Accessibility

Running with a Disability at the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival

We believe that sport and activity should be accessible for all, which is why our dedicated team supports people with a range of disabilities – from elite wheelchair athletes to everyday participants – to take part in the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival.

If you require assistance with our online entry system or have any questions, please email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.

Get Involved

All entrants must be 18 or over on Race Day for the Marathon, and 16 or over for the Half Marathon. To receive a finisher’s medal, you must complete the event by the official cut-off time.

Handbikes, trikes, skates, inline skates such as Rollerblade, skateboards, scooters or any geared or motorised device may not be used.

You can use the following wheeled equipment or device:           

• Standard day chairs/wheelchairs with a maximum width of 95cm and length of 2.20m (entered into the mass participation event) – a FreeWheel attachment may be also used.
• Race Runners – but please email us first if you wish to use one of these.
• Crutches, frames or walkers that are not motorised or geared.

If you require the use of a Support Runner or Guide, please indicate your request on our registration platform when registering for the event. The Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival will reach out to runners who have selected the need to run with a Support Runner or Guide for further information and to confirm the acceptance.

Support Runners & Guides

A human guide (“guide”) provides verbal cues and navigation support to a runner who is blind or has vision impairment.

A support runner is a person who provides verbal instructions, directions, and/or cues that support orientation and/or decision making for a runner (ambulatory) with a physical or intellectual impairment.

If you are blind or vision impaired, or your disability or medical condition means you need a support runner or guide, you can apply for a free place for them during registration.

If you require a Support Runner or guide, you can approach Achilles Australia to become a member and they will attempt to pair you with someone for Event Day. As a volunteer driven organisation they might suggest some other avenues if they can’t assist.

A runner with a vision impairment who requires a guide in order to participate in the event is permitted to be accompanied by one (1) or two (2) guides, depending on the individual’s need. 

A runner (ambulatory) with a permanent physical or intellectual impairment who needs to be accompanied by another person on the Melbourne Marathon course is permitted to be accompanied by one (1) or two (2) support runners, depending on the individual’s need.

For all athletes requiring a guide or support runner: 

• It is the runner’s responsibility to select a guide or support runner who can perform all support responsibilities at the runner’s goal race pace.
• It is strongly recommended that a runner selects a guide or support runner with whom they regularly train.

• The event suggests that athletes participate with one (1) support runner, but will approve a second support runner as and if needed.    

• In limited situations, a runner may be permitted to register two (2) guides who run in relay fashion, where the runner is accompanied by one (1) guide at a time on the event course.

Guide & Support Runner Registration Process:

During the registration process for the Nike Melbourne Marathon, runners are able to indicate if they have a vision, physical or intellectual impairment* and if they run accompanied by a guide or support runner, and if so, one (1) or two (2). Those runners who indicated they have a vision, physical or intellectual impairment and run accompanied by a guide or support runner will receive an email with information regarding next steps for guide registration. This process will involve NMMF collecting information regarding the specific guide or support runner, including but not limited to the guide’s first and last name and their email address. The deadline for runners to provide the details for their guide will be 01 July 2025. NMMF will send an invitation to register directly to each guide by 08 July 2025. The deadline for the guide to complete the registration process is 31 July 2025.    

• After the deadline, any runner whose guide did not timely register through our platform will be given the option to participate alone, or to cancel their entry.    
• A guide or support runner’s registration/participation is contingent upon the runner’s participation. Should the runner choose not to participate, the guide or support runner’s registration is no longer valid and they will be uninvited/cancelled. A guide or support runner may only participate with the runner who requested to register the guide or support runner.
• Any runner who has additional needs, or questions regarding participation may email [email protected]      

Guide and Support Runner Race Bib:

A guide or support runner must wear the race bib provided by the event organisers and assigned in the number range specifically designated for guides and support runners. They are required to pick up their race materials, including the race bib, from the Race Week Office. Guide and Support Runner bibs for the Nike Melbourne Marathon festival are non-transferable; a guide or support runner is prohibited from giving or selling the race number or bib to another person or wearing an unofficial number or bib.     

Guide and Support Runner Responsibilities / Rules of Competition on the Course:

• The method of guidance is the choice of the runner, with certain limitations (listed below). Some of the most common methods of guidance are using a tether, or verbal directions, instructions, or cues.

• A guide or support runner’s focus must always be on the runner they are assisting. A guide or support runner must always stay with their runner.    

• A guide or support runner is permitted to hand fluids to the runner at the designated fluid stations.

• A guide or support runner may not push, pull, or slingshot the runner forward. The runner may only bear weight on the guide temporarily to regain balance if necessary.
• A guide or support runner may not block or interfere with the forward progression of other race participants.
• A guide or support runner must advise their runner to stay to the side of the road when approached from behind by an official vehicle or other participants.    
• A guide or support runner may not use rollerblades, a bicycle, or other mechanical means of transport.
• A guide/support runner may assist the runner if they have tripped or fallen to regain footing and/or orientation
• For guides starting/stopping at the exchange station: The exchange station will be determined near the halfway point on the event course. A guide who is serving as the runner’s first guide is required to exit the event course at the exchange station and is responsible for transporting himself/herself home or to his/her hotel. A guide who is serving as the runner’s second guide is responsible for transporting himself/herself to the exchange station and is not permitted to enter the event course until the runner the guide is designated to support arrives at the exchange station and the first guide exits the event course. If the runner the guide is designated to support does not ever arrive at the exchange station, the guide is not permitted to enter the event course.
• If a guide is unable to finish an event with his/her runner, the guide is required to drop-out and exit the course. If a guide drops-out, the runner may still participate so long as he/she is able to do so safely.    
• A guide must cross the finish line with his/her runner. After the finish line, a guide must direct their runner to stay to the left.      

Any runner who has additional needs or questions regarding participation in the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival may email [email protected]      

IMPORTANT NOTE: A runner, guide or support runner who violates anything in these rules or procedures may be removed from the event course, disqualified from official results, and/or suspended from subsequent Melbourne Marathon events.

Quiet Space

If the crowds and noise are overwhelming and you need a calming and soothing spot, we also provide a sensory room within the MCG inside the Australian Sports Museum (via Gate 3).