5 Great Reasons to Run Gold Coast Marathon in 2025

Whether you’re an avid marathoner or enjoy a run for fun, you’d surely have heard of the Gold Coast Marathon. With its inaugural race happening in 1979, the event has since been held annually in the Gold Coast, Queensland. It holds the World Athletics Label – a prestigious status that’s awarded to leading world races worldwide. The Gold Coast Marathon is one of two races in Australia to have this status, with the other being the Sydney Marathon.

This year, the run sets off from the Broadwater Parklands on Marine Parade in Southport, offering you gorgeous views right from the start of your long journey. Thousands of runners are expected to sign up for the Gold Coast Marathon, just in time for this world-class event’s 45th anniversary.

Blessed with comfortable weather as the run is held mid-winter, the Gold Coast Marathon may also be a great excuse to take your family along for a trip to the Land Down Under. From adrenaline-inducing theme parks to attractions fit for tourists of all ages, you’ll soon realize that there’s so much more to explore on the Gold Coast.

Still unsure about adding the marathon to your must-run list? Well, tighten your laces and ready your energy bars, because here are the top 5 reasons to run the Gold Coast Marathon in 2025 according to our holiday advisors.

Spoiler alert: Some of them are frequent marathoners themselves!

The Gold Coast Marathon boasts one of the best views for a run

Photo by City of Gold Coast on Unsplash

Starting out from the Broadwater Parklands on Marine Parade, a large stretch to the Gold Coast Marathon is located next to Gold Coast’s surf beaches and Broadwater. Known to be one of the flattest and fastest courses worldwide, this offers runners some of the best views as they scratch off miles from their total distance.

This fantastic experience is often coupled with Gold Coast’s unmatched weather conditions, with low humidity and little to no wind to hold you back. Mild temperatures are expected as the day goes on but still create the perfect running experience regardless of whether you’re a seasoned runner or otherwise. For many, it’s the ideal setting to help them achieve their personal best.

Speaking of personal bests, did you know that over 60% of Gold Coast Marathon participants often achieve their personal best times in this event? Now imagine the same satisfaction when you run the marathon yourself! With a generous cut-off time of 6 hours and 40 minutes based on the start of the final wave, you will definitely find yourself at the finish line well beforehand with proper training.

The Gold Coast Marathon is more than just running: It’s an opportunity for a family holiday

Beyond joining the marathon for yourself, being a part of the Gold Coast Marathon also allows your family to explore the city! This is as Gold Coast is never short of fun theme parks and attractions for visitors of all ages, so there’s never a quiet moment for your loved ones even if you’re out there smashing your run.

One such attraction is Australia’s first amphibious Aquaduck Gold Coast Tour that runs from Cavill Avenue. Combining a city tour and river cruise experience, this exciting Aquaduck Safari will take you along some of the best views the Gold Coast has to offer. The tour then continues onto Surfers Paradise, where onboard live commentaries take you through the history and unmissable fun facts of the esplanade. Before long, you’ll hit the Broadwater and catch the bus transform into a boat to navigate through the gorgeous waterways.

And if you’re travelling with little ones, be sure to reach out to the captain once the bus turns into a boat because they might just be given the opportunity to steer the Duck on water. A Captain’s certificate will then be awarded to commemorate this special moment, creating memorable moments for your children to remember forever.

So, whether you’re planning to join your loved ones before or after, you’ll always be spoilt for choices that will keep you entertained on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Marathon holds an international status for marathons

Best known for its excellence in planning, the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. It was awarded the Road Race Label in 2014 by the World Athletics and was the first marathon in Australia to receive this status. The Gold Coast Marathon was subsequently awarded the World Athletics Road Race Label in 2022, 2023, and 2024 – while its half marathon division also obtained the status in 2024.

But what do these labels mean for you as a runner? As the only event in Oceania to hold two World Athletics Road Race Labels in a single event, you can be assured of being enrolled in what could be the best marathon you’ll ever experience at the Gold Coast Marathon.

This is because the label can only obtained when an event meets the strict criteria of excellent race organisation, course measurement, timing and results, media services, medical provisions, and quality of the international field of elite runners.

To simplify, being a part of the Gold Coast Marathon not only gives you the satisfaction of running on one of the world’s best tracks, but you’ll also have the opportunity to run alongside some of the event’s ambassadors and best marathoners through the weekend.

The Gold Coast Marathon has them all: Bragging rights and more

On the lookout for bragging rights? The Gold Coast Marathon has got you covered! For many runners, there’s only one feeling better than crossing the finishing line and that is to collect your hard-earned finisher’s medal. So, whether you’re adding the Gold Coast Marathon finisher medal to your collection or simply starting out with this being your first of many, it’s an experience you’ll never want to forget.

