The history-making Geelong Running Festival has arrived for a three-day elite sporting celebration.

For the first time, a marathon will run through the streets of our city, with the course taking in some of Geelong’s most iconic landmarks.

The festival warms up with the Brooks Running Expo and race bib collection at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre on Friday and Saturday, alongside kids and all abilities events at Steampacket Gardens on Saturday morning.

The marquee moment comes at sunrise on Sunday, with the marathon, half marathons and community 6.5km starting at Nyaal Banyul from 6.55am and finishing at Steampacket Gardens.

Cheering from the sidelines more your thing? While the waterfront will be central to the action, there are plenty of fan zones and on-course activities, giveaways and entertainment to get spectators involved.

On-course activations:

• Western Beach Rd & Malone St corner – face painting (sponsored by ProFeet)
• Moorabool St & McKillop St corner – face painting, sign making, 200 mini muffins, 200 bananas, 125 T-shirts and 125 clappers (Holiday Inn & Suites)
• Kardinia Park/GMHBA Stadium – head to Gate 5 for entry and bag checks – big screen with live race footage and timing, public seating for 3,000 fans, plus 1,000 signs and 2,500 clappers (Henley Homes).
• Yarra St & Brougham St corner – 250 free gelatos and 250 clappers (Gawk)
• Eastern Beach Rd & Hearne Parade corner – big screen with live race footage and timing, plus 100 free coffees from WYM Botanical and 750 clappers (RedZed)
• Hearne Parade into Eastern Park – Brooks Running archway and Red Bull DJ

The City is proud to support the Geelong Running Festival through our Geelong Major Events funding program.

A number of roads will be closed or have changed traffic conditions to keep runners, spectators and volunteers safe. On Sunday, road closures will start from 4am on key routes including Western Beach Road and Moorabool Street.

Event schedules and course maps, including drop-off points, parking, road closures and fan zones, are available at geelongrunningfestival.com.au

Sports & Recreation portfolio chair Deputy Mayor Eddy Kontelj

The countdown is over and Geelong is ready to run. This is a fantastic new addition to our major events calendar and a wonderful opportunity to show runners and visitors from near and far what makes Greater Geelong such a great sporting destination and such a vibrant place to visit.

What makes this festival particularly special is that it’s for everyone – competitive runners, recreational runners, all ability participants, families, volunteers and spectators. We also encourage everyone coming to Geelong for the festival to take the opportunity to explore everything else our wonderful city and region has to offer. From our thriving hospitality scene, live entertainment and incredible arts and culture precinct, to our fantastic hotels, bars, restaurants and waterfront, there is plenty to see, do and experience while you’re here.

To everyone taking part: we all know that runners make their own luck, so we won’t wish you good luck. Instead, we wish you a successful, enjoyable and injury free run. Most importantly, enjoy the journey, soak up the atmosphere and the support from the community, and thank you for being part of history as we welcome this exciting new event to Geelong.

To everyone cheering from the sidelines: let’s get behind our runners and celebrate this momentous occasion for Geelong together.

Olympian and race director Lee Troop

It is incredibly exciting, and a little surreal, to see this event come to life in the city I grew up in. For years, I have dreamed of bringing a world-class running festival to Geelong.

I also want to acknowledge the incredible people who have helped make this event possible – City of Greater Geelong, Visit Victoria, our volunteers, staff, sponsors, partners, emergency services, local businesses, charities and, most importantly, the Geelong community. This festival simply would not exist without you.

Good luck to all of the runners, whatever your goal may be. The training is done, the course is set, and I’ll see you at the start line.

Geelong Running Festival program

Friday 18 September

• Brooks Running Expo and race bib collection – 8am-7pm at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre

Saturday 19 September

• Brooks Running Expo and race bib collection – 8am-6pm at Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
• GYG Kids 800m – 8am start from Steampacket Gardens
• GYG Kids 1 mile – 8.10am start from Steampacket Gardens
• GYG All Abilities 1 mile – 9am start from Steampacket Gardens

Sunday 20 September

• Race bib collection – 5-6.30am from Royal Geelong Yacht Club
• RedZed Wheelchair Half Marathon – 6.55am start from Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
• Zeekr Marathon – 7am start from Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
• RedZed Half Marathon – 7am start from Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
• Henley Homes Community 6.5km – 7.25am start from Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
• Post-race party – 8am-2pm at Steampacket Gardens