Two weeks until the running boom hits Lorne, Apollo Bay and Kennett River for Great Ocean Road Running Festival

The Great Ocean Road Running Festival returns Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May with nine running course ranging from 1.5km to 60km in distance.

Following Ballarat’s biggest running festival, the Great Ocean Road Running Festival is set to get heart rates up, the blood pumping and the sweat dripping. Set along one of Australia’s most iconic coastal scenes, the weekend festival includes distances for all running capabilities.

Great Ocean Road Running Festival

Saturday 18 May 2024

• Start Time: from 10.30am
• Start Line: Apollo Bay
• Finish Line: Apollo Bay
• Races:
  • 1.5km Great Ocean Road Kids Gallop
  • Sri Lankan Airlines 6km Run
  • 14km Paradise Run

Sunday 19 May 2024

• Start Time: 8am
• Start Line: Lorne
• Finish Line: Lorne
• Races:
  • Ultra Marathon (60km)
  • Great Ocean Road Marathon (44km)

• Start Time: 8am
• Start Line: Kennett River
• Finish Line: Apollo Bay
• Races:
  • Brooks Half Marathon (23km)

• Start Time: 8.10am
• Start Line: Lorne
• Finish Line: Lorne
• Races:
  • High Sierra 12km Trail Run
  • 6.5km Trail Run
  • 10km Great Ocean Road Walk
  • 5km Great Ocean Road Walk

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

 

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Australia’s most stunning marathon event invites runners, new and experiences, to swap the city running tracks for the coastal roads with exclusive access to the Great Ocean Road on the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May.

The Saturday eases into the events with the family-friendly courses including the 1.5km Kids Gallop, the Sri Lankan Airlines 6km Run and the 14km Paradise Run. Starting and circling around to finish in Apollo Bay, the Saturday capitalises on the stunning scenes from the small coastal town. The Sunday levels up with the major events including the 60km Ultra Marathon and 44km Great Ocean Road Marathon, both commencing in Lorne. The High Sierra 12km and 6.5km Trial Marathon follow, as do the 10km and 5km Great Ocean Road Walk. Over at Kennett River on the Sunday is the Brooks Half Marathon of 23km, rounding out the major running event.

Adding to the serene atmosphere, Great Ocean Road Running Festival invites runners and spectators to indulge in a seaside staycation with travel packages, including glamping available and plenty of non-running-related activities on offer. Enjoy entertainment from local musicians, partake in free beach front yoga sessions, and get a kick out of the hilarious yet highly competitive Pub to Pub Waiters Race on the Saturday. For the kids, an inflatable sports park and kite festival will be set up.

For more things to do along the Great Ocean Road, visit our travel section.

Not only is it a great excuse to get active, the Great Ocean Road Running Festival is a great reason to raise funds for charity with the Apollo Bay and District Health Foundation returning for its ninth year as a charity partner. First partnering with the event in 2015, the foundation has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars to provide vital care and directly benefit the communities located along the race route.

Registrations for races in the Great Ocean Road Running Festival are still open. Get your sneakers on and register here.

Words by Staff Writer