Running festival to return for 20th year

THOUSDANDS of runners will hit the Surf Coast next weekend as the Great Ocean Road Running Festival returns to the region.

Held on May 17 and May 18, the 2025 running festival will mark the events 20th instalment, attracting more than 10,000 participants.

Participants have the choice of competing in eight different distances ranging from the 1.5km Kids’ Gallop all the way up to the 60km Ultra Marathon.

Geelong local Alan Kerr has competed in the festival for at least the past 17 years, in that time completing two full marathons.

Mr Kerr has been running most of his adult life, saying he couldn’t imagine a life without it.

“I love running, and I feel better if I exercise and it’s all about living better and living longer and what a wonderful opportunity to run such an iconic drive without any cars.

“I thought I would sign up for the first one and I’ve been wanting to do all of them ever since…it’s a priority on my calendar as much as I can make it because I just love doing it.”

At 72 years old, Mr Kerr said he’s finding each year it takes him slightly longer to complete the run, however, that doesn’t worry him as he takes in the scenery along the road, a highlight of the event.

 

“We were running along and look to the ocean, you saw whales, it was amazing, plenty of times you come around a corner and there’s cloud in the distance with rainbows coming down into the ocean,” he said.

“It’s the great Ocean Road, how could you not enjoy being out there and it’s a privilege to be able to run it without cars, it’s a great event.”

As somebody who has participated in the event over the past two decades, Mr Kerr has watched how it has grown since the beginning.

“I’ve seen it go from quite a small, almost niche event, where I think in the first three years, there was quite a bit of discussion around is this sustainable, are we going to be able to keep doing it.

“I’m just delighted that’s it’s gained momentum and has become so popular.

“Especially in the last five years, it’s become really popular and that’s a great thing all around, everyone that has the capacity to run, should be running, it’s just that good.”

The Great Ocean Road will be completely closed between Lorne and Skenes Creek from 7am on May 18.

For more information, including the full road closures, head to greatoceanroadrunfest.com.au