Leonard Hurst 200-franc prize in a winning time of 2:31:30; 27 minutes faster than the mark of 2:58:50 set by Spiridon Louis of Greece three months earlier at the first Olympic marathon in Athens, Greece on 10 April 1896. Set on courses shorter than the now-standardized distance of 42,195 km (26 miles 385 yards), the performances of Louis and Hurst were never officially recognised as world records in the marathon. 1897 contemporary sources report Hurst finishing second behind F. Champion in the second running of the event; and again finishing second in 1899 behind A. Charbonnel. In 1900 the race was run
Dublin Marathon levels have since increased significantly year-on-year with 19,500 completing the 2016 event. In 2001 the marathon became part of the Dublin Race Series, which includes pre-marathon events of 5 miles, 10 kilometres, 10 miles and half marathon distance over the preceding months, run in the Phoenix Park and Swords. A competitor died while running in the 2006 marathon and another in the 2013 marathon. The Dublin marathon is associated to a series of 4 other races in the calendar year. These races include, The Irish Runner 5 mile, The Frank Duffy 10 mile, Fingal 10k and the Dublin half Marathon.