Race Series the leaderboard is taking on some shape, although some regular runners have missed an event or two for various reasons and we hope and expect to see them return over the next few weeks.
Next up we head for the Zoo on the 14th April for a 5k race which I hear has a wee hill built in. Someone told me it’s all happening at the zoo. I do believe it’s true.