Biggest 2025 Sunshine Coast Marathon to showcase new single-lap course
The Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival is poised for its biggest year yet, with a fresh single-lap course, 15,000 expected to hit the starting lines and course records likely to be broken. See the course map.
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The 2025 EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival is set to break records, with up to 15,000 runners expected to participate across five distances which would make it the largest Sunshine Coast Marathon to date and one of Australia’s biggest running festivals.
The event will feature a significant course update for its 13th year including the introduction of a single-lap marathon that cements its reputation as one of the nation’s fastest marathons.
Atlas Events managing director Jason Crowther said the new course reflects the event’s commitment to delivering a top-notch experience for all runners.
“This course has been designed to offer an enjoyable and seamless experience for everyone, from elite athletes chasing fast times to first-time marathoners taking on a personal challenge,” Mr Crowther said.
The new design is expected to attract elite runners and everyday participants aiming for personal bests.
Taking place on Sunday, August 3, the marathon will start and finish at Alexandra Headland, offering a scenic, predominantly flat route through Twin Waters and Mudjimba.
The course also crosses the Sunshine Motorway bridge twice.
Mr Crowther, who has envisioned a single-lap course since the festival’s launch in 2012, said the event is now perfectly positioned to make it a reality.
“We’ve created a course that showcases the beauty of the Sunshine Coast and meets the needs of today’s runners, focusing on comfort, flow, and a great race day atmosphere,” he added.
The previous course records, 2hr 16min 18sec by Japanese marathoner Saeki Makino in 2019 and 2hr 37min 7sec by Olympian Milly Clark in 2024, are expected to be under serious threat due to the faster course.
“I’m confident the new course will push our elite runners to new levels, not just for our event but for their own personal bests,” Mr Crowther said.
“We expect to see some of the country’s top distance athletes step up to challenge those record times.”
Runners can choose from distances including the 2km, 5km, 10km, 21.1km half marathon or the full 42.2km marathon.
The new AIMS-certified course could also hold international significance as a potential qualifier for World Marathon Majors, providing an opportunity for runners to meet global qualification standards.
Since its inception, the Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival has raised millions for local charities while inspiring thousands of runners to achieve their goals.
In 2024, the event drew more than 12,000 participants and generated substantial economic benefits for the region.
The EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and the Sunshine Coast Council.
It also plays a key role in delivering the Sunshine Coast Council’s Major Events Strategy, which aims to drive $86 million in economic benefit through tourism and local spending.
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Originally published as Biggest 2025 Sunshine Coast Marathon to showcase new single-lap course
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