How three-time Olympian Lee Troop revived his marathon dream for Geelong

By Ben Cameron (Geelong Advertiser)
June 18th, 2025

After seven years of sweat, toil and strategic planning, former Olympian Lee Troop is closing in on the finish line once more.

And just like his famous long distance running career, it wasn’t without plenty of hard graft and overcoming major obstacles.

One in particular, the pandemic, threatened to kill his vision of Geelong’s very own marathon.

A few years prior, back in July, 2018, the Boulder-based former Olympian had contacted the City of Greater Geelong about the possibility of staging its first 42km event.

The idea came on the back of his successful Run Geelong events, which had kicked off in 2009 following three years of prep.

However, Troop wanted to take things to the next level.

Talking to this masthead from the US, Troop recalls in glowing terms of his ultimate inspiration.

Back in 1987, a 13-year-old Troop would run down Moorabool St at the City By The Bay Fun Run.

“That was a very lasting impact for me,” Troop said.

“I’ve always been passionate about Geelong.”

And the idea quickly grew legs, with in-principle support from the council in 2019 before the pandemic stepped in.

“We were quite decimated to be honest,” Troop said of his marathon plans and wider business interests.

“Just as we got in-principle support in 2019, covid hit and so that put a complete hold on everything.”

However, around late 2022 and early 23, the ball started to roll again after local councillor, Eddy Kontelj, participated in the New York Marathon and said publicly Geelong needed an event just like it.

“I forwarded him all the information I had and what I’d been working on to that point,” Troop said.

“He was like: ‘Great, let’s make it happen’.”

Kontelj expected it to become one of the most anticipated and picturesque marathons in the country.

“It truly will be an amazing premier major event in our region, with significant economic contributions to the city and beyond.”

Troop is now hoping to harness a post-covid boon in running in this country, with the inaugural Geelong Running Festival set to make its debut in September next year.

“Since covid, running is absolutely booming, everything is selling out,” Troop said of other running events.

He understood close to 80,000 people missed out on the Sydney Marathon while the Melbourne event sold out in two weeks and approximately 40,000 runners didn’t get a chance.

Set to be held between both events in September next year, Troop believes Geelong can provide another option.

“I feel like we’ll be a great funnel (for runners),” he said.

And if the first Geelong edition is a success, Troop would consider holding it over two days as the event grew.

However, for 2026, the inaugural festival will include a community run (6-8km), half marathon and full marathon, with all races starting at 7am.

A lot has changed since Troop first started the first of several drafts for the course, though.

“The course I designed in 2018 is nothing like the course we have now,” he said.

“Geelong has obviously grown, there’s a lot more construction, there’s a lot more impacts.

“You start off with a draft and then after about five or six drafts you come up with a course that everyone’s happy with.”

Troop, still based in the US where he owns and runs an event management business, TEAM Boulder Running, told this masthead plans were progressing well for the 42km event.

“I would think at the moment we’re probably at 75 per cent through with where we need to be,” Troop said.

Troop and his organising team have to consider lots of different things, like how the course would impact buses on Moorabool St and shopping demands at Westfield.

“We’ve still got a few meetings to go but I’d say we’re tracking along really well,” he said.

“We should be close to, hopefully, opening the registrations a year out and then also having a course we can publicly promote as well.”

While Troop is understandably tight-lipped about the overall design, it’s expected to travel as far north as Drumcondra, Point Henry to the east and south as GMHBA Stadium, starting and finishing at the waterfront.

Then there’s the obvious economic boost.

“The economic benefits are certainly significant ... we estimate roughly around eight to $10m if it’s done correctly,” he said.

“The time is definitely right for Geelong to have its first marathon.”

It could also be aligned with numerous local charities with Troop estimating about half a million to be divvied up as a “good starting point”.

The other exciting news is that the 52-year-old is planning to permanently return to Geelong in the next year or two, after closing the door on his elite coaching at the end of 2024.

His two boys are attending local schools and involved in soccer while his daughter is studying at Deakin University.

“Once we sort of get the Geelong marathon up I’ll definitely close the chapter here (in the US).

“Then I’ll be permanently in Geelong.”