Ballarat’s own world class running festival

Following a hugely successful inaugural event, thousands of runners from across the country and beyond will descend on Ballarat in April for the Ballarat Marathon.

Adam McNicol took up running with a mate because he “needed something to do” during the pandemic.

The daily practice through Victoria’s rolling lockdowns set him on an unexpected path, ultimately leading to his founding of the highly successful inaugural Ballarat Marathon in 2024.

“I never set out thinking that this is what I’d do, but it’s been so much fun,” Adam says.

Set to return to Ballarat’s CBD in April with an updated, flatter course, Adam and his team are expecting the Ballarat Marathon will attract between 7,000 and 8,000 runners. This follows an impressive 4,800 runners in the inaugural event last year.

While Adam attributes the popularity of last year’s event to the “running boom” taking Australia by storm, the groundswell of community support for the Ballarat Marathon suggests there is more to the story.

“We really did set it up to have a massive community impact and showcase Ballarat — that’s the whole point,” Adam says.

From procuring services, infrastructure and catering from local businesses, to setting up the event hub in the CBD to encourage runners and onlookers to patronise local cafes, restaurants and accommodation, Adam and his team have worked hard to put Ballarat in the spotlight.

“We don’t bring in any external food or beverage providers – it's all about introducing people to local Ballarat businesses.”

The Ballarat Marathon is also expected to attract some of Australia’s top mile runners, after it was announced at the end of last year that the Elite Mile races will become the Australian Road Mile Championships. These elite races will be delivered in partnership with Australian Athletics.

A number of elite, long-distance runners will also be coming to Ballarat to compete in the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km race on the Sunday.

Recreational runners participating in these distances will have the opportunity to run alongside — or, perhaps more realistically, behind — these world-class athletes.

“Bernie Blood (of Ballarat YWC Harriers) said something to me that really resonated, which was that in an event like ours you can run in the same race, on the same course, as an elite runner,” Adam says.

“Recreational athletes don't get the chance to line up against Olympic-standard competitors in many other sports.

“It’s pretty unique to running events.”

Elite runners aside, the Ballarat Marathon is attracting runners from across the country and beyond, with registrations from every Australian capital city and several other countries represented.

“It’s such a unique backdrop for the event, and I think people really love that,” Adam says. 

Adam says the response of the community to the Ballarat Marathon has been nothing short of amazing.

With more than 170 volunteers last year, Adam is expecting a crew of around 400 volunteers to support the event in 2025, with local clubs and groups staffing drink stations and holding other roles.

“People have really got behind the event and embraced it,” Adam says.

“The local athletics clubs have been unbelievably supportive.

“We recognise that the road closures during the event are significant and appreciate the support we have received from the community.”

The City of Ballarat is supporting the Ballarat Marathon with a Sports Aquisition grant of $160,000.

The Ballarat Marathon will take place on 26 and 27 April, 2025.

For more information visit ballaratmarathon.com.au.