Oceania / Australia / Melbourne
Nike Melbourne Marathon 2026
At the starting line
A race worth the journey.
The Nike Melbourne marathon is a road race in the Melbourne Marathon Festival. Runners start on Batman Avenue and finish inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the festival’s signature stadium finish.
Know the course
Race route
Explore the course and the climbs before you get to the starting line.
Marathon
Official course trackInteractive map requires JavaScript. The course source is linked below.
Estimated elevation
Download elevation CSVApproximate ascent 249 mApproximate descent 235 m
Distances on this chart are approximate and follow the supplied track.
Terrain estimate · mapzen · Prepared
Terrain estimates may differ from the road surface, especially on bridges and in tunnels. Sampled every 100 m with a three-sample median filter.
Organizer course source · Checked
Event history
First held in 1978
The marathon began in 1978 with a route from Frankston to Melbourne Town Hall. The finish moved to the MCG in 2007.
Previous winners
The last ten completed editions where results can be verified. Overall men's and women's winners for this distance.
| Edition | Men | Time | Women | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jack Rayner | 2:15:02 | Caitlin Adams | 2:30:26 | Results ↗ |
| 2024 | Jack Rayner | 2:11:49 | Genevieve Gregson | 2:28:13 | Results ↗ |
| 2023 | Reece Edwards | 2:14:34 | Gemma Maini | 2:35:25 | Results ↗ |
| 2022 | Timothy Ronoh | 2:09:12 | Beatrice Cheptoo | 2:27:58 | Results ↗ |
| 2021 | Brett Robinson | 2:14:33 | Milly Clark | 2:26:59 | Results ↗ |
| 2019 | Isaac Birir | 2:16:31 | Naomi Maiyo | 2:35:34 | Results ↗ |
| 2018 | Liam Adams | 2:15:13 | Sinead Diver | 2:25:19 | Results ↗ |
| 2017 | Isaac Birir | 2:14:08 | Celia Sullohern | 2:29:27 | Results ↗ |
| 2016 | Thomas Do Canto | 2:20:53 | Virginia Moloney | 2:34:27 | Results ↗ |
| 2015 | Brad Milosevic | 2:16:00 | Jess Trengove | 2:27:45 | Results ↗ |
Ten completed in-person editions through 2025; the 2020 virtual event is excluded. Timing-provider gun results supersede errors in the organizer history table: 2024 Rayner 2:11:49; 2023 Edwards 2:14:34; 2022 Cheptoo 2:27:58; 2021 Robinson 2:14:33; 2019 Maiyo 2:35:34. These corrections and source differences are recorded in the research manifest.
Runner perspectives
Selected summaries of public runner reviews. These describe the editions and distances noted, and experiences may change.
Adler enjoyed the coastal running and MCG finish in 2014, with cool conditions warming during the race. He highlights the climb late in the marathon after the flatter seaside section.
Adrian Lazar Adler · Read review ↗2014Marathon
A 2018 half-marathon participant enjoyed the festival’s MCG finish and encouraging spectators, but found heat and crowding demanding. This is a shared festival perspective from the half distance.
Cathie Lambert · Read review ↗2018Half marathon; shared festival perspective
Typical race weather
October in Melbourne
- Average daytime high
- 18.7°C
- Average overnight low
- 9.4°C
- Average monthly precipitation
- 61 mm
October averages suggest mild spring days and cool nights. Keep a removable start layer and a dry finish layer available rather than relying only on the daytime average. Average daily highs are 18.7°C and overnight lows 9.4°C. Average precipitation totals about 61 mm over the whole month. Rain preparation is sensible, but the total does not give the chance or timing of rain during the race. These are historical regional averages, not a forecast or race-hour temperatures; the coast, hills and start line may differ.
Climate source ↗ · NASA POWER / MERRA-2 grid near Melbourne (-37.81°, 144.96°); not a weather station · October 2001–2020 (20 years)
Historical averages describe typical conditions, not the forecast or the temperature at the starting line.
What to wear
- Racing: consider a technical T-shirt with shorts or light tights; removable sleeves or a thin long-sleeve layer may suit a cooler forecast.
- Waiting at the start: bring a removable warm layer and, if rain is forecast, a rain shell or poncho. If the start-time forecast is cold, consider light gloves and a hat or headband that you can remove.
- After finishing: keep a dry top and an extra layer in your finish bag.
- These are editorial clothing suggestions. Check the forecast close to race day and adapt to your own comfort.
Check the forecast close to race day and adjust your clothing to the start time and your own comfort.
Guide sources checked on .
Checked on 4 Oct 2026 · Event source
Map pins locate the host city, not the start line or race course.