GYG 5KM

SATURDAY, 25 APRIL 2026

WORLD ATHLETICS CERTIFIED COURSE

RACE DETAILS

  • START TIMES:
    2pm - Mass Start
    3.15pm - 5km Women’s Elite
    3.45pm - 5km Men’s Elite

  • START-FINISH LOCATION: Ballarat Town Hall - 225 Sturt St, Ballarat Central

Be inspired by the beauty of Australia’s best-preserved gold rush-era city while completing two laps of our 2.5km course. This will be a spectacular Saturday afternoon event for runners and spectators alike.

AGE RESTRICTIONS: There are no age restrictions in the 5KM, however all entrants aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult.

BIB COLLECTION LOCATION:
Civic Hall, 300/304 Mair St, Ballarat Central

NOTE: Civic Hall is a separate venue to Town Hall (start location).

BIB COLLECTION TIMES:
Friday 24 April: 12pm - 7pm
Saturday 25 April: 9am - 1:30pm

NOTE: ALL BIBS MUST BE COLLECTED. BIBS WILL NOT BE POSTED.

BAG DROP:
The Mining Exchange, 16 Lydiard St North, Ballarat Central

Who can run in the Elite races?

We are encouraging national-standard and state-standard runners and fast club runners to take part in our Elite races. Runners need to request an entry code from our Competition Manager, June Petrie, by emailing competition@ballaratmarathon.com.au. Runners will asked to submit evidence of a qualifying time.

Men: Have posted a time of 16:00 or faster
Women: 18:00 or faster

Men’s & Women’s Elite Prize Money:

First: $2000

Second: $1000

Third: $500

Fourth: $250

Fifth: $125

2026 PRICING

Event Weekend Special Pricing (ends at 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 April):
Adult $50 / 5-12 Years $25 / 0-4 Years Free



Tier 1 Pricing (from Sunday 13 July until allocation exhausted):
Adult $55 / 5-12 Years $27.50 / 0-4 Years Free

Tier 2 Pricing (until allocation exhausted):
Adult $65 / 5-12 Years $32.50 / 0-4 Years Free

Age: All children aged 12 and under on the day of the event must be accompanied by a REGISTERED adult.

PAST WINNERS

Race records are underlined

Male

2024: Dale Carroll (14:36)

2025: Jack Bruce (14:06)

Female

2024: Zoe Buckman (16:21)

2025: Isobel Batt-Doyle (15:24)

2025 5KM RESULTS

Updated 5km Strava map (two-lap course)

  • The cut-off time for The Courier 5km Mass Participation distance is one hour and 10 minutes.

  • Our Disability and Inclusion Partner, eQuality Support, will be operating a drink station during the Mass Participation Race. The drink station will be located at the 2.7km mark. This station will have water available.

  • Drink Station 1, 2.7km (just past start-finish gantry for runners/walkers starting their second lap) – Water

  • To assist you in achieving your goals we have a team of pacers who will run at an even effort/pace. The pacers are like on-course coaches, encouraging you and other runners along the way. Each pacer will be easily identifiable. They will each be carrying a flag that clearly displays their target finish time.

    All pacers will run to ‘chip time’ and pace as evenly as possible.

    There will be pacers for the following times:

    • 20 mins

    • 22 mins 30 secs

    • 25 mins

    • 27 mins 30 secs

    • 30 mins

    • 32 mins 30 secs

    • 35 mins

    • Tail walker

  • Ballarat is a beautiful city and we want to ensure it stays that way.

    Please help our wonderful Volunteers and Crew by discarding all waste in the bins provided.

    PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE WITH GEL TOPS.

FURTHER INFORMATION 2026

All courses are certified by AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) and measured to World Athletics Standards.

*Courses & Schedules are subject to change and improvement.