If looking out your window jealously (maybe even spitefully) wasn't proof enough that running is quickly becoming one of Ireland's favourite past time's, then the news that the Dublin City Half Marathon sold out in under two hours on Wednesday certainly is.
Applications for the 21km stint set to take place in the capital on the 30th of March opened just before Midday on Wednesday but sold out before 2pm.
The event which cost €68 per person was opened to 12,500 people and is set to start on O'Connell Street in the heart of the city before heading North towards Clontarf and circling back to the finish line at Seville Place.
While all 12,500 places are now filled, there will be a transfer window from February 21st to March 9th which will allow those who missed out try secure an entry via a transfer of places.
Frustration as Dublin City Half Marathon sells out within two hours
Reacting to the race which was only announced last month selling out, people were utterly surprised with how quickly it sold out, with the now-coveted tickets being compared to Oasis and Taylor Swift tickets.
Looking to swap 1 Oasis lower Hogan ticket on the Saturday for a Dublin City Half Marathon ticket
— Barry Finnegan (@Barrywfinnegan) January 8, 2025
While surprise was plenty, so too was frustration with many airing their frustrations about the website's application process, which reportedly faltered for many people trying to secure a place.
Taking to social media, one half marathon hopeful compared the process to trying to secure Oasis tickets:
The @EventmasterIe page for the new @DubCityCouncil Half Marathon is worse than the Oasis tickets, queuing forever, then the crashes. Each person can only buy one place which they didn’t disclose in advance. V disappointing and frustrating!
Others had similar complaints, claiming the system crashed as they tried to secure their places; "None of us got to register for Dublin Half marathon - I’m destined to never get into either a half or full in the city I was born in Only had access to iPhone. Even though I was in registration system it kept telling me there was data missing (wasn’t). Thanks".
Oasis weren't the only name in town with another applicant using a Taylor Swift comparison: "Easier to get Oasis and Taylor Swift tickets than it is for the Dublin half marathon. Absolute joke of a system. And the cost is pure nonsense too"
Literally put all of my details into my entry for the Dublin City Half Marathon and then the site crashed... I think it was easier to get Oasis tickets 😂😂
— Leanne O'Toole (@Leanne_OT_91) January 8, 2025
Attempted to register for the new Dublin City Half Marathon. Sadly the website queuing is worst than trying to get Oasis tickets. I kept getting bumped further down the queue, now sold out. Poor show.
— Mark Norman (@marknorman) January 8, 2025
State of trying to buy a ticket for dublin city half marathon 😅 pic.twitter.com/ulcZh008EO
— Oisín Hoy (@o_is_in_hoy) January 8, 2025
Commenting on the reported issues Jim Aughney the race director said: “We knew there was a demand for another high-quality half marathon in Dublin, and today has shown that to be true as we sold out in a couple of hours.”
We are aware too that given the high demand, some users experienced difficulties with registration. We will review this fully and consider options for 2026 entries.
While it's unclear exactly what happened, here's hoping at least some of the disappointed runners will get their hands on tickets come February.
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