Melbourne Marathon 2012

Dust off your running shoes and tick this milestone off your bucket list.

There’s never been a better excuse to dust off your running shoes and pull out your passport.

Melbourne, never known for doing things by halves has been home to the Melbourne Marathon since 1978. What began 34 years ago as a local favourite is now firmly etched on calendars around the globe and organisers are expecting an impressive turn-out for this year’s event held on Sunday 14 October.

Entries are open now and with places for the half and full marathon often selling out it pays to register early. Distances include a 3km walk, a wheelchair option, 5.7km and 10km runs, the half marathon or the full 42km marathon.

What makes the Melbourne Marathon so alluring is the picturesque urban course which weaves its way through some of Melbourne’s favourite hotspots.

Starting on the fringe of Melbourne’s picturesque Yarra River, runners be swept along by a wave of adrenalin as the course meanders towards one of the city’s most coveted jewels – the historic Botanical Gardens. From there the course hugs and twists the Yarra allowing participants to immerse themselves briefly in the colourful sights and sounds which make this historic waterway such a favourite with locals and visitors alike.

The reward for all of that hard pavement pounding is a victory lap at the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The chance to be centre stage on the famous turf in front of a home crowd is unique to the Melbourne Marathon unless of course you are an international cricketer.

So limber up, stretch those hammies and mark your diary now for an event that is so much more than running – come and immerse yourself in Melbourne.

Date: Sunday October 14

For more information about the Melbourne Marathon contact Melbourne Marathon Tours www.marathontours.co.nz or 0800 225 337.