MARATHON

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE: Sunday 20th September 2026

DISTANCE: 42.195km

START TIME: 7:00am

CUT OFF TIME: 1:20pm (9min/km pace)

START LINE: Steampacket Gardens (Eastern Beach Rd)

FINISH LINE: Steampacket Gardens (Eastern Beach Rd)

AGE LIMIT: 18 years or older on race day

ENTRY FEES & INCLUSIONS

EARLY BIRD

$175

BEFORE 30/11/2025

REGULAR PRICING

$200

BEFORE 31/8/2026

LATE FEE

$225

BEFORE 19/9/2026

INCLUDED IN ENTRY FEE

  • Finisher T-Shirt

  • Finisher Medal

  • Downloadable 2026 Geelong Running Festival Print

  • Race Bib with timing chip + safety pins

  • Course certified by AIMS and measured to World Athletics Standards

  • Insurance, first aid and aid stations/amenities

  • Access to our post event recovery and party zone at Steampacket Gardens

  • The opportunity to run or walk around the streets of Geelong traffic free, pass through iconic Kardinia Park, and to enjoy the picturesque views of Corio Bay and the Eastern Beach foreshore.

COURSE MAP

PACERS

Pacers are experienced runners who aim to motivate you and help you maintain an even pace throughout the race, with the goal to have you finishing close to your target time. Our pace runners will be easily identifiable, and each pace time will have at least two pace runners who will guide each pace group off net-time

APPLY TO BE A PACE MAKER

Please complete the form below, and we will be in touch when the application process is finalised.

GEELONG RUNNING FESTIVAL PACE MAKER APPLICATION FORM

Please note: All pace makers will guide each pace group off net-time (Net time is taken from when you physically cross the start line after the gun).

PRIZE MONEY

All Prize Money is in Australian Dollars (AUD)

All prize money may be subject to a deduction of Withholding Tax to the Australian Taxation Office for those who are not Australian residents.

START GROUPS, ELITE ATHLETES & PREFERRED STARTS

START GROUPS

When registering, please indicate your expected marathon finishing time. This information will assist in our planning for the start chute, medical planning out on course, etc. It is ok if your time changes with training between now and the event.

Marathon General Entry Groups: Sub 3:00, 3:00-3:59, 4:00-4:59, 5:00-5:59, 6:00+.

ELITE ATHLETES

To be considered for a spot in our elite field, when registering, please submit a link to a result that verifies that you have met the below standards from a marathon event after 1st January, 2025. If you have not ran a marathon, we will take a result from a half marathon event, provided it meets our half marathon standards.

Time standards for the Marathon are as follows:

  • Men: Sub 2.22:00 (Half Marathon - 1.06:00)

  • Women: Sub 2.42:00 (Half Marathon - 1.16:00)

PREFERRED STARTS - SUB ELITE

To be considered for a spot in our sub-elite field, when registering, please submit a link to a result that verifies that you have met the below standards from a marathon event after 1st January, 2025. If you have not ran a marathon, we will take a result from a half marathon event, provided it meets our half marathon standards. You will get a priority start behind the elite field.

  • Men: Sub 2.40:00 (Half Marathon - 1.15:00)

  • Women: Sub 3.00:00 (Half Marathon - 1.30:00)

PERSONAL DRINKS

There will be tables designated at each 5KM for elite and sub-elite athletes that would like to have their own hydration fluids available during the race.

  • Information will be sent out directly to all qualified athletes on how their personal drink bottles will be collected prior to the race, and handed out during the race.

For all elite and sub-elite enquiries, please contact Matthew McDonough - athletemanager@teamgeelong.com