COURSE DESCRIPTION
Each race will start on The Esplanade, Mornington Park. (excluding the 1km Kids Dash). Competitors will head south along The Esplanade toward their turnaround.
HALF MARATHON COURSE
The 21.1km Half Marathon will start on the Esplanade and is a 1 LAP out-and-back course, runners will head south along the Esplanade to the turnaround point past Mount Martha village at Stanley Crescent . You will then head back along the Esplanade, turning left into Flinders Drive then veering right into Mornington Park and into the finishing chute.
Half Marathon Elevation Profile
10KM COURSE
The 10km Run will follow the same course as the half marathon, the turnaround will be located just past Craigie Road in front of Helena st and will then head back north along the Esplanade, turning left into Flinders Drive then veering right into Mornington Park and into the finishing chute.
5KM COURSE
The 5km will follow the same course as the half marathon, the turn around point will be located (Coral st) approximately 500m past Strachans Road and will then head back north along the Esplanade, turning left into Flinders Drive then veering right into Mornington Park and into the finishing chute.
KIDS 1KM COURSE
The Kids 1km Dash will START and FINISH in the finishing chute in Mornington Park. All kids should gather near the finishing line at least 5min prior to start time.
The run will head out turning left onto Flinders drive, doing a u-turn before the Esplanade and heading back up Flinders Drive to the furthest turn around point before heading back towards the finishing chute in Mornington Park. Parents are encouraged to run with kids to enjoy the experience.
🛣️ Course Changes – Important 2025 Update
Please review the following route details carefully:
🏃 5km Runners
Outbound: Southbound lane of the Esplanade
Return: Northbound lane of the Esplanade
🏃♂️ 10km Runners (New for 2025 – Full Road Closure!)
Outbound: Southbound lane of the Esplanade
Final 100m before Turnaround (Craigie Rd): Merge into the northbound lane
Return: Northbound lane
🏃♀️ 21.1km Runners (Half Marathon)
🛣️ Course & Traffic Flow – Key Info for Half Marathon Runners
🏃 Competitors will travel from Main St to Craigie Rd using the southbound lane of the Esplanade.
🔁 From Craigie Rd to the turnaround point at Stanley Crescent and back, runners will share the northbound lane (beach side) with two-way runner traffic.
➡️ Once returning to Craigie Rd, all runners will then have exclusive use of the northbound lane for the final section back to the finish line.
📢 Why Isn’t the Entire Course Fully Closed?
For over 10 years, this event has successfully operated with partial road closures, allowing one lane to remain open. This setup balances the needs of:
Local residents who require access to their homes (some only accessible via the Esplanade)
Traders and businesses in Mt Martha Village
The growing number of race participants
We’ve worked closely with VicRoads, Mornington Peninsula Shire, and the local community to ensure minimal disruption while still providing a safe and enjoyable course for runners.
👏 Thank you for helping us maintain strong relationships with the community — your cooperation keeps this event running smoothly!
Please Note:
Volunteers will be positioned along the course to assist with safety and support; however, they are not responsible for providing course direction.
✅ All turnaround points will be clearly marked.
🚫 If you miss a turnaround, it is the athlete’s responsibility — no time adjustments will be made.
MORNINGTON RUNNING FESTIVAL