All-abilities course added to Geelong Running Festival

EVEN more people will be able to take part in the inaugural Geelong Running Festival after organisers announced a new all-abilities event.

The one-mile (1.6km) course will be held on 19 September, the day before Geelong’s first marathon, and is designed to make the festival more accessible and inclusive.

Starting at Steampacket Gardens, participants will head towards Ritchie Boulevard before completing a U-turn, turning into Yarra Street and following the waterfront promenade to the finish line near the carousel.

Geelong Running Festival founder Lee Toop said organisers had worked with the City of Greater Geelong to add the all-abilities event to the program, with Steampacket Gardens to be an entertainment hub across the weekend.

“We want to be supportive of everyone and our commitment is that everyone in the NDIS space gets free entry,” he said.

“In 2027, we aim to then have it as a two-day event.

“We’ll still have the kids and all-abilities on the Saturday with a 5km and 10km as well, and Sunday would be a standalone half-marathon and marathon.”

Geelong disability support providers have welcomed the announcement and are encouraging participants to get involved.

Buddiup and Sisterup managing director Nathan Braddock said the consultation behind the event had stood out.

 

“I really love what Lee has done to reach out to the community and ask them what they wanted and needed,” he said. “That’s true inclusivity, I think.”

“We’ve been really thankful to be part of that process to give young men and young women the opportunity to be part of a community event. That’s the big thing for us, being involved in a community.”

Leisure Networks sport and recreation lead Luke Maher said the organisation’s partnerships with the Barwon region’s five specialist schools would help drive participation.

He said all-abilities events were becoming an increasingly important part of major community events.

“There’s events like this, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and all of those big events, but you only have to look at what sports are available here to see how strong we are in inclusion,” Maher said.

Maher said Geelong’s strong culture of advocacy had helped push inclusive sport and recreation forward.

“This is something that sits well in life and it gives everyone an opportunity to be able to participate at their own level,” he said.

“It highlights inclusion among our community, and I know Lee’s done a great job in wanting this particular initiative to be front and centre.”

The Geelong Running Festival will stage Geelong first marathon on 20 September.

For more information, head to geelongrunningfestival.com.au