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[Running_Lifter86]

My biggest grip with running Melbourne marathon is congestion, maybe that is why they are looking to split up the days, i think GC marathon does something similar.

I like the course in Melbourne but you have marathoners around the 3:30hr runners give or take 15 mins combing back down st.kilda road around the same time as 1:40hr half runners these are pretty popular times so it causes a glut on course leads to a bit of yelling and cutting off people who try to get through.

 

[Makeshift Park]

My biggest grip with running Melbourne marathon is congestion, maybe that is why they are looking to split up the days, i think GC marathon does something similar.

I like the course in Melbourne but you have marathoners around the 3:30hr runners give or take 15 mins combing back down st.kilda road around the same time as 1:40hr half runners these are pretty popular times so it causes a glut on course leads to a bit of yelling and cutting off people who try to get through.

Yep, 100%.

Unless you're an elite marathon runner, its bloody hard to make up any time in the last quarter of the Melbourne mara for this reason.

Both Sydney and GC are better in that regard.

 

[Wetdog]

My biggest grip with running Melbourne marathon is congestion, maybe that is why they are looking to split up the days, i think GC marathon does something similar.

I like the course in Melbourne but you have marathoners around the 3:30hr runners give or take 15 mins combing back down st.kilda road around the same time as 1:40hr half runners these are pretty popular times so it causes a glut on course leads to a bit of yelling and cutting off people who try to get through.

Yeah, I get your point.

I finished at 4:02 which is probably bang smack in the average time to complete a marathon and the final 5km was very congested, which would have been the 2 to 2:10 half marathoners, which would probably be the average time again. It was a real problem; I spent a lot of time and effort side stepping folks.

Hopefully, they put the half and 10km on the Saturday next year.

 

[faible]

My biggest grip with running Melbourne marathon is congestion, maybe that is why they are looking to split up the days, i think GC marathon does something similar.

I like the course in Melbourne but you have marathoners around the 3:30hr runners give or take 15 mins combing back down st.kilda road around the same time as 1:40hr half runners these are pretty popular times so it causes a glut on course leads to a bit of yelling and cutting off people who try to get through.

It’s even worse than that, the other year I did it and finished in the 3:17 region and was running through the 2 hour pace group - I know this because I slowed down for a short chat with someone I knew in it.

The 2:00 HM pacer was excellent and was shouting for them all to move across and I wasn’t in a massive rush so it didn’t really impact me but there was a massive pace difference at that point.

Problem with splitting it is the HM and marathon use a lot of the same course with the same road closures so will they shut St Kilda road down for the best part of 2 days?

 

[Wetdog]

Hey, has anyone got recommendations for trail shoes?

 

[Running_Lifter86]

It’s even worse than that, the other year I did it and finished in the 3:17 region and was running through the 2 hour pace group - I know this because I slowed down for a short chat with someone I knew in it.

The 2:00 HM pacer was excellent and was shouting for them all to move across and I wasn’t in a massive rush so it didn’t really impact me but there was a massive pace difference at that point.

Problem with splitting it is the HM and marathon use a lot of the same course with the same road closures so will they shut St Kilda road down for the best part of 2 days?

I ran Melbourne in 2022 and run just under 3hrs14 so had the exact same experience as you, a lot of people trying to run PB's and the sub 4hr marathoners and sub 2 hour marathoners are the some of the largest groups. Some people move out the way but some just hold their line.

I even saw in 2024 i was doing the half and i think some of the sub 2hr30min marathoner runners where being held up by people in the half marathon group. The pacers/motorbike was trying to clear a path.

Don't get me wrong its a great experience to finish inside the MCG and even by this point the field clears up up but the 37km mark give or take when a lot of runners converge on st.kilda road it is very busy.

 

[Running_Lifter86]

Hey, has anyone got recommendations for trail shoes?

The one pair i have used are the Hoka speedgoats, haven't got a comparison but i like them, just wish i bought a size half bigger.

 

[faible]

Hey, has anyone got recommendations for trail shoes?

Depending on how 'trail' they need to be, I got a pair of these for some of the light duty trail / gravel / dirt areas I run when it's wet and they're surprisingly good. Basically a Rebel with a more sturdy upper and a proper grippy outsole. A bit heavier so it loses some of the rebel magic, but if you've tried and like the rebel these might be worth a look.

New Balance FuelCell Venym Men's Shoes Urgent Red | Running Warehouse

www.runningwarehouse.com.au

 

[Makeshift Park]

Hey, has anyone got recommendations for trail shoes?

What distance? The Saucony Xodus Ultra V1 are my all-time favourite trail runners. Unfortunately V2 wasn't as great and I've read mixed reviews on V3.

I've had no success with Hokas.

I run in peregrines these days. Not meant to be ultra runners, but they do the job okay.

 

[darrenmorgan]

speaking of Melbourne Marathon, am I tripping balls, has it all already sold out?! when did it go on sale??!

 

[faible]

speaking of Melbourne Marathon, am I tripping balls, has it all already sold out?! when did it go on sale??!

View attachment 2473780

Most likely just the 2025 event that hasn't been updated, they'll send out many emails before entries open for the 2026 one.

 

[juddy_Like]

Interesting Melbourne is also going down the ballot route. Not sure I'm a fan of this (considering I've missed out on Sydney two years in a row now).