Furthermore, you’ll also receive a finisher certificate and t-shirt to commemorate this moment. It’s a huge reason why many runners come back to the Gold Coast Marathon every year as it allows them to grow their collection annually.

Capturing that final photo for a social media post at the finishing line is often a runner’s goal, and many participants in this event have already made it come true. Smashing their personal best times is yet another reason to freeze this moment – a feat that is definitely possible at the Gold Coast Marathon.

The Gold Coast Marathon gets you in tip-top shape

To best prepare for this annual event, it’s always advisable to keep yourself in top shape. With 21.0975km for the China Airlines Half Marathon and 41.195km for the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon to cover, training yourself to go the distance is important to help you finish. This reduces the opportunity for you to cramp up as you’re on the road and build stamina along the way.

But outside of marathon season, running can be seen as a fantastic cardio exercise to help keep your heart pumping. Along the way, you’ll find yourself getting into better physical condition.

Many marathoners also find this a great motivation to learn more about nutrition and how they choose to fuel themselves. With proper planning, education, and determination, you’ll discover that the Gold Coast Marathon is the perfect ticket to helping you achieve the best in yourself.

If you’re looking to train for the Gold Coast Marathon, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of run clubs across Malaysia to help you achieve your goals. This is a great opportunity for you to also meet new friends who share this passion with you or share tips on how to complete your marathon.

Important things to remember when attending the Gold Coast Marathon

So, are you ready to head into Gold Coast and challenge yourself to the limits? Well, here are some important things you’ll want to remember when attending the Gold Coast Marathon.

For starters, it’s good to know that the areas surrounding the running route will likely be closed or feature many detours. If you’re one to drive yourself while travelling, you’ll find that taking public transport to and from the Gold Coast Marathon will be much better. After all, you wouldn’t want to be caught in traffic and miss your start time.

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

Parking spaces may also be limited as the event often attracts more than just the runners themselves but friends and family who make their way there to support the event. Thankfully, the organisers would already have this in their planning. This means you’ll always find ease of access to the start point at Broadwater Parklands in Southport – be it via shuttle buses, Gold Coast Light Rail, charter boats, and more.

Before the run, we also recommend attending training sessions to keep yourself in good shape. Building your stamina for the long-distance run will help ensure you make it through the full course while learning your pace keeps you on track to the finish line. If this is your first time running a marathon, following a pacer can be beneficial so you don’t overexert yourself.

Separately, you’ll want to be geared with comfortable clothes and shoes. As running a marathon can be stramineous to your legs, having well-padded shoes that will absorb most of the impact will help reduce the risks of injury. Don’t forget to also check on the clothes you’re wearing as you wouldn’t want to run while feeling too hot or catch a cold along the way in case it becomes chilly.

With plenty of water stations placed along the track, you wouldn’t have to worry about hydration during the run. However, it’s still ideal to come prepared with energy bars and gels for that extra boost. Be sure to pre-plan the times and distance in which you’d like to consume your gels and you’ll be surprised at how you can reap the benefits of the fuel.

Finally, it’s most important to have fun and enjoy yourself during the Gold Coast Marathon. While achieving your personal best and finishing the marathon is always the ultimate goal, many runners find that the key is to simply take it easy. As you start off, do take time to enjoy the views of the course – given that this run boasts some of the best views for a marathon.

You’ll also find many supporters who are there to cheer you on as you push yourself to go the distance. Often made of both locals and running enthusiasts, these spectator supports may appear with entertaining signs or outfits that you shouldn’t miss out on. Who knows, you might even make a friend or two during the run.

Sign up now for the Gold Coast Marathon with Holiday Tours!

Let Holiday Tours make your dream of crossing the finishing line come true! With our hassle-free Gold Coast Marathon packages, you can leave the flight and hotel planning to us and focus on your goals of hitting your personal best times. Packages will include an entry to either the China Airlines Half Marathon happening on the 5^th of July or the Asics Gold Coast Full Marathon scheduled for the 6^th of July.

What’s more, you’ll be invited to enjoy the Aquaduck Gold Coast Tour – an amphibious Aquaduck Safari that takes you through the glistening waterways of Gold Coast. Operating since 1996, the tour is a fantastic way to relax and unwind before the major run. It offers unforgettable views of Gold Coast’s iconic landmarks and you’ll get to learn more about the city through its live commentary. Commentaries will commence in English, with key safety information translated into traditional and simplified Chinese onboard.

Or better yet, why not extend your time on the Gold Coast to properly explore the city? Blessed with great sunshine, golden sandy beaches, exciting theme parks, and popular food spots, the city is one of the most popular holiday destinations worldwide.

Wait! This run sold out months ago.

Yes, but as the official travel agent of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Holiday Tours can get you in, no problem! So get in touch with our team to book your spot at the Gold Coast Marathon today!