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Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road is home to one of the world’s most visually spectacular running events.
Starting in Lorne, a seaside town on Louttit Bay in Victoria, the Marathon course winds its way along the Great Ocean Road to the finishing line in Apollo Bay.
The course itself is flat to undulating with an elevation gain of around 488m and there are several long, upwards sections on the course, most notably from the Cumberland River at the 5km mark to the top of Mount Defiance at around the 9km mark. The second long (ish) incline comes just after the 21km mark, taking you from the Kennett River to Cape Patton.
The last 10km of the course is relatively flat.
Entry Fees
The entry Fee to the Great Ocean Road Marathon is included in the cost of your package
Qualifying Times
There are no qualifying times for the Great Ocean Road Marathon.
All participants MUST be 18 years or older on race day
Start Time
The Great Ocean Road Marathon starts at 8:00am
Cut-Off Times
There is a 6h:30m cut off for this event
Race Timing
The Great Ocean Road Marathon will be timed using chip technology
Race Packets
Australian Competitors
Race Packs are only posted to those who register prior to 11.59pm Wednesday April 5th and provide an Australian address on their registration. If for any reason your Race Pack does not arrive, a replacement pack can be collected from the Race Week Office. Please note, if you enter the Event between 12:00am on Wednesday April 6, 2023 and 11:59pm on Tuesday April 18, you will have the option of paying for priority postage or collection from the event race offices (Lorne and Apollo Bay) during race office hours.
Registering from 12:00am Wednesday April 19 onwards, means you will be required to pick up/collect your Event race pack from the Event race office prior to the commencement of the Event.
International Competitors
All international competitors are required to collect their packs from the Race Week Office. Please ensure nomination of either Lorne or Apollo Bay Race Week Offices, upon registration
Lorne
Lorne Foreshore (North of the SLSC Carpark)
Mountjoy Parade
Lorne, Victoria
The Opening hours are:
- Friday 19th May 3:00pm – 8:00pm
- Saturday 20th May 9:00am – 8:00pm
- Sunday 21st May 6:00am – 8:00am *General enquiries & walk registrations only
Apollo Bay Surf Life Saving Club
Great Ocean Rd
Apollo Bay, Victoria, 3233
The Opening hours are:
- Friday 19th May 9:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday 20th May 8:00am – 6:00pm
- Sunday 21st May 6:00am – 2:30pm *General enquiries
You will not be able to collect your Race Pack on race morning as there will be no office at the start lines so please ensure that you have collected your pack before race morning!
You are welcome to have someone else collect your pack on your behalf if you are unable to attend the office. Please be aware they will need your Confirmation Email containing your unique QR code to do so.
Pace Setters
There are no official Pace Setters in this event
Aid Stations
There will be 12 drink stations throughout the Great Ocean Road Marathon Course.
Water will be provided on course as well as Science in Sport Drink.
Please discard this rubbish at the bins provided at the drink stations.
| Distance | Items Provided |
| Start Line | Water |
| 2.5km | Water |
| 5km | Water |
| 10.7km | Water/Science in Sport |
| 15.4km | Water/Science in Sport |
| 21.8km | Water |
| 26.6km | Water |
| 31.1km | Water/Science in Sport/Jelly Beans |
| 36.2km | Water/Science in Sport/Jelly Beans |
| 39.4km | Water/Science in Sport/Jelly Beans |
| 43.1km | Water/Science in Sport/Jelly Beans |
| Finish Line | Water/Science in Sport/Bananas |
You may also choose to carry your own sports drinks/gels with you.
Personal Refreshments and Clothing
Marathon competitors will be required to collect a warm clothing bag in order to check in their warm clothing on race day.
On Race Day you can drop off your labelled warm clothing bag at designated points at the start lines in Lorne.
After the race, you must collect your bag from Moore Street next to the Apollo Bay Hotel, near the event finish line.
Make sure you have your bib on you to ensure that volunteers will be able to hand back the warm clothing bag corresponding to your bib number.
Storage areas for warm clothing bags will be manned by volunteers and marshals on race day and it is strongly recommended that you avoid placing valuables in clothing bags.
Note that the race organisers do not accept any responsibility for lost or stolen goods.
Transport
A shuttle bus service will run from Apollo Bay to Lorne to get runners to the start line on Sunday, race day.
Return buses will travel from Apollo Bay back to Lorne after the event.
The required bus pass to enable you to travel on these buses is included in your package
Getting to the start line in Lorne (depart from 5:45am):
Please note there are two departure points along Main St. Please make sure you are at the departure point for Marathon/Ultra Marathon runners. Exact locations will be published closer to the event.
Expo
There will be a Festival Hub in Apollo Bay that will have official merchandise.
Opening hours are:
| Friday, 19 May | 9:00am-6:00pm |
| Saturday, 20 May | 8:00am-6:00pm |
| Sunday, 21 May | 7:30am-2:30pm |
Finishers T-shirts, Medals and Certificates
All finishers will receive a medal and all competitors will receive a gift that can be collected at the finish line at the end of your run!
