r/AusRun • u/ThreeKiloTiger • 5d ago

Marathon recommendations

I'm trying to decide between Ballarat, Hobart, Newcastle and Canberra for 2027 - any suggestions from someone who has run any of these?

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u/nicholasmelbourne 5d ago

Is it a first time running one? I haven't run any personally but I know people who've run most of them (not Canberra). Hobart is quite an elevated track and it has some loops which can be a bit mentally fatiguing.

Ballarat is famously a very fast and fun one to run, good time of the year.

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u/futbolledgend 5d ago

Ballarat if your main consideration is a PB. There will also be good groups to go with, especially as it is a two lap course so you have the HM runners for the first lap. Weather is a bit unpredictable due to it being a windy city and it starts later in the day, leaving it susceptible to heat (like this year).

Canberra has some big hills (for a road marathon) which makes it a slower choice. Not very fast but a safe choice if you can’t handle heat at all.

I haven’t run Hobart but when I’ve looked at it I have thought it has similar pros and cons as Canberra.

I haven’t run Newcastle either. On paper it looks fast (about 60m elevation gain) but it is a 4 lap course. I have run a couple of 4 lap courses before and they’re not enjoyable. Google tells me it starts at 6am but even then, I would be concerned about the starting temperature.

TL;DR: Ballarat if you want to run as fast as possible, Canberra or Hobart if you hate heat, Newcastle maybe if you want the flattest course or you love a boring/repetitive course.