Dublin and Frankfurt Marathon 2026 results: winners, times and what UK runners can learn

Ethiopian runners won all four elite races at the Dublin and Frankfurt marathons on Sunday 25 October 2026. In Dublin, Abay Alemu Lesa won the men's race in 2:10:28 and Zenebu Fikadu Jebesa won the women's race in 2:24:26, while in Frankfurt Jirata Dinki won in 2:05:26 and Zeineba Yimer in 2:19:45.

Every result here comes from the organisers' own race reports and official results at the time of writing. Below: the standout runs, lessons for UK runners choosing an autumn 2027 marathon, your recovery week, and when to book. Edge is not affiliated with either event.

What were the Dublin and Frankfurt Marathon 2026 results?

Here are the winners at a glance. Both races were held on the same morning, the day the clocks went back in the UK, Ireland and Germany.

What happened at the Dublin Marathon 2026?

The 45th Irish Life Dublin Marathon was a tight men's race. Lesa, who the organisers say was 22 and the youngest man in the international field, won in a season's best of 2:10:28. Sweden's Ebba Chala was eight seconds behind in 2:10:36, and Ethiopia's Sahlesilassie Nigussie was third in 2:11:25. The men's course record of 2:06:52, held by Kemal Husen, was never under threat on a windy day.

The women's race came much closer to history. Jebesa ran 2:24:26, a personal best by 17 seconds, and finished just 13 seconds outside the course record of 2:24:13 set by Asmarech Nega in 2024. Tenebeb Nega Aynalem was second in 2:25:50 and Sechele Dalasa Adunga third in 2:27:22, completing an Ethiopian top three.

Behind the elites, the organisers report a record number of finishers and a record field of more than 19,100 starters.

Who won the Irish national marathon titles?

Dublin also hosted the Irish national marathon championships, and the women's title came down to seconds.

• Men: Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC won in 2:14:51. Killian Mooney of Dundrum South Dublin AC was second in a personal best of 2:15:44.
• Women: Judith Storm of City of Derry Spartans AC won in a personal best of 2:35:46, just 12 seconds ahead of Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC (2:35:58). Meghan Ryan of Dundrum South Dublin AC was third in 2:40:47.
• Wheelchair: Patrick Monahan won in 1:46:03, his ninth Dublin Marathon title according to the organisers.

Storm's run is worth a closer look for UK club runners. Her club is based in Derry in Northern Ireland, and the organisers say she ran around 12 minutes faster than she did in Dublin in 2025. It is a good reminder that big improvements are possible from one autumn to the next.

What happened at the Frankfurt Marathon 2026?

The 43rd Mainova Frankfurt Marathon had a strong men's field, but the weather had other ideas. The leaders went through halfway in 63:01, and the organisers say the wet, windy conditions ruled out a record. The pace lifted about 10 km from the finish, with Amanal Petros and Benard Biwott at the front.

Dinki, running only his third marathon, rejoined the leaders at around 37 km and pulled clear with about 2 km to go. His 2:05:26 was a huge step on his previous best of 2:08:18. Petros, the reigning European champion, was second in 2:05:46, which the organisers say is the fastest time by a German at this race and makes him the first German on the men's podium in more than 25 years. Biwott, the 2024 winner, was third in 2:06:23, and Germany's Richard Ringer was fifth in 2:07:07.

In the women's race, Yimer won in 2:19:45, the sixth-fastest women's time in the race's history. The story of the day, though, was 24-year-old Blanka Dörfel. On her marathon debut she broke away from a group of ten to reach halfway in 70:29, moved into second at 33 km and held on for 2:20:46. The organisers say that is the second-fastest marathon ever by a German woman. Ethiopia's Beriha Gebreslasie was third in 2:22:46.

The organisers also report a record 19,720 entries from 128 nations. Neither race report picked out a British or Irish runner in the Frankfurt elite field, so if you are looking for a club-mate's time, check the full official results.

