Gold Coast Marathon 2026: Course, Weekend Schedule, and What to Watch

The 46th ASICS Gold Coast Marathon lands on 4-5 July 2026 with a record 42,000+ entries. Course profile, start times, records to watch, and how to pace Australia's flattest major marathon.

· 6 min read · Athletics News

The 46th ASICS Gold Coast Marathon is two weeks out. **4-5 July 2026** brings the largest field in event history, with more than **42,000 entries** across eight races on Australia's best-known flat marathon course. General marathon entries are sold out, but the weekend still matters for anyone tracking elite racing, planning a future attempt, or tuning up on the Saturday half.

Key facts at a glance

| Item | Detail | | --- | --- | | Marathon date | Sunday **5 July 2026**, 6:15am AEST | | Half marathon | Saturday **4 July 2026**, 6:15am | | Marathon distance | 42.195 km | | Cut-off | 6 hours 40 minutes (from last wave) | | Course records | Men: **2:07:33** (Yuki Takei, JPN, 2025) · Women: **2:24:22** (Yuki Nakamura, JPN, 2024) | | Field size | 42,000+ entries (record) | | General marathon entries | Sold out |

Source: [ASICS Gold Coast Marathon](https://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/races/marathon/) official race pages.

Weekend schedule

Saturday 4 July

| Race | Start | | --- | --- | | China Airlines Half Marathon | 6:15am | | Southern Cross University 10km Run | 9:25am | | Gold Coast Airport 5km | 11:45am |

Sunday 5 July

| Race | Start | | --- | --- | | ASICS Gold Coast Marathon | 6:15am |

Recommended arrival for the marathon is **5:15am**. Race numbers are collected at the ASICS Sport and Leisure Expo at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach (check-in opens Thursday 2 July).

Course profile

The marathon is an out-and-back coastal road course:

- Starts in **Southport** near the Broadwater - Runs south along surf beaches toward the **Miami** turn - Returns north through beachside suburbs to **Runaway Bay** - Finishes adjacent to the Broadwater in Southport

Organisers describe it as Australia's flattest, fastest major marathon. That is fair marketing, but not a guarantee of a PB. Morning humidity, wind off the water, and pacing discipline still decide most outcomes. The official site reports that around **60% of participants** record personal bests here, which tells you the course helps but does not run the race for you.

For a flat-course pacing plan, use the [marathon pace calculator](/tools/marathon-pace-calculator) or the [half marathon pace chart](/blog/half-marathon-pace-chart) if you are racing the Saturday half.

What to watch in 2026

Men's marathon

The course record fell in 2025 when **Yuki Takei** ran **2:07:33**, breaking a mark that had stood since 2019. Japan has dominated recent men's results at Gold Coast, and the event traditionally draws a deep international elite pack. Official marathon elite start lists for 2026 may still update closer to race week; check [goldcoastmarathon.com.au](https://goldcoastmarathon.com.au/elite-start-lists/) for the latest names.

Women's marathon

**Yuki Nakamura** set the current women's record of **2:24:22** in 2024. Australian contenders such as **Eloise Wellings** (PB 2:25:10) and **Genevieve Gregson** (marathon debut) have raced this course before and know how to use the flat layout.

Saturday half marathon

The **China Airlines Half Marathon** on 4 July has its own elite story this year. Australian record holder **Izzi Batt-Doyle** (half PB 1:07:17) heads the field after winning Launceston, with **Sinead Diver**, **Ellie Pashley**, **Eloise Wellings**, and **Gen Gregson** in the mix. Japan's **Rino Goshima** (1:08:03) leads the international challenge.

That depth makes Saturday worth watching even if you are only entered in the Sunday marathon.

Entries and logistics

General marathon and half marathon entries sold out within hours when registration opened. Remaining pathways include **charity places** (minimum $2,000 raised for partner charities) and international travel packages for overseas runners.

If you are planning a future Gold Coast attempt:

- Book accommodation near **Southport**, **Broadbeach**, or along the **G:link** light rail line - Arrive early enough to collect your bib at the expo (Friday gets busy 4-6pm) - Train on flat coastal paths before race week (see our [Gold Coast running routes guide](/blog/gold-coast-scenic-running-routes))

Pacing strategy for age-group runners

| Segment | Approach | | --- | --- | | First 5 km | Hold back; the flat opening invites overpacing | | 5-30 km | Settle into goal rhythm; ignore surges in early waves | | 30-40 km | Protect form; coastal wind often picks up | | Final 2 km | Use the Broadwater finish energy, not a new gear |

Build toward a future attempt with the [marathon training plan](/plans/marathon) or compare your fitness against [average marathon time](/blog/average-marathon-time) benchmarks for your age group.

After the race

We will publish a full **Gold Coast Marathon 2026 results recap** within 48 hours of the finish. For context on how this race compares globally, see [biggest marathons by finishers](/blog/biggest-marathons-by-finishers-2026).

**Find races:** Browse [marathons and road races on the Gold Coast](/races/australia/gold-coast) or filter to [Gold Coast marathons](/races/australia/gold-coast/marathon) on Your Run Guide.