Belfast City Half Marathon Female Pacer Natalie made history in May

02 August 2018

Belfast City Half Marathon Female Pacer Natalie made history in May

With just over 7 weeks to go, the 6th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is gearing up for a record year with over 4,000 participants expected to take part on Sunday 23rd September 2018 at 9am from Ormeau Embankment.

That’s not the only record this year, the main marathon on 7th May introduced the event’s first ever female pacer, Natalie Bowbanks (a dental practice manager) from Tandragee!

Working closely with governing body Athletics Northern Ireland, the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon organisers introduced Official Pacers to the event in 2010 and this has continued to be a great success, with a full pacer line up also available for their September Half Marathon event.

Speaking of her experience, Natalie from running club Craigavon Lakers AC said:

“On 7th May 2018 I was an Official Pacer of the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon and the first ever female pacer.  Not much can top this for me and my goals!  I’m delighted to be pacing a 2:15 finish at the Half Marathon event for the first time also on 23rd September.”

This September Natalie joins our team of experienced Pacers which range from 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes, full details below and on our website https://www.belfastcitymarathon.com/get-training/Pacer-Scheme.

PACING TIME

PACER   

RUNNING CLUB

1 hour 30

Niall Higgins

Magherafelt Harriers

1 hour 30

Juan Botella

Queens Uni Triathlon Club

1 hour 45

Alastair Shaw

Springwell Running Club

1 hour 45

Neil Mercer

Albertville Harriers

1 hour 45

Graeme Colhoun

Dub Runners Belfast

2 hours 

Niall Farquharson

Beechmount Harriers

2 hours 

John Butcher

Springwell Running Club

2 hours 

Darren Walsh

Springwell Running Club

2 hours 15

Natalie Bowbanks

Craigavon Lakers AC

2 hours 15

 Michael McCreesh

 East Down AC

There’s still time to sign up and train for our popular mainly flat and fast 13.1 mile course and join our experienced pacers to take you across the finish line “on time”, to achieve that Personal Best!

Sign up for the 6th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon, the BIGGEST Half Marathon event in Northern Ireland, before 31st August at www.belfastcitymarathon.com  or contact the office directly on 028 9060 5933.

The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is sponsored by Athletics Northern Ireland, Daily Mirror, Belfast City Council, Translink, Daily Mirror, ASICS, Intersport, Centra, Belfast Live and U105. Sampling partners are Musgrave Retailers, Deep RiverRock, Linwoods, Tayto and White Oats. 

Mencap Northern Ireland is the official charity partner of the 2018 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon and they urge you to #MoveIt4Mencap.  41,700 people in Northern Ireland are living with a learning disability. Mencap are the voice for people with learning disabilities, by challenging yourself in this year’s Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon you will help Mencap support even more people with a learning disability through their education, employment and family life programmes.  The money you raise will help Mencap provide its live changing services to local people all across Northern Ireland.  To find out more information about Mencap services in Northern Ireland; and about the people with whom we work please visit www.mencap.org.uk/ni