# Nike Melbourne Marathon

Plan Nike Melbourne Marathon's route, elevation, aid stations and start access, with four course intervals and sourced historical weather.

## Race facts

- Location: Melbourne, Australia, AU
- Primary distance: Marathon
- Organizer: Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival
- Reviewed: 2026-10-02T16:01:56.720282+00:00

## Why this race belongs on a competitive runner's shortlist

MCG stadium finish. St Kilda foreshore and Albert Park Lake. 2026 redesign removes the former 36 km Birdwood Avenue climb. Bay exposure and gentle rises still matter despite reduced climbing. It suits Performance-minded runners who want a city marathon and stadium finish.

## Course overview

Road route with a Brighton and Port Melbourne coastal out-and-back followed by Albert Park and a city return The start is Batman Avenue and the finish is Melbourne Cricket Ground. The route takes in St Kilda Road, St Kilda foreshore, Brighton, Port Melbourne, Albert Park Lake, Flinders Street, MCG. Largely flat with gentle rises near 5, 27 and 35 km; former Birdwood Avenue climb removed

## 0 to 7 km: Batman Avenue to St Kilda foreshore

The 0 to 7 km interval includes Batman Avenue, Princes Bridge, St Kilda Road, Jacka Boulevard. Modeled gentle rise near 5 km, then descent toward the foreshore Water at St Kilda Road/Roy Street, 4.8 km; water and Maurten at Jacka Boulevard, 7 km Cap effort over the early rise; do not accelerate merely because the descent releases pace

## 7 to 24 km: Brighton and Port Melbourne coastal turns

The 7 to 24 km interval includes Ormond Esplanade, Brighton Baths, Beaconsfield Parade, Port Melbourne. Predominantly flat bay section; both coastal turnarounds change wind exposure Water/Maurten at 10.1, 16.5 and 19 km; water at Brighton Baths, 14 km, and Mills Street/Beaconsfield Parade, 22 km Hold even effort into coastal headwinds; avoid surging after either turnaround

## 24 to 34 km: Back from the bay into Albert Park

The 24 to 34 km interval includes Mills Street, Ross Gregory Drive, Albert Park Lake, Lakeside Drive. Modeled gentle rise near 27 km interrupts otherwise largely flat Albert Park approaches Water/Maurten gels at 25 km; water/Maurten at 28 km; water/Maurten/gels at Lakeside Drive, 33 km Allow the 27 km rise to slow pace slightly; use the 33 km station before the final city return

## 34 to 42.195 km: St Kilda Road to the MCG

The 34 to 42.195 km interval includes St Kilda Road, Princes Bridge, Flinders Street, Wellington Parade South, MCG. Modeled rise near 35 km, then Princes Bridge return near 40 km; old Birdwood Avenue climb absent Water at St Kilda Road/Roy Street, 36.5 km; water/Maurten at Wellington Parade South, 41 km Keep the 35 km rise controlled; build effort only when through the city turns toward the stadium

## Elevation checkpoints and how to read them

Total ascent is 122 m. The Marathon Clinic models the official 2026 route with Geoscience Australia 5 m LiDAR DEM, sampling each 25 m and smoothing over 125 m; bridge decks interpolated from approaches. This is modeled, not organizer-certified. Gentle rises near 5, 27 and 35 km 2026 route removes the former Birdwood Avenue to Domain Road climb at 36 km

## Aid stations and race-day logistics

4.8 km Roy Street: Water. 7 km Jacka Boulevard; 10.1 km Ormond Esplanade; 16.5 km Ormond Esplanade; 19 km Jacka Boulevard; 28 km Ross Gregory Drive; 41 km Wellington Parade South: Water and Maurten drink. 14 km Brighton Baths; 22 km Mills Street/Beaconsfield Parade; 36.5 km Roy Street: Water. 25 km Mills Street/Beaconsfield Parade: Water and Maurten gels. 33 km Lakeside Drive: Water, Maurten drink and Maurten gels. The start is Batman Avenue, near MCG/Rod Laver Arena. Use Richmond or Flinders Street railway station, as the organizer recommends; arrive at least one hour early. Olympic Boulevard outside Rod Laver Arena is the direct-start drop-off; Wellington Parade suits runners visiting MCG or bag drop first. Bibs must be collected by Saturday 10 October; no Sunday collection. Run Lab in Melbourne Park opposite Garden Square; from MCG cross Rod Laver Bridge and turn right. Sunday 4:45 am to 2:30 pm; attach bib warm-clothing tag; race-morning drop only.

## Practical pacing plan

Hold effort on St Kilda Road rather than forcing flat pace over the rise near 5 km. Keep bay legs to Brighton and Port Melbourne steady through wind, with small effort protection at the 27 km rise. Control the return rise near 35 km; press progressively after the city turns toward the MCG Push only while effort and form remain controlled. Coastal wind can raise effort between Brighton and Port Melbourne; rain affects turns, and October temperatures vary. Check the race-week forecast rather than treating historical daily values as start-time weather.

## Historical weather pattern

October history for Melbourne, Australia gives a typical daily temperature range of 43.2 to 78.1 degrees Fahrenheit, daily maximum sustained winds of 9 to 20.3 mph, and at least 1 mm of rain on 34.8 percent of days. Historical conditions can change, so check the race-week forecast before travel and again on race morning.

## Edition history

- [2026, Marathon](https://melbournemarathon.com.au/nike-melbourne-marathon/)

## Sources

1. [Nike Melbourne Marathon 2026: race, course changes, aid stations](https://melbournemarathon.com.au/nike-melbourne-marathon/)
2. [Official Sunday 11 October 2026 course map](https://melbournemarathon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Sunday-1-sep-scaled.jpg)
3. [2026 NMM Marathon Course with Drinks V3 GPX](https://melbournemarathon.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-NMM-Marathon-Course-with-Drinks-V3-1.gpx)
4. [Race Week 2026](https://melbournemarathon.com.au/race-week/)
5. [Melbourne course pacing, revised 30 September 2026](https://themarathonclinic.com/course-pacing/melbourne-marathon)
6. [Melbourne, Australia historical daily ERA5 archive, 2016 to 2025](https://archive-api.open-meteo.com/v1/archive?latitude=-37.8136&longitude=144.9631&start_date=2016-01-01&end_date=2025-12-31&daily=temperature_2m_max,temperature_2m_min,precipitation_sum,wind_speed_10m_max&temperature_unit=fahrenheit&wind_speed_unit=mph&timezone=UTC&models=era5)

Canonical URL: https://www.yigri.com/races/nike-melbourne-marathon-melbourne