Port Fairy Marathon and Community Running Festival

Sunday, 21 February 2027

Port Fairy, VIC

Where to stay for race weekend

Half Marathon & 10K

Port Fairy Marathon Committee

We may earn a small referral fee if you enter via this link — you pay the same price.

About This Event

Flat, AIMS-certified road races through Port Fairy's coastal streets: marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km and a 1.5km Fun Sized Run. Every entry supports Port Fairy Consolidated School.

Port Fairy Marathon and Community Running Festival

Events & entry fees

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Sunday 21 February

Marathon

7am

$139
Half Marathon

7am

$109
10km

10am

$59
5km

11am

$35
1.5km Fun Sized Run

11:45am

$20

Entry fees as listed on 28 Oct 2026. Prices often rise after early bird, so check the entry page for today's price.

Quick Facts

Date: Sunday, 21 February 2027
Terrain: Road
Location: Railway Place, Port Fairy, VIC
Entry Fee: $20 - $139 (varies by distance; standard pricing to 20 Jan 2027)
Difficulty: Easy
Start Time: 7:00 AM (marathon and half marathon)
Good for Beginners: Yes - flat course with 1.5km, 5km and 10km options

Five years, from 731 runners to more than 2,000

edition, 21 Feb 2027: 6th
entrants in 2025: 2,000+
half marathon entries in 2026: 1,003
marathon course record: 2:17:35

The Port Fairy Marathon was first run on Sunday 20 February 2022, with 731 entrants. Port Fairy local Jason Daye won the marathon in 2:29:13 and Meta Vincent was first woman home in 3:11:26. The festival is run by volunteers and is a major fundraiser for Port Fairy Consolidated School, and it also supports the town's surf life saving, running and football netball clubs.

Historic shopfronts along Sackville Street, Port Fairy — Sackville Street · Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0

It grew quickly. The course was AIMS certified for the second edition in 2023 and marathon entries more than doubled, from 72 to 165. In 2024 Reece Edwards and Eliza Howard both set course records. For 2025 the organisers moved to a looped course, four laps for the marathon and two for the half, so runners pass the crowd twice every lap. More than 2,000 people entered, and Edwards lowered the marathon record to 2:17:35.

The fifth edition in February 2026 broke the entry record again, with 1,003 runners in the half marathon alone, entrants from every state and territory and overseas, and more than 160 volunteers. Edwards won the marathon for the third year in a row. 2027 is the sixth edition, with SynGap Australia as headline charity partner.

2022First Port Fairy Marathon, 731 entrants. Jason Daye wins the marathon in 2:29:13.
2023Course AIMS certified; marathon entries more than double, from 72 to 165.
2024Reece Edwards (2:22:22) and Eliza Howard (2:49:26) set course records.
2025New looped course and more than 2,000 entrants. Edwards runs 2:17:35, the current record.
2026Record entries, including 1,003 in the half marathon. Edwards wins a third straight marathon.
2027Sixth edition, Sunday 21 February.

Free training

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Event Details

Date Sunday, 21 February 2027

Location Port Fairy, VIC

State VIC

Terrain road

Entry Fee $20 - $139

Organizer Port Fairy Marathon Committee

Course Description

All courses are flat, fast bitumen road around Port Fairy, with no footpaths or gravel, and start and finish on Gipps Street near the Railway Place event village. Routes pass East Beach, The Wharf and South Beach. The marathon is four laps with 235m of total elevation gain, the half marathon is two laps (117m), the 10km has 58m and the 5km 33m. All distances are certified by AIMS and measured to World Athletics standards, so the marathon can yield a qualifying time for major marathons such as Boston. Roads are fully closed, with drink stations offering water and electrolytes on the longer courses.

Course guide, section by section

The start, Gipps Street
The marathon and half marathon start together at 7:00am on Gipps Street, with corrals open from 6:45am. Bib collection and the event village are at Railway Place on Bank Street.
The loop
Each lap runs past East Beach, the wharf and South Beach on wide, flat bitumen roads, with no footpaths or gravel, before returning along Gipps Street.
Laps and the crowd
The marathon is four laps and the half marathon two, and the course passes the main crowd twice every lap. Edwards counted eight passes in the marathon.
Cut-offs
The marathon and half have a 6-hour limit. Marathon runners must reach 21.1km by 9:45am and 31.6km by 11:30am, on chip time.
Fast and certified
Every course is AIMS and World Athletics certified, measured by Dave Cundy. The marathon has 235m of total elevation gain over its four laps.