What do the conditions and courses tell UK runners choosing an autumn 2027 marathon?

Elite results are not a perfect guide to your own race, but this weekend taught a few useful lessons.

• Late October weather is a gamble. Both races were windy and Frankfurt was wet, and most of the winning times were well off the course records. Go in with an A goal for a good day and a B goal for a windy one, and practise running by effort, not just pace, so a headwind does not panic you.
• Frankfurt suits PB hunters. The organiser says there are only 27.8 metres between the course's lowest and highest points, on wide tarmac roads, with a finish inside the Festhalle. Germany is an hour ahead of the UK, so plan your breakfast and sleep around that.
• Dublin suits runners who want easy travel. There is no time difference and it is a short flight or ferry away, but the organisers describe a mix of flat sections and real climbs, with the toughest hill around 35 km. If you choose Dublin, put hills into your long runs.
• Patience pays. Dinki rejoined the leaders at 37 km and Dörfel moved up to second at 33 km. For most of us, a first half that feels controlled is the best way to have something left for the final 10 km.
• Watch the clocks again. Frankfurt 2027 falls on Sunday 31 October, the last Sunday in October, when the clocks are due to go back in the UK and Germany. Dublin 2027 is a week earlier.

For more on each route, travel and race-weekend logistics, see our Dublin Marathon guide for UK runners and our Frankfurt Marathon guide for UK runners. Details may change for 2027, so check the official race information.

How should you recover in the week after a marathon?

If you ran in Dublin or Frankfurt, your only job this week is to recover. The fitness you built is not going anywhere. A simple approach that works for most runners:

• Days 1 and 2. Walk, eat proper meals with plenty of carbohydrate and some protein, drink to thirst and get as much sleep as you can. Stiff legs on the stairs are normal.
• Days 3 and 4. Keep moving gently. An easy walk, a light spin on a bike or a relaxed swim is plenty. Most runners do not run yet.
• Days 5 to 7. If walking feels normal and the soreness has eased, a short, easy jog of 20 to 30 minutes is fine for some runners. Plenty of others take the whole week off running, and that is fine too. No speed work and no long runs.
• Weeks 2 and 3. Build back slowly with easy runs, plus light strength and mobility work, before you add anything hard.

General soreness that fades day by day is expected. Pain in one spot that gets worse, swelling, or anything that makes you limp is different: stop running and get it checked by a physio or your GP. For a fuller timeline, our 30-day marathon recovery plan takes you from race day back to normal training.

When should you book a place for 2027?

Both races have announced their 2027 dates. Here is where entry stands at the time of writing, from each organiser's own site.

For Dublin, the organisers say the €4 ballot fee is refunded if you are unsuccessful and counted towards your entry if you get in, and successful applicants have until midnight on Monday 30 November 2026 to pay. Other routes, such as Good for Age places, are listed on the official site. For Frankfurt, registration is already open on the organiser's site, so the main question is when you want to commit. Entry prices at many big marathons rise in stages, so if you are sure, booking early rarely hurts.

Once you have a place, count back. A 16-week marathon block for Dublin would start on Monday 5 July 2027, and for Frankfurt on Monday 12 July 2027. Use the months before that to build an easy base, keep up some strength work and arrive at the start of your block fit and injury-free.

How can Edge help you plan your next marathon?

Edge treats running, strength, HIIT and mobility as one plan, so your recovery weeks, winter base and 2027 marathon block all fit together. With Edge Pro you get a fully personalised plan, ready within 24 hours, and you can message a real coach anytime, whether about easing back after Sunday or choosing your next race.

Edge syncs with Strava, Garmin, Apple Health and Coros, and it is free to start. Edge Pro is £22.99 a month, £84.99 every six months or £129.99 a year (about £10.83 a month), after a 7-day free trial that needs a card.

This article is general guidance, not medical advice. If you are new to exercise, returning from injury, or managing a health condition, speak to your GP before starting, and see a physio for any niggle that does not settle.