Australian Half Marathons Worth Travelling For: Mackay Marina Run
You’re in the zone and ready to tackle your next half marathon and we’re here for it! Whether you’re a seasoned pro prepping for the GC Marathon or looking to challenge yourself with your first half, here’s all the reasons why the BMA Mackay Marina Run in Queensland is a half marathon worth travelling for.
Fun, Flat, Fast: A Course Made for PBs
Aside from some seriously spectacular scenery, the Mackay Marina Run course is full of tropical flavour – think palm trees, beachside legs and a flat course that will enable you to run FAST.
The 21.1km race starts at the stunning Mackay Marina and from there you will run along the Pioneer River (one of the state’s only blue rivers) and the coastal city of Mackay through Bluewater Quay, the River Wharves, Queens Park and the beachfront.
Our 10km course is equally as spectacular and again flat and fast.
So if you’re chasing the prize money (and our record bonus!), then this is the race for you.
Prize Money
It’s always nice to hit up a flat and stunning course but let’s be honest – prize money that’s worth the trip is also good too! The BMA Mackay Marina Run is known for its generous prize money and BIG record bonus.
21.1km prize money
1st place: $2,500 + a bonus of $5000 for breaking the race record
2nd place: $1,250
3rd place: $750
10km prize money
1st place: $1,500 + a bonus of $2,500 for breaking the race record
2nd place: $750
3rd place: $350
Timing Is Everything
Timed four weeks before the Gold Coast Marathon, the BMA Mackay Marina Run is the prefect pre-cursor event to practice for race day conditions, pacing, and fuelling.
Taking a pre-cursor event will allow you to feel more confident in your speed and endurance for the next big run or marathon coming up.
Want to lean into your training? Download our training guides from here.
It’s Warmer Up Here
Mackay is a great place for a “runcation”. Average winter temperatures of 23 degrees in June – take that Melbourne!
Bring the family and explore all that the Mackay and Isaac region has to offer from national parks, wakeboarding, diving and more.
Mackay is a great place for a holiday, with warm summers and average winter temperatures of 23 degrees in June. Mackay offers a range of experiences to see, eat and do around your running event, so you can bring the whole family!
Another Medal to the Collection
Travelling to this event also means you come back with the best souvenir – a flashy new medal to mark the occasion. Because let’s be honest, a medal is so much cooler to bring back from a holiday that a postcard or fridge magnet!
It’s Easy to Get Here: We Have an Airport
You can travel to Mackay by plane, road, bus or train.
Mackay Airport has direct flights from Brisbane, Sydney, Townsville and Rockhampton as well as connecting flights from the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
You’ll Be Running for a Great Cause
The BMA Mackay Marina Run fundraises to help fight blood cancer with funds raised going to local Leukaemia Foundation programs and services.
Ready to #runwithus Sunday 7 June 2026? Click here to sign up for our Early Bird Alert and be the first to know when registrations go on sale.
