Half Marathon
South Australia’s premier half marathon, run on a stunning course taking in sections of scrub, wetlands, beach, esplanade & quiet back roads around Aldinga Bay.
Your experience is our priority and we pride ourselves on providing a quality event and outstanding atmosphere.
Come to enjoy the beaches and stunning coastlines of the Fleurieu Peninsula and sample the hospitality of the McLaren Vale region where you’ll find some of the best wines, produce and microbreweries in Australia.
Online Registrations are now closed, but you can still enter in person on race morning from 7:00 am.
Event Information
| Date | Sunday 29 September 2024 |
| Distance | 21.1 km |
| Start Time | 8:00 am |
| Cut Off Time | 3 hours |
| Start-Finish Line | Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club, Norman Rd, Aldinga Beach |
| Age Limit | 15 years on race day |
| Online Registration Close | Thursday 26 September 2024 |
Entry Fees & Inclusions
Launch Pricing |
$70 |
To midnight on Sunday 7 July 2024 |
Early Bird |
$80 |
To midnight on Sunday 25 August 2024 |
Standard Entry |
$90 |
To midnight on Sunday 22 September 2024 |
Late Entry |
$99 |
Costs shown include GST and all administration & credit card fees – what you see is what you pay!
Inclusions:
- Race Entry
- Drink Stations
- Race Day Medical Support
- Electronic Timing
- Post-Event Recovery Zone
- Basic Refund Cover (enhanced Diamond Cover is available for a small additional fee)
A finisher’s medal can be purchased for $8 when you register online, with an additional option for your medal to be engraved with your name and finish time.
Course Details
Elevation profile
The Great Southern Half Marathon course is flat with just 105m elevation change over 21.1 kilometres.
Course Description
Starting on the beach, you will run south to the turnaround point just before Sellicks Beach ramp before returning to the Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club. This beach section is run on hard packed sand and is approximately 4 kilometres long.
You will leave the beach up the vehicle ramp at Aldinga Bay SLSC past water station 1 and run west along Norman Road for 700m before turning left into Aldinga scrub. Follow the road & fire trail until you exit the scrub on to Cox Road. A 1 kilometre section of road will take you past the Aldinga Beach Caravan Park and back into the Aldinga Scrub.
Follow the fire trail for about 1.5 kilometres with scrub on your left and vineyards on your right with the Mount Lofty Ranges rising up in the distance. Water station 2 is located at the exit from the scrub. The path then winds through the Aldinga Wetlands before following a bitumen path between the Aldinga Scrub and Sundays housing estate. At the end of this path you will be sent left down Dover Street then right down Fraser Street, right onto Maurice Street and left down Morgan Street. Keep left and inside the witches’ hats along this section of quiet suburban streets.
A controlled crossing will take you across the Aldinga Esplanade where you turn right to follow an out and back section to the Star of Greece at Port Willunga. Water station 3 is located at Snapper Point and is accessible as you run past it in both directions. When you return to the Aldinga Beach Boat Ramp you will rejoin the beach for the final 2 kilometres along the beach to glory at the finish line in front of Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club.
Course Map
Drink Stations
Drink stations on Half Marathon course will be located at Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club (4KM), exit from the Aldinga Scrub (9KM) & Snapper Point (13KM& 17KM).
We do not expect it to be too warm in September so please drink to thirst & be careful not to over-hydrate.
Only compostable cups made from plant-based materials will be used to minimize our impact on the environment. Please try to hit the bins provided at the water stations and be aware that littering on the course will result in disqualification. Runners may also carry their own drink bottle or cup to refill at water stations.
Toilets
Toilets can be found on the Great Southern Half Marathon course at Sellicks Boat Ramp, Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club, Snapper Point and Aldinga Boat Ramp
Cut Off Time
The Great Southern Half Marathon is open to both runners and walkers and the course will be progressively closed at a pace of 8:30 per kilometre (equivalent to a finish time of 3 hours).
A tail walker will follow the last participant around the course for safety reasons. If you fail to maintain the minimum pace you will be asked to stop and return to the start finish area. This is the last thing we want to do on race day so if you are not confident that you can complete the half marathon in this time please enter the 10K event instead.
Marshals
Please be courteous to our marshals and other volunteers. Remember that they are giving up their Sunday morning to make sure that you will enjoy your run.
ALWAYS FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY COURSE MARSHALS.
Traffic Management
Much of the Great Southern Half Marathon course is run off-road. There will be two road crossings of the Esplanade controlled by accredited traffic managers.
Sections of the course are run on quiet back roads that remain open to traffic. There are no road junctions for you to negotiate but you must be vigilant for vehicles coming on or off of driveways. Always follow the instructions of course marshals, run within cones and follow the road rules.
Silver Sands beach will be open to cars on race day and has a 10 KM/H speed limit (though you may run faster if you like!). Minimal traffic is expected on the beach but you should remain aware of any vehicles around you.
Presentations
Prizes will be awarded to the first 3 male and first 3 female placegetters in the Great Southern Half Marathon. Presentations will be made at the finish line (time TBC).