Single-lap course cements one of Australia’s favourite marathons

Marking its 13th year, the marathon festival will have an exciting new twist - a single-lap marathon course.

This major update is designed to elevate the race day experience for runners, cementing the event’s standing as one of Australia’s favourite marathon events.

Held on Sunday, August 3, the marathon will start and finish at Alexandra Headland and take runners along a predominantly flat, fast, coastal route through Twin Waters and Mudjimba, crossing the Sunshine Motorway Bridge twice for panoramic water views.

Atlas Events Managing Director Jason Crowther said the move to a single-lap course reflected the festival’s ongoing commitment to its runners and the broader community.

"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.

"We understand what makes this event special, and this change ensures we continue delivering on that promise.

“Since launching in 2012, my vision has always been to create a single-lap course.

“Now, with the right numbers and the perfect route, we can finally bring that goal to life.

“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."

A cornerstone event for Sunshine Coast

The EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival has become a cornerstone event for the region, attracting more than 12,000 participants in 2024 and generating significant economic benefits through tourism and community engagement.

The EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and by Sunshine Coast Council.

The event helps deliver the Sunshine Coast Council’s Major Events Strategy which aims to bring in $86 million of economic benefit to the region through visitation and local spend.

Sunshine Coast Council Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag said communities in Twin Waters and Mudjimba would now be part of a regional event that encourages community participation in sport and recreation, while helping to grow the local economy. 

“The event organisers have done their due diligence meeting with Council, Queensland Police Service, Department of Transport and Main Roads, local resident groups and businesses,” Cr Bunnag said.

“Council will continue to work closely with local businesses and residents to help prepare for this event in August because we recognise that it will be a new experience for many people in Twin Waters and Mudjimba.”

What will the new course mean for participants?

The single-lap design enables greater capacity, paving the way for continued growth as the 2025 event expects to host up to 15,000 runners in another sell-out event. 

The existing course records - 2:16:18 set by Japanese marathoner Saeki Makino in 2019 and 2:37:07 set by Olympian Milly Clark in 2024 - are expected to be under serious threat with the introduction of the new, faster course.

Mr Crowther said he was confident the new course would push our elite runners to new levels, not just for the Sunshine Coast event but for their own personal bests.

“We expect to see some of the country’s top distance athletes step up to challenge those record times,” Mr Crowther said.

"There’s been a remarkable rise in participation in recent years and we’re proud to provide a course that reflects that growth and love for this sport.

“Whether you’re here to push your limits or soak up the supportive atmosphere, this is an event that has something for everyone."

In addition to enhancing the runner experience, the new course will hold international significance as an AIMS-certified course and a potential qualifier for World Marathon Majors, providing participants with the opportunity to achieve personal bests and global qualification standards.

The Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival has raised millions for local charities over the past 12 years across five different distances, while fostering a strong sense of community and inspiring thousands to achieve their running goals.