Gold Coast Marathon
One of the world's fastest and flattest marathon courses, set along Australia's stunning surf coast.
Gold Coast, Queensland
First weekend of July
42.195 km
62 m
~11,000 athletes
Course Highlights
- Southport Broadwater start and finish
- Surfers Paradise beachfront
- Broadbeach and Miami coastal stretch
- Paradise Point turnaround
- Ocean views throughout the course
The Course
The Gold Coast Marathon starts and finishes in Southport near the Broadwater, a sheltered stretch of water between the Gold Coast and South Stradbroke Island. The course heads south along the coast, passing through the high-rise-lined suburbs of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach before reaching the turnaround near Miami. Runners then retrace their steps north, continuing past the start area to a second turnaround near Paradise Point.
The terrain is remarkably flat throughout, with the total elevation gain of just 62 meters coming from gentle road cambers and a handful of barely perceptible rises. Wide, smooth roads provide excellent footing, and the out-and-back format means runners can gauge the progress of competitors heading the other direction. The beachside setting delivers consistent ocean breezes that help keep temperatures comfortable.
The final kilometers return to Southport along the Broadwater foreshore, with the finish line set up in a festival atmosphere complete with grandstands and live coverage. The Gold Coast's reputation as one of the world's fastest courses is well earned: the flat profile, sea-level altitude, and mild July temperatures create near-perfect conditions for chasing personal records.
History
The Gold Coast Marathon was first held in 1979 and has grown into one of the Southern Hemisphere's most respected road races. Organized by Events Management Queensland, the event earned World Athletics Gold Label status, placing it among the top-tier marathons globally. Its flat, fast course has produced numerous national records and personal bests over the decades.
The race weekend has expanded to include a half marathon, 10K, 5K, wheelchair races, a junior dash, and even a double-distance challenge combining the half and full marathons on consecutive days. With around 11,000 total participants across all events, the Gold Coast Marathon has cemented its place as Australia's premier flat marathon and a bucket-list race for runners across the Asia-Pacific region.
How to Train for Gold Coast
Train for relentless flat pacing
With virtually no hills to break up your rhythm, the Gold Coast demands metronomic pacing discipline. Practice marathon-pace long runs on flat terrain and develop the mental fortitude to hold a steady effort when there are no downhills to offer free speed.
Prepare for mild winter conditions
July on the Gold Coast brings cool, dry mornings around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius with low humidity by Australian standards. These are near-ideal conditions, so train in similar temperatures to optimize your race-day performance.
Use the out-and-back format
The course runs south and then north, meaning you will pass runners heading the opposite direction. Use this to locate friends, pacers, or competitors and gauge your relative position. It can also provide a mental boost when you see the finish area on the way out.
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