Griffiths Island lighthouse at Port Fairy, seen from the west — Griffiths Island lighthouse · Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0

Winners & records

2026 winners

Race	Category	Winner	Time
Marathon	Men	Reece Edwards	2:21:58
Marathon	Women	Siobhan Sefton	2:50:10
Half marathon	Men	Toby Menday	1:08:59
Half marathon	Women	Simone McInnes	1:17:15
10km	Men	Ned Verwey	33:11
10km	Women	Claire Johnson	37:59
5km	Men	Occy Hayes	17:16
5km	Women	Lexie Gleisner	19:35

Full 2026 results →

Course records

Race	Category	Holder	Time	Year
Marathon	Men	Reece Edwards	2:17:35	2025
Marathon	Women	Eliza Howard	2:49:26	2024
Half marathon	Men	Toby Menday	1:07:32	2025
Half marathon	Women	Simone McInnes	1:17:15	2026
10km	Men	Adrian Beer	31:44	2025
10km	Women	Elizabeth Winter	36:21	2024
5km	Men	Occy Hayes	17:16	2026
5km	Women	Charlotte Staaks	19:10	2024

Fastest winning times on the organiser's honour roll, 2022 to 2026. The course became a lapped circuit in 2025.

The mouth of the Moyne River at Port Fairy, seen from Griffiths Island — The Moyne River mouth, from Griffiths Island · Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0

In their words

It took in all of the town's best assets. It had the rail trail, the wharf, the beaches and it was just amazing

Jason Daye, winner of the first marathon, 2022 The Standard

Coming through where all the crowd is eight times, because you're doing it twice every lap, makes a big difference

Reece Edwards, marathon winner and record holder, 2025 The Standard

Port Fairy is not only known for its stunning scenery, but we've also earned a reputation for having a world class marathon course

Nick Grimmer, race director Warrnambool Weekly

Sources for this page

Getting There

Port Fairy sits on Victoria's south-west coast, around 3.5 hours from Melbourne, just over two hours from Geelong and about 30 minutes from Warrnambool. The event village is at Railway Place on Bank Street, where bibs are collected on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 February and on race morning from 6am. All races start and finish on Gipps Street. Check the official site for parking and accommodation details.

Where to Stay

Places to stay near the start, priced for race weekend.

We may earn a small referral fee if you book through this map — you pay the same price.

Weather & What to Pack

Late February is the end of summer in south-west Victoria. Port Fairy's coastal position keeps days mild, typically around 20-23°C with overnight lows near 12-14°C, though sea breezes can be strong and hot northerly days occur. The marathon and half marathon start at 7am, usually the coolest part of the day. Wear light, breathable layers, bring sun protection for the later 5km and 1.5km starts, and hydrate well.

Race details last updated 28 Oct 2026

Ready to run Port Fairy Marathon and Community Running Festival?

We may earn a small referral fee if you enter via this link — you pay the same price.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the cut-off times for the Port Fairy Marathon?

The marathon and half marathon have a 6-hour cut-off. Marathon runners must pass 21.1km by 9:45am and 31.6km by 11:30am, based on chip time. The 10km cut-off is 3 hours and the 5km is 2 hours.

What time do the races start?

The marathon and half marathon start at 7:00am, the 10km at 10:00am, the 5km at 11:00am and the 1.5km Fun Sized Run at 11:45am, all from Gipps Street. Corrals open 15 minutes earlier for the longer races.

How much does it cost to enter?

Standard pricing runs until 20 January 2027: marathon $139, half marathon $109, 10km $59, 5km $35 and 1.5km $20. Late pricing applies from 21 January. Entries are non-refundable and deferrals are not offered.

Is there a minimum age to enter?

Yes. The marathon requires 18 or older, the half marathon 16, and the 10km 13 on race day. The 5km and 1.5km welcome all ages, but entrants aged 9 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult.

Is the course certified and how hilly is it?

Yes, every course is AIMS certified and measured to World Athletics standards. It is flat, fast bitumen road: the marathon (four laps) has 235m of elevation gain, the half marathon 117m, the 10km 58m and the 5km 33m.

parkruns near this race

Free, timed 5km every Saturday morning. A good hit-out between races, or an easy shakeout the day before this one.

Port Fairy parkrun Sat 8:00am · 1.0 km away · Port Fairy
Warrnambool parkrun Sat 8:00am · 22 km away · Warrnambool

Find any parkrun →

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