Learn about your options to access entry to the 2025 Nike Melbourne Marathon
Be a part of Australia’s premier marathon and race alongside marathon legends. Circle around Albert Park Lake, Flinders Street Station, pass the St Kilda beach foreshore and cross the finish line at the MCG to cheers from supporters, family and friends. The Nike Melbourne Marathon is a competitive, adrenaline-filled race for those experienced in marathon running who want to set a PB on our fast and flat course, and is also perfect for first-timers and less experienced marathon runners.
Event Information
| Date | Sunday 12 October 2025 |
| Distance | 42.195km |
| Start Time | 7:00am *subject to change in 2025 |
| Cut Off Time | 2:00pm |
| Field Limit | 11,000 |
| Start Line | Batman Avenue (150m North of Rod Laver Arena) |
| Finish Line | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) |
| Age Limit | 18 years or older on race day |
Entry Fees & Inclusions
Price: $190
Inclusions:
- Entry
- Race Bib + Safety Pins
- Finishers Medal
- Finisher T-Shirt
- E-Certificate
Course Map
*subject to change in 2025
Course Flyover
*subject to change in 2025
Elevation Map
Slow Course
Information for 5+hr Marathon runners
The Nike Melbourne Marathon has a course redirection for entrants who are running at slower than a 5hr marathon pace. At the 22km mark of the Marathon (approx. 9:40am), slow runners will be redirected into Fitzroy St from Beaconsfield Parade. Redirected runners will be given a wristband and do not complete the southern section of the course (7.8km). Instead redirected runners will make up this distance by completing seven (7) loops in Brunton Avenue, which are 1.1km per loop (near the finish) before heading to the MCG finish line. Redirected, slower runners have up to 7hrs to make it inside the MCG to have their results officially recorded. A designated team of officials will be on hand to record and advise all redirected runners. Please note: The redirection is a race requirement and is done so to ensure the safety of slower runners and also to meet traffic management requirements. The redirected course has been measured to AIMS standards
Pacers
Pace Group Leaders will be expected to run at an even pace for the entire distance of their event and offer encouragement and information along the way. Keeping to your allocated pace and communication between yourself and the runners within your Pace Group is extremely important if everyone is to continue as a group. The following Pace Groups will be running in the Full Marathon in 2025:
| MARATHON | ||||||
| 2:50 | 3:00 | 3:10 | 3:20 | 3:30 | 3:40 | 3:50 |
| 4:00 | 4:10 | 4:20 | 4:30 | 4:45 | 5:00 | |
Running with a Pacer
- If you are a participating athlete and wish to join a Pace Group, please look out for the Pace Group signs at the Start Area on race day.
- You do not need to register your interest.
- All Pace Group Leaders will be easily identifiable in event gear with their particular pace time clearly visible.
Becoming a Pacer
2025 Pacer Applications will open at a later date
Preferred Starts
Once you have successfully registered for the event, you can apply for a Preferred Start, which is a starting position immediately behind the Elite field. To be granted a preferred start you must have achieved the following qualifying times for your event since 1st January 2024.
| OPEN | OVER 40 | OVER 50 | |
| MALE | Sub 2:45 | Sub 2:55 | Sub 3:05 |
| FEMALE | Sub 3:10 | Sub 3:20 | Sub 3:30 |
Applications for Preferred Starts must be made via the website and should include details of the races (i.e. race name, date and distance) at which qualifying performances have been achieved.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications are checked to guarantee times submitted are valid.
2025 applications will open at a later date.
Please note: applying for a Preferred Start is a separate process to the online race entry system. Applying for a Preferred Start does not guarantee race entry, so please be aware of the race entry cut off times and field limits.
