Perth Marathon

Location: Perth
Country: Australia
Website: https://perthrunningfestival.com.au/marathon/
2025 Marathon Date: 12/10/2025
2026 Marathon Date: TBC
Winning Time 2025: 02:24:21
% Sub-3s: 2–5%
# Sub-3s: 50–99
Total Runners: 3k–10k

Perth delivers a marathon experience defined by space, light and rhythm. Western Australia’s capital offers a route that feels open, modern and built for runners who like to see road stretching confidently ahead of them. It’s a course where clarity matters — not only because of long straights and gentle turns, but because October sunlight arrives early here, and the athletes who thrive are those who prepare for brightness and manage the day intelligently.

The Perth Running Festival marathon traces broad riverside pathways and city roads, with the Swan River a near-constant companion. There are no dramatic climbs, only subtle shaping — the sort that rewards steadiness rather than aggression. It’s a “get into gear and stay there” course. The best sub-3 performances in Perth come from runners who treat pace as a discipline rather than a negotiation: relaxed shoulders, neat cadence, controlled breathing, patience through the early kilometres. This is not a course for hero surges; it’s one for grown-up execution.

Weather control is part of the challenge. October mornings can start cool and beautiful, but sunlight builds, and exposure means you feel every degree. Hydration and cooling strategy matter more here than on many city marathons. Early fluids, predictable gel timing, and firm awareness of temperature shifts are essential. Perth rewards those who respect climate rather than fight it — keep skin temperature down, stay relaxed and trust aerobic conditioning without chasing unnecessary seconds.

The atmosphere matches the setting: clean, understated, appreciative. Support appears in concentrated patches — start, finish, key access points — then fades to stillness where you run with only footfall and river for company. Many runners treasure those quiet stretches; they make the finish in the stadium-style environment all the more striking. Organisation is crisp and modern, with reliable aid and a layout suited to steady runners who want to build rather than battle.

For sub-3 athletes, Perth is a truth-telling marathon. If you arrive fit, disciplined and prepared for sunlight, the course gives you fairness and rhythm. Strong runners glide, average pacing unravels, and those who respect conditions get rewarded. Come ready to run your plan — and you’ll leave with the sense that this city gives back exactly what you bring.