Ballarat Marathon announced for early next year

The Ballarat Marathon has officially launched with a starting date and routes announced. But is it a glimpse of what we could see at the Commonwealth Games? We found out.

Ballarat marathon Steve Moneghetti has revealed he wants at least 2000 racers having a crack at the first marathon in the region next year.

The Ballarat Marathon was launched on Wednesday on Sturt St, which will be held for the first time next year on April 27 and 28.

It will be the perfect opportunity for the region to host a major athletics event before the Commonwealth Games are held in Ballarat in 2026.

Taking in some of Ballarat’s best landmark’s, runners, and walkers in some distances, will get the choice to race over a mile, 5km, 10km, half a marathon and marathon.

All races will start at Town Hall and capture some of the best landmarks in Ballarat with Lake Wendouree, the Arch of Victory, Victoria Park and the city itself featured with the race running on Lydiard Street.

The courses were designed with input from Moneghetti and the event is the brainchild of Ballarat’s Adam McNicol who wanted to create an running race like this during the Covid pandemic when he started running.

“I’m pretty excited,” Moneghetti said.

“It’s fantastic for it to come to fruition today and see it launch and work with the team.”

And he and the organisers are dreaming big.

Recent success on the Gold Coast with record crowds and a sellout of the upcoming Melbourne Marathon has the event confident of success in its infancy.

Lake Wendouree is one of the running spots in the upcoming Ballarat Marathon. Picture: Ballarat Marathon

“When you think about what we are doing here and the course we’ve got designed here, because of the wide boulevards of Sturt St, we could have 10,000 people,” Moneghetti said.

“There is no limit as to why we would limit numbers because of the nature of the course.

“(For the marathon) we’d like about 2000 the first time.

“That’s the challenge we’ve put out.”

And the event will cater to those professionals who are looking to make qualifying times while also being an event for those wanting to have a crack at a marathon for the first time.

The Ballarat Marathon 42.1km course. Picture: Ballarat Marathon.

The 42.1km course has had special care with its design from not only Moneghetti, but legendary course designer Dave Cundy.

Cundy, who created the Sydney Olympics course, has designed the course to allow athletes to run qualifying times for other major marathon events.

“A lot of work has gone into this,” Moneghetti said.

“It’s trying to make something that’s unique for the track people who want to run fast and have a good experience.

“People will be able to run here (get times) and head to an international marathon.”

But while the event will help with preparation for the Commonwealth Games, Moneghetti said it was unlikely this course would be used for the event, unless it is what the Games wants.

The Marathon doesn’t go to Mars Stadium, which is where athletics will be held at the Commonwealth Games, and areas such as Black Hill have been overlooked to provide a flat running track.

Moneghetti said this track caters to what the Ballarat Marathon wants, a fast flat and joyous marathon and not one which is purely to get to every landmark in town.

“There’s no real crossover and no conversation has been had between the two,” he said.

“The Commonwealth Games is showing off the city, so you want to make sure you pick up some iconic area to include.

“It’s slightly different to a city marathon, (what we have), which you want really fast.

“The Commonwealth Games you are trying to sell the city to an international audience.

“It could be the same course who would know but if they want to use Mars Stadium as the start finish line, it would be different.

“But if I was to he involved in the course (for the Commonwealth Games) you certainly want to include the boulevard on Sturt St.”

The Ballarat Marathon is being supported by the City of Ballarat and Federation University, who are sponsors of the event.

Runners run outside of Town Hall, which is where the Ballarat Marathon will start. Picture: Ballarat Marathon

The deal is for one year at this stage but could be extended depending on how the event goes in 2024.

“There are so many benefits of attracting an event like this and I’m incredibly

excited to see the inaugural event next year,” City of Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson said.

“We are proud to support the event and encourage as many Ballarat people as possible to sign up.

“There are a variety of events that are on offer to suit everyone from first-timers to the seasoned professionals.”

Registrations for the walk, run and race events, in each distance, will open on August 27.

For more information, you can head to the Ballarat Marathon site here.