2026 Dublin City Marathon 💧🏃♂️
On the October Bank Holiday Weekend, the clocks go back, but the Scouts, Ventures, Leaders and Parents were up pre-dawn to get ready for the 2026 Dublin City Marathon water stations at mile 22 (~35km), on Fosters Avenue. We met at 7am at the Den and from there made our way to South County Dublin to get to work setting up the stations.
With more than 70 members and volunteers from 1st Meath Dunboyne Scout Group taking part, we were ready to support thousands of marathon runners as they tackled the final stages of the 42.2km course. Our team operated two hydration stations at either end of Fosters Avenue, with a water station at the start and a Lucozade station approximately 500 metres further along the marathon route.
1 / 16Battling the Elements
The weather certainly made its presence felt this year! The tail end of Storm Boelo brought strong winds that had a significant impact on runners, but it also made setting up and dismantling the water stations much more challenging. Keeping equipment, supplies and cups under control in the gusty conditions was no easy task.
However, our Scouts and Ventures persevered with great determination and good humour, getting the job done despite the challenging conditions. There was music, dancing, plenty of encouragement for the runners and literally thousands of cups of water handed out to help keep the runners going.
It was fantastic to see our group rise to the challenge, working together as a team and play such an important role in supporting one of Dublin's biggest sporting events.
A Record-Breaking Marathon
This year's event saw a record turnout, with more than 19,190 runners taking to the streets for the Dublin City Marathon, making it one of the largest fields in the event's history.
With so many runners making their way past our stations, there was no shortage of activity throughout the day. Our volunteers worked tirelessly to keep the refreshments flowing, ensuring runners could grab a drink, receive some encouragement and continue their journey towards the finish line.
1 / 11Keeping Our Volunteers Fuelled
Of course, looking after the runners was only part of the operation. Keeping more than 70 volunteers fed and refreshed throughout a long and windy day was a marathon in itself!
A special mention must go to Jill McInerney and her very own Deliveroo Driver Marcus, who kept everyone fuelled from start to finish. Breakfast sausages in baps got the team going early, sandwiches kept hunger at bay at lunchtime, and a trusty burco ensured that the tea and coffee kept flowing all day long.
A huge thank you to Jill and Marcus for making sure our volunteers were well looked after. Their contribution was very much appreciated by all our volunteers.
1 / 8One of Our Own Takes on the Marathon
This year, we also had one of our own putting in the miles on the other side of the water station! Monday Beavers Leader Gareth Fereday took on the full Dublin City Marathon and completed the course in an exceptional time of 3 hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds. That is a fantastic achievement, and everyone at 1st Meath Dunboyne Scout Group congratulates Gareth on his performance.
A Final Thank You!
Organising two water stations takes a huge amount of preparation, teamwork and commitment, and this year's challenging conditions made the task even more demanding. We are incredibly proud of all our Scouts, Ventures, Leaders and Parents who gave up their bank holiday Sunday to support the event.
From the early start at the Den to the final stages of dismantling the stations, picking up thousands of used cups, everyone played their part in making the day a success. It was a brilliant example of teamwork, community spirit and the scouting values we are proud to promote.
A massive thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped make the 2026 Dublin City Marathon a memorable day for our group. We look forward to doing it all again next year!