As for 2025, I share everyone's sentiments. The start was just woeful where unless you really pushed your way through to the front like a prick, you end up starting so far back that you don't get clear air until at least the 5km mark.

The back quarter or from the 30km mark when it joined up again was also a real mess. You really want to check your ego since we're all not Kipchoge's here but trying to duck and weave through all the half marathoners was not a great experience.

 

[Jatz]

Ran 1250km last year, then our second born arrived late last year.

Haven't quite run 200km this year and have put on all the weight I lost over the last year (about 20kgs - I'm a shocking stress eater and with neither of our two boys being great sleepers, it's been a bloody long year).

Have started running again the last two weeks. It's been frustrating essentially starting again (knowing how well/far I could run previously) but I've really been enjoying getting out again. I know the fitness will come back with time but gee I wish it would hurry up haha.

My heart rate in particular is absolutely appalling atm. It just shoots to 180+ and I really struggle to get it back down.

 

[Willo_]

Melbourne going to a ballot has got me about to enter Geelong now, the course had put me off.. but a guarantee over a maybe wins.

Plus a mate and group from my run club are all going to do it together, so not chasing a PB and just a good experience should be good hopefully

 

[guelfontheshelf]

Melbourne moving to a ballot sucks... I'll still register (probably for the half again) but maybe time to look into a different race. Still toying with the idea of doing another full next year. Did Melbourne full (3:27) and if I do another full I'd want to do it on a different course, but also potentially going to Europe next July/August which may clash with peak training time for a lot of races.

My half mara on the gold coast a few weekends ago ended up getting cancelled the day before unfortunately due to forecast of potential storms. The storms never hit unfortunately haha which rubbed a bit of salt into the wound. Bloody humid running up on the gold coast though, brutal conditions. but that said I'm sick of Melbourne's eternal grey and cold that we've been having so it was a nice reprieve.

 

[Running_Lifter86]

Melbourne going to a ballot has got me about to enter Geelong now, the course had put me off.. but a guarantee over a maybe wins.

Plus a mate and group from my run club are all going to do it together, so not chasing a PB and just a good experience should be good hopefully

Ballarat is meant to be a good race as well, pretty flat out.

Hobart Marathon is also an option for anyone wanting to travel as well.

I suggest Melbourne going to a ballot just increases the hype, numbers and ultimately the price to enter.

 

[darrenmorgan]

so Melbs ballot is open, $235 for Full and $190 for half. for those that ran this year - how does that compare? seems a lot. by the looks of things the half and full will still be on the sunday.

 

[faible]

so Melbs ballot is open, $235 for Full and $190 for half. for those that ran this year - how does that compare? seems a lot. by the looks of things the half and full will still be on the sunday.

Full was $190 for 2025. Plus $10 for bib postage so you don't have to stuff around getting in to pick it up.

 

[darrenmorgan]

Full was $190 for 2025. Plus $10 for bib postage so you don't have to stuff around getting in to pick it up.

View attachment 2475941

wow, over 20% increase, wonder how they are justifying that?

 

[faible]

wow, over 20% increase, wonder how they are justifying that?

When it's selling out in 4 hours with a waiting list you don't really need to justify it I guess, just ramp it up so long as it keeps selling out quickly.

 

[Willo_]

wow, over 20% increase, wonder how they are justifying that?

No need to worry about early bird pricing I guess with a ballot so they can just drop that.

I registered for the Geelong Marathon today, hopefully a good event for a brand new one

 

[Running_Lifter86]

Interesting when you google Melbourne Marathon 2026 dates, it says the event is over Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of October. The full and half are on Sunday 11th, no dates for the 10km, 5km so assume they will be Saturday or they are giving themselves options to split races over the weekend. More space = more entrants = more $$$

 

[darrenmorgan]

Interesting when you google Melbourne Marathon 2026 dates, it says the event is over Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of October. The full and half are on Sunday 11th, no dates for the 10km, 5km so assume they will be Saturday or they are giving themselves options to split races over the weekend. More space = more entrants = more $$$

yeah sounds like the shorter events will be Saturday so they can increase fields for HM and Full. Don't mind that at all, but they need to so something about the course, and removing the merging of the fields at the end, and i wish they'd provide that info before the close of ballot so I can actually make an informed decision before forking out $200+.

 

[braddsey]

My biggest grip with running Melbourne marathon is congestion, maybe that is why they are looking to split up the days, i think GC marathon does something similar.

I like the course in Melbourne but you have marathoners around the 3:30hr runners give or take 15 mins combing back down st.kilda road around the same time as 1:40hr half runners these are pretty popular times so it causes a glut on course leads to a bit of yelling and cutting off people who try to get through.

Totally with you on this. Given they’ve got 2 lanes on St Kilda Road i couldn’t figure out why they don’t split M & HM either side. Slamming into the HMers sucked, though not quite as much as the woman with a stroller who decided to cross St Kilda Road in front of me at about the 39km mark!

A ballot for Melbourne is probably the right move. It’s way over subscribed. I went the charity root this year ($2K), ended up donating about half myself - ACRF just became our major family charity this year (plus it is tax deductible).

 

[stmookeyj]

Interesting Melbourne is also going down the ballot route. Not sure I'm a fan of this (considering I've missed out on Sydney two years in a row now).

This is where finishing for the 10th time this year and making the Spartans cut comes in very handy (they'll give a link for those who've got to 7). It also means the insurance option of entering the Chicago ballot remains a Hail Mary at best.