City set for marathon circuit

BALLARAT’S landmarks and iconography will become the backdrop for the first in a potentially annual marathon event set to debut next year.

Following its launch on Thursday last week, the Ballarat Marathon will run on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 April, 2023.

One of the event’s three directors Adam McNicol said he hopes it will be a boost to Ballarat’s road-running reputation.

“We believe our event can become the largest and the best running festival in regional Australia,” he said.

“It’s going to be an event that celebrates our wonderful and beautiful city and community while promoting a healthy lifestyle and the benefits of being active.”

The event is being run by Ballarat Marathon in partnership with the City of Ballarat and Federation University.

Long-distance runner Steve Moneghetti will serve as race director in the event, and said with marathon’s popularity booming, the timing is perfect for an event in Ballarat.

“I’ve just come back from the Gold Coast Marathon which was sold out with 6700. Melbourne Marathon is sold out,” he said.

“There’s a real interest in distance running at the moment so the timing couldn’t be better.

“This is not just a fun run. The course will actually be AIMDR certified. You’ll be able to use your qualifying times for things like Boston, New York, Berlin, a lot of those races.”

The first day will entail a men’s, women’s, and mixed mile-long race as well as a five-kilometre extension starting at Sturt Street before looping back towards Lydiard and Camp streets.

As well as a 10-kilometre race down Sturt Street into Victoria Park, Sunday will feature the main marathon event, extending the circuit to the Avenue of Honour and wrapping around the Steve Moneghetti track.

Also finishing up through Lydiard and Camp streets, the more-than-21-kilometre route will entail the half-marathon run while a second lap will form the full marathon.

A wheelchair event will also be held for the marathon circuit and each race will begin or end at the front of Town Hall.

The event will be accredited with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and measured to world athletics standards.

Mr Moneghetti said he expects to see at least 2000 people take part in the inaugural run.

City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson said the event will bring the region alive for visitors and locals.

“It’ll be a really great opportunity to build enormous interest around what can be a continuous highlight on the Ballarat events calendar,” he said.

“I’d like to think in years to come this is just becoming one of those staple events the Ballarat community looks to as well as bringing professional athletes from around the globe.”