Drink Stations
Aid Station Locations
| LOCATION | Aid Station Total Dist. Km | Supplied | Medical | Toilets |
| #1 – St Kilda Rd / Arthur St | 3 | Water ONLY | Yes | Yes |
| #2 – Lakeside Dve | 6 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| #3 – Pits Building (Albert Park) | 11.2 | Water + Gatorade + Maurten Gels | Yes | Yes |
| 11.2 | PERSONAL DRINKS | Yes | Yes | |
| #4 – Mills St/ B’Field Pde | 17 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| #4 – Mills St/ B’Field Pde | 19.4 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| #5 – Point Ormond/Marine Pde & Glenhuntly Rd | 24.2 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| 24.2 | PERSONAL DRINKS | Yes | Yes | |
| #5 – Point Ormond/Marine Pde & Glenhuntly Rd | 27.3 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| #2a – Jacka Blvd | 29.5 | Water + Gatorade + Maurten Gels | Yes | No |
| #1 – St Kilda Rd /Arthur St | 34.1 | Water ONLY | Yes | Yes |
| #6 – Birdwood Ave/Govt House Dve | 36.5 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| 36.5 | PERSONAL ONLY | Yes | Yes | |
| #7 – St Kilda Rd / Linlithgow | 39.8 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| #8 – Wellington St Sth | 41 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
| Finish | 42.195 | Water + Gatorade | Yes | Yes |
Drink station locations subject to change*
Personal Drink Stations
Marathon competitors who wish to have their own refreshments available to collect from designated Drink Stations on course during Race Day.
| Drop Off Information | |
|---|---|
| Drop Off Location | Event Village Area (Below outdoor cricket nets) |
| Drop Off Date | Saturday 12th October |
| Drop Off Times | 8am-2pm |
| Personal Drink Station Locations | 11.2km, 24.2km, 36.5km |
*Please note Drink Station Locations are subject to Change
RESTRICTIONS
- Drink containers are not to be any taller than 21cm in total including all attachments
- Special Drinks Drop off will close at 2.00pm
- No Balloons/Sticks are to be attached
- Your race number must be clearly shown on the bottle container
- It is your responsibility to find your own bottle at the Personal Drinks Station
- You must not drop your bottle on course it must be dropped in the Event Waste Zone
- The Personal Drinks service is available to competitors in the full marathon only
Prize Money
| EVENT | 1ST PLACE | 2ND PLACE | 3RD PLACE | 4TH PLACE | 5TH PLACE |
| MARATHON | $25,000 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $2,500 | $1,250 |
- All Prize Money is in Australian Dollars (AUD)
- All prize money may be subject to a deduction of Withholding Tax to the Australian Taxation Office for those who are not Australian residents.
Nike Melbourne Marathon – Bonus Pool
Elite Athletes
The Melbourne Marathon Festival has a proud history of supporting Australia and New Zealand’s elite runners. With more Australians qualifying for the Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games than any other domestic event in the past decade, there is no doubt that the fast Melbourne course provides a perfect vehicle for quality performances. Names like Weightman, Adams, Trengove and Diver have represented the Green and Gold with distinction as a result of what they’ve achieved on the streets of Melbourne. In 2024 this tradition will continue with support packages available to athletes who have achieved the following standards since 1st January 2024.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications are checked to guarantee times submitted are valid.
2025 Applications will open at a later date.
Spartans
In 1987 the efforts of the 86 men and two women who had completed all ten Melbourne Marathons was recognised by calling them “Spartans” and presenting each with a gold singlet. The Melbourne Marathon Spartans Club was formed in 1989 following initial discussions between Race Director Ted Paulin and Brian Dixon (former M.L.A. and Melbourne Football Club footballer).
The title of “Melbourne Marathon Spartan” has now become one of the Australian running community’s most sought after. Spartans are recognized by their various coloured running singlets and each runner has a personalised lifetime race number. The singlet is worn with the utmost pride by all Spartans as a sign of their achievement and dedication to marathon running. Any runner who completes ten Melbourne Marathons automatically qualifies to become a Spartan. After the 2022 event there are 1484 male, 159 female and two wheelchair Spartans. Although mainly Victorians, they come from all over Australia with a few overseas members. Three 44 Year Spartans remain: John Dobson, David Foskey and Wayne Thompson. Chas Harcoan, Bruce Hargreaves and Roger Weinstein have run 43. For further information on the Spartans club please visit the official Melbourne Marathon Spartans website: www.melbournemarathonspartans.com
Wheelchair Entrants
Participants in Racing Wheelchairs
Those wishing to participate in a racing wheelchair are required to register in the Nike Melbourne Wheelchair Marathon 7:55am start. This will be 5 minutes before the start of the Half Marathon, and will allow you to safely navigate the course free from crowds.
Participants in non-racing Wheelchairs
Those wishing to participate in a non-racing wheelchair are required to register in the Nike Melbourne Marathon 7:00am start. For the safety of yourself and to assist with navigating through the field of runners, we highly recommend starting towards the back of the starting pack. Non-racing wheelchair participants are also permitted to register the 3km Walk. Please note that the Half Marathon, 10km Run and 5km Run are not wheelchair-friendly.
SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
