Melbourne Marathon
Race Day Weather
Cool start, gradual warming trend
Runners will face a temperature rise from 49°F at the start to 67°F by the finish, with average humidity at 65%. A headwind will impact the first mile and again from miles 6 and 24, while a tailwind will benefit runners during miles 19 and 26. To manage the heat, pacing adjustments should be made, especially in the latter stages, and hydration should be prioritized throughout.
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Race Info
The Melbourne Marathon has been held annually since 1978, making it Australia's longest-running marathon. Since 2007 the race has started and finished at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and 2026 introduces a redesigned, flatter course that removes the long-standing Birdwood Avenue climb. Now known as the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival, the event drew a record field of roughly 50,000 runners across all distances in 2025. MARI, the events company founded by Ari Emanuel, took over as organizer from IMG in 2025. Wikipedia