Liz Haycock won back-to-back trips to Ireland by participating in Pub 317’s Run to the Pub in 2022 and 2023. Read about her trip to Galway to race the Galway Bay Half Marathon.

Held at the Belmont Demesne and Killruddery Estate in Bray, just south of Dublin, the trail run covered mountain terrain, fields of beautiful flowering plants, farmland and sheep pastures, and forest trails.

Ireland Irish life Dublin marathon 2023 was one for the books. Not only did I get to see the city of Dublin, I got to experience the Irish culture and countryside. Through the cliffs of Moher, coastal town of Howth, countryside on the way to Wicklow, to the quaint town of Galway my experience of Ireland was a dream come true.

There is something special though about reaching the final mile of a large race and feeling the excitement of a city that is proud to welcome you, and show you the happiness in their community. After crossing the finish line, the great relief you feel that you accomplished something you worked for is hard to describe. You are so relieved to be done, but also sad that this whole experience is coming to an end. Ireland is a special place with wonderful and welcoming people that I will forever be grateful that Run to the Pub allowed me to experience.

The Dublin Half was a thrilling new experience!! I’m so grateful for the opportunity I had to go and experience such an amazing environment!

I was able to successfully cross the finish line, due in no small part to the encouragement from my dad and the wonderful Dubliners around me... “Come on, laddie!”

Thank you, Run to the Pub, for an experience I will remember my whole life!

Race day in Dublin was a beautiful sunny day with ideal temperatures in the upper 50’s. The 2016 marathon was the largest in Dublin history with over 19,000 runners. The energy from the runners and the spectators was pretty incredible. The course was a mix of city streets and rolling country side. What a way to see Dublin and the surrounding area!

All marathons are special, but there was something surreal about running through the streets of a 1,000 year old city. Friendly people lined almost the entire course as it stretched outside the city to beautiful parks, neighborhoods and countryside.

The Dublin Marathon was a great race. Being a foreigner made no difference in my comfort level being an entrant in the race. Dublin is a wonderful city in that it was easy to walk around, and there was plenty to do that was low-cost and accessible to someone without a car or bus pass. It was a great trip overall!! Thank you, Pub 317!

I would have never thought I would be smiling in a picture after running for 26 miles, but I was so excited to see my family right before crossing the finish line! It was a moment that will always be a highlight of my life!

“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” ― John Bingham

Thank you Run to the Pub for giving me such a grand adventure in Dublin Ireland! On the day of the Run to the Pub half marathon, luck was on my side when my bib number was 777!

What five-year-old wins a trip to race in Ireland? Well, Landon Ferguson does! Read more about his race experience.

I had always believed that I could run a marathon if I desired to, however, I don’t know if I would have ever fully committed to one if I hadn’t been given the opportunity to run in Dublin by Pub 317. The race was challenging, to say the least.

I am the kind of person who never wins things! The luck of the Irish was with me though after the 10k Run to the Pub in March.