Please remember to show your race bib to claim your gift!
Weather Conditions
The average high temperature in May for Apollo Bay is 16 degrees Celsius and an average low temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.
There is an average of 16 days rain in May so please ensure to pack appropriate wet weather running gear, just in case
Other Events
60km Ultra Marathon
23km Brooks Half Marathon
14km Paradise Run
6km Fun Run
1.5km Kids Gallop
12km Trail Run
6km Trail Run
5km or 10km Great Ocean Road Walk
Great Ocean Road Running Festival
Travelling Fit made booking and changes a breeze, I didn’t have to think about anything and knew it would all be done and I would have an enjoyable weekend, even after many changes were made due to ...Travelling Fit made booking and changes a breeze, I didn’t have to think about anything and knew it would all be done and I would have an enjoyable weekend, even after many changes were made due to COVID-19.
Would book running events through them again.
Written By Charli Goodyer, ACT
Great Ocean Road Running Festival
Great Ocean Road Running Festival: WOW! One of the best events I've been part of! I opted for the Half Marathon not knowing the terrain, it's an undulating 23km spectacular course along ...
Great Ocean Road Running Festival: WOW! One of the best events I’ve been part of! I opted for the Half Marathon not knowing the terrain, it’s an undulating 23km spectacular course along the Great Ocean Road. There are various events for all the family over the weekend ranging from 1.5 km to an Ultra 66km (a smaller contingent in the 66km of hardcore runners!).
Great Ocean Road is on the bucket list of most runners. I grew up in Melbourne and have vague memories of the area. There were several barriers just getting to the start line from Perth. Firstly, I spend a whole day on the internet trying to find available accommodation and working out logistics for the area. I stayed with my Mum in Portarlington, but established it was too far to drive for a day trip for an early morning race.
I’d just about given up hope and then Travelling Fit saved the day with a race package and outstanding accommodation with ocean views at The Cumberland in Lorne. I hadn’t even got to the start line and felt like a winner when we drove into Lorne and stepped into The Cumberland.
The festival included lots of freebies. I opted in for the free screening of “Breathe” at the old Lorne theatre, a surf movie perfect for my current location; and the free recovery yoga post-race on the lawns of Apollo Bay. I also received a special gift pack as a Travelling Fit entrant containing a Running Festival beanie, socks, yummy chocolates from local chocolate factory etc.
The race was extremely well organised including the buses to start line and return journey to Lorne from the finish line at Apollo Bay. It was really, really cold that morning and everyone was huddled together pre-clothing bag drop.
I’d been sick with a virus for 4 weeks and barely been able to train during that time. My last big training run was as a competitor in the Busselton Half Ironman a couple weeks before this, sadly I had to withdraw on race day due to illness. So, I thought, I’m not going to be to run 23kms today, so race plan was to run a moderate pace and if I have to walk some of it, so be it.
Well I’ve never walked in a race and the power and determination of my mind somehow got me through running 23kms on the day. In my age category I came 6th female out of 95, deducing I would have won my category if not for illness. I was shocked and again felt like a winner.
I had the best weekend exploring the area and enjoying the local dining. I will be using Travelling Fit again in the future, I thought the cost of the package for what I received was excellent!
Thanks again for giving me one of the best race experiences, I have lots of WA friends keen to race it in the future and use Travelling Fit!
Written By Kerin Thomson
WELCOME TO THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Travelling Fit are pleased to advise we have some great accommodation deals on offer located in the seaside paradise of Lorne, within short walking distance to the Ultra Marathon and the Marathon Start Line as well as at Apollo Bay which is where the Ultra Marathon, Marathon and Brooks Half Marathon finish.
The Great Ocean Road Running Festival is held in a beautiful and unique area of Victoria, Australia on the Southern Ocean.
Each year that this event has been conducted, it has attracted many athletes from around the world, all eager to participate in this challenging and pristine environment.
The Great Ocean Road is an icon in Australia and is renowned throughout the world for its beauty and panoramic views of the Southern Ocean. It has a colourful history surrounding its construction and ultimate destinations along the coastline.
Anyone travelling along this road by car would not be able to experience the absolute serenity and at times the wilderness experience that you as a runner can. As you run along this course, with no traffic at all, you can almost hear the waves calling your name. The only sound you will hear is the soft thud of footsteps from your fellow competitors.
Packages Include
- Guaranteed Race Entry (runners only)
- 2 Nights' Accommodation
Sat 20 May / Check out: Mon 22 May 2023 - Race Day Transfers (runners only)
- Invite to Travelling Fit’s Great Ocean Road Marathon Closed Facebook Group
exclusive to Travelling Fit clients
 | $150 per runner and $50 per supporter | |
 | Friday 03 March 2023 |
