2026 marathons: let's do one a month from April through October!

BALLARAT MARATHON, APRIL 2026 - First off for the year and we head west of Melbourne to Ballarat to be pacers for the 4hr 30 minute group. This was the third running of the event and we did the first one in 2024 and it was sensational. Could it get any better? It's become the fourth largest event in the country - in just 3 years. Amazing. It's a credit to the event organiser for putting on a top notch event from day 1. Fast flat course, big names, prizemoney and a great atmosphere down the main streets of Ballarat. And they changed the course after year 1 to get rid of the unecessary hill at the turnaround so of course (pun intended) we love that! It's a great event ... AGAIN. We love it and would come back.

ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 10/10. No complaints. Crowd 8/10: For an Australian event, this one is actually top notch. Great course brings them out. Organisation 10/10. Pretty fautless really. Expo 3/10: pretty typical for what is really a sponsor showcase more than an Expo.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD MARATHON, 17 MAY 2026 - This was back to the road less travelled - being my first ever marathon in 2006 - so 20 years later I returned! Same course (Lorne to Apollo Bay) and same spectacular views. This photo is from 2006!...

It's a good event - it's very pretty and the scenery is all that it claims to be - including seeing dolphins just off in the distance on one of the many panoramic views. Of course, it's also still tough. Those views don't come for nothing and you have to climb the hills to enjoy them, but that's the price to be paid. As is, the 45km distance. ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 10/10. No complaints. Crowd 2/10: There really isnt any crowds, until you get to Apollo Bay - but that actually is what makes it special. The sounds of the waves and the ocean are the cheer squad. It's really rather great and unique. Organisation 10/10. No problems - buses take you back from Apollo Bay along the course.

SURF COAST TRAIL MARATHON, JUNE 2026 - Back down the coast again, this time for trails. Starting on the beach at Torquay and crossing water after about just 400m! It's a tough course - it really punished me, but again, it's spectacular following the Surf Coast Trail from Torquay through to Fairhaven. The variety of the terrain is impressive too ... beach, forest, tracks, trails, everything! The finish line up the stairs to the Fairhaven Life Saving Club is brutal!

ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 10/10. Fine - but the free beer and local gin after are good medals too! Crowd 2/10: But for pretty much the same reason as above - there's not too many spectator spots, but isn't that what trail running is all about? Organisation 10/10. Such a nice atmosphere, all very friendly and relaxed, and the drink stations were next level with ... hash browns and Coca Cola at 30km!

CAIRNS MARATHON, JULY 2026 - Very flat but my experiences running in Cairns were all about the humidity .... and how much that was going to hurt you. Starting at 5.45am - and 18 degrees! - it was fortunately cloudy and the temp was ok. And another new thing for me ... 4 x 10km laps. Haven't done that before. But it was fun and a good distraction having the Half on course for 2 laps, then running with the 10km and finally the 5km runners as well. Happy with the time and the humidity didnt destroy us!

ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 10/10. Quite nice - with color and a spinner. Crowd 5/10: For a (relatively) small Australian location, it was pretty good. Organisation 10/10. No problems.

BRIGHTON BEACH MARATHON, AUGUST 2026 - This was a pacing duty at 4:30hr and we knew this course from when it was called Sandy Point Half and this was its second time as a Marathon. Fun pacing role with some people going the entire way with us. ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 7/10. Average - a pretty good finsiher's tshirt though. Crowd 5/10: OK. Organisation 9/10. No problems.

And while we're recording interesting runs of 2026 .... here's a 10km charity run done at 4am in Bangkok! In 95% humidity!!

GEELONG MARATHON, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 - The inaugaral event for Geelong - and well done to them. Following the success of events like Ballarat it was timely that Victoria's second biggest city had their own. They have a successful background of cycling and triathlon events and it was time to join those ranks. Excellent organisation for a first one - they really did well. The course was a great 1/2 - with all the good stuff in that. The second half was pretty boring and didnt really show off anything nice of Geelong. Running through Kardinia Park Stadium was fun, as was along the water, but the heat and wind that day was "brutal".

ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 10/10.Well done on a great medal, great finisher's tshirt - all really nicely designed. They did everything well. Crowd 6/10: There was good buzz in town. Organisation 10/10.

MELBOURNE MARATHON, OCTOBER 11, 2026 - Kipchoge!

One word says it all for this year's event: Kipchoge. The GOAT. He came, he saw, he conquered! A win and a new course record - and a rock-star welcome everywhere he went. Everywhere. It must be amazing to have so much support while running. A big year - new reverse course with no hill - so faster and flatter. And bigger. 20,000 marathoners. It was BIG. It felt BIGGER and they did pretty well with it. A perfect weather day helped. Great way to finish off strong for the marathon year, particularly running with this crew...

ANDREW'S RATINGS: Medal 10/10. All good - but this year's free t-shirt was much better. Black - again - but good design. Crowd 9/10: No doubt the best crowd for the event ever - sure the increased numbers helped, but it was really all about Kipchoge. A rock star wherever he goes. Organisation 8/10. They had a big go - and got it pretty well done. They missed in a couple of areas but overall it had the feel of a much bigger - and better - event this year. And here's my photo of how I saw Kipchoge running in the same event as me - wow - in my home town - wow.

Well that's it. No more for the year! Time to recover. Got some planned for next year already. Won't be this many though ..... that's what he says now!!