Gold Coast Marathon

The Gold Coast Marathon is an annual major running event that takes place along the beautiful coastline of the Gold Coast, Australia each July. Now in its 38th year, it attracts over 25,000 participants from elite athletes to fun runners completing the full 42.2km marathon, half marathon, 10km or 5km distances. The scenic course hugs the coastline showcasing stunning vistas of the ocean and Surfers Paradise skyline, providing plenty of entertainment and encouragement for runners along the way.

The total distance of the Gold Coast Marathon course is 42.2km, which is the standard marathon distance. There are also shorter distance options available as part of the Gold Coast Marathon event:

• Marathon (42.2km)
• Half Marathon (21.1km)
• 10km
• 5km

Event Background

The Gold Coast Marathon first started in 1986 with only 350 runners participating in the inaugural event. It began as a small local running festival but soon grew rapidly in popularity, mirroring the boom in mass participation endurance races during the 1980s fitness craze. By the 1990s it was firmly established on the running calendar.

The event shifted to its July date in 1999 and the following decade saw the addition of shorter distance categories to cater for all abilities. In recent years it has attracted thousands of international competitors and become a leading marathon on the Gold Coast sports tourism calendar.

Now broadcast live on television, the race plays an important role in promoting both the healthy lifestyle and highlights of the Gold Coast region to worldwide audiences.