Start Groups
Start Groups & Start Times
How are Start Groups & Start Times allocated?
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable course experience for all participants, Start Groups and Start Times will be allocated based on the predicted finish times provided during registration.
This approach helps create a better flow on course, allowing you to run alongside participants of a similar ability and ensuring everyone has the best possible race experience.
Athletes who expect to finish under 3 hour 55 minutes in the marathon and 1 hour 55 minutes in the half marathon, will be required to provide a qualifying result.
Qualified Categories
Elite
A predicted finish time in this category is classified as elite and is expected to place in the top 10 of their gender.
Marathon
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Male: estimated finish under 3 hour 15 min
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Female: estimated finish under 3 hour 35 mins
Half Marathon
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Male: estimated finish under 1 hour 26 min
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Female: estimated finish under 1 hour 37 mins
To qualify, you will need to provide an image of a previous results that meets the below criteria.
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Display first name and last name
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Official race result (cannot be self-timed)
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Recorded within May 2025 - May 2027
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Minimum 10km distance
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Result time meets the minimum pace of:
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Marathon
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Males: 4:35 min/km
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Females: 5:05 min/km
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Half Marathon
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Males: 4:35 min/km
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Females: 5:05 min/km
Competitive
A predicted marathon finish time under 3 hour 55 mins is classified as competitive and expected to place in the top 15% overall.
A predicted half marathon finish time under 1 hour 55 mins is classified as competitive and expected to place in the top 15% overall.
To qualify, you will need to provide an image of a previous result that meets the below criteria.
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Display first name and last name
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Official or self-timed result
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Display the total elapsed time (moving time will not be accepted)
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Recorded within May 2025 - May 2027
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Minimum 10km distance
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Result time meets the minimum pace of:
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Marathon
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5:30 min/km
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Half Marathon
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5:27 min/km
Start Group FAQs
Start groups help ensure everyone has a better race experience — faster runners can maintain pace at the front, while others can run comfortably without pressure or congestion.
Previously, start groups had fixed capacities, which meant some athletes couldn’t choose the group that best suited them at registration.
For 2027, start groups will be assigned based on predicted finish time, allowing us to place all athletes in the most appropriate group based on the overall field.
You can adjust your predicted finish time from your participant dashboard.
Start groups and start times will be posted online 4 weeks before the event. You will also receive an email (to your email listed during your registration) notifying you of your Start group and Start Time.
Match your predicted finish time to increase your chances of being in the same start group. Please list the slowest time out of your friends. Small time differences can put you in different start groups.
Marathon
Males: 4 hours 42 mins
Females: 4 hours 28 mins
Half Marathon
Males: 1 hour 54 mins
Females: 2 hours 9 mins
10km
Males: 55 mins
Females: 1 hour 7 mins
5km
Males: 31 mins
Females: 37 mins
any running apps will give you your average running pace based on previous efforts. To calculate your finish time based on this pace you can use the below calculation or an online pace calculator.
Pace (minutes-per-km) x 21.1 = half marathon time (in minutes)
e.g. 6min/km x 21.1 = 126.6 minutes = 2 hours 6 minutes
| Average Pace | Predicted 5km Finish | Predicted 10km Finish | Predicted Half Marathon Finish | Predicted Marathon Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00 mins/km | 20 mins | 40 mins | 1 hour 24 mins | 2 hours 49 mins |
| 4:30 mins/km | 22 mins | 45 mins | 1 hour 35 mins | 3 hours 10 mins |
| 4:45 mins/km | 23 mins | 47 mins | 1 hour 40 mins | 3 hours 20 mins |
| 5:00 mins/km | 25 mins | 50 mins | 1 hour 45 mins | 3 hours 31 mins |
| 5:30 mins/km | 27 mins | 55 mins | 1 hour 56 mins | 3 hours 52 mins |
| 5:45 mins/km | 28 mins | 57 mins | 2 hours 01 mins | 4 hours 03 mins |
| 6:00 mins/km | 30 mins | 1 hour | 2 hours 07 mins | 4 hours 13 mins |
| 6:15 mins/km | 31 mins | 1 hour 03 mins | 2 hours 12 mins | 4 hours 24 mins |
| 6:30 mins/km | 32 mins | 1 hour 05 mins | 2 hours 17 mins | 4 hours 34 mins |
| 7:00 mins/km | 35 mins | 1 hour 10 mins | 2 hours 28 mins | 4 hours 55 mins |
| 7:30 mins/km | 37 mins | 1 hour 15 mins | 2 hours 38 mins | 5 hours 16 mins |
| 8:00 mins/km | 40 mins | 1 hour 20 mins | 2 hours 49 mins | 5 hours 38 mins |
| 8:30 mins/km | 42 mins | 1 hour 25 mins | 2 hours 59 mins | 5 hours 56 mins |
You will not be penalised if you finisher faster or slower than your predicted time. For the best experience on race day and to start with similar paced participants, choose your most likely predicted finish time.
