Efforts to increase female Dublin Marathon entries bear fruit

Race organisers have also confirmed a 5% increase in female entries in last week's Irish Life Dublin half-marathon at the Phoenix Park as efforts continue to boost female participants for the Dublin marathon.

As part of a concerted drive to boost female participation which is currently below 40%, any woman unable to run next month because they are pregnant or postpartum will be able to defer their place to 2024, 2025 or 2026.

It was announced in May that female participants in the half marathon would be provided with the same preferential early entry as the entrants for next year’s marathon, providing an entry window before the lottery is opened to the public.

Organisers say it was a contributing factor in the 5% increase in female runners at the Phoenix Park, with 2,445 women completing the 13.1 mile route as part of the Dublin Series, culminating in the marathon on Sunday, 29 October.

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Four participants in this year's Irish Life Dublin marathon have changed their entry to non-binary, race organisers have confirmed.

This year marks the first time that category has been available, allowing allow participants to enter as non-binary as well as male or female.

Runners were given the opportunity in August to change their entry to the non-binary category if they should wish to do so.

In 2024 the non-binary category will be available from the start of the entry process.

Race director Jim Aughney confirmed that four entrants have changed to non-binary, with prize money for the top three.

"As an organisation, we are always open to feedback from our community on how we can be more inclusive," he told RTÉ Sport.

"We were one of the first major European city marathons to allow wheelchair-assisted participants following requests from their