Magherafelt 10K Road Race

The Magherafelt 10K brings competitive and recreational runners onto the roads of this Co. Derry market town every summer. Organised by Magherafelt & District AC and listed on the Athletics NI road running calendar, it is a proper club-run race rather than a commercial event - which tends to mean well-marshalled, friendly, and efficient. If you can run 10 kilometres or are training towards that distance, this is the kind of morning that repays the entry fee many times over.

What to expect

The race starts at 11:00am from Magherafelt town centre on Main Street, taking runners out through the town and onto the surrounding roads before looping back to finish where they began. The course is described as relatively flat to undulating - there are no significant hills, but it is not entirely pan-flat either, which keeps it honest. Water stations are provided along the route and marshals are positioned throughout to keep runners on course and traffic clear. A medal awaits at the finish, and refreshments are available afterwards to help with recovery. The event is open to all abilities, so while the front of the field will be competitive club runners, the back of the pack tends to be a good-humoured mix of first-timers and recreational joggers. Pre-entry is preferred; race-day entries are accepted subject to availability, so it is worth registering in advance through Athletics NI.

Getting there

Magherafelt sits on the A31 at the heart of Mid-Ulster, roughly 35 miles from Belfast and well connected by road from both directions. From Belfast, the most direct route runs through Antrim and Toomebridge; from Derry city, follow the A6 east and then the A29 south. The town centre bypass, completed in 2016, keeps through-traffic away from the main street, so driving into the centre is straightforward. Parking is available in the town. Ulsterbus runs regular services into Magherafelt from Derry city (approximately 40 minutes), Belfast (approximately one hour), and surrounding towns.

While you’re in Magherafelt

The Seamus Heaney HomePlace - an arts and literary centre dedicated to the Nobel laureate, who grew up just outside the town - is one of the most visited cultural attractions in Ulster and well worth an hour after the race. The Sperrin Mountains are a short drive to the west, and Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, lies to the east and offers easy walks and birdwatching. There is more to see in Magherafelt and across Co. Derry.

Good to know

• Saturday 2 August 2026, 11:00am start
• Entry fee: £10
• Pre-entry preferred; race-day entry subject to availability
• Register and check fixtures at athleticsni.org
• Course runs through Magherafelt town centre and surrounding roads