2026 Sunshine Coast Marathon - Aug 2 Countdown

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Race Information

Race	2026 Sunshine Coast Marathon - Aug 2
City	Sunshine Coast (Alexandra Headland / Mooloolaba)
Date	2026-08-02 at 06:00
Field Size	~2,401 runners
Time Limit	6 hours
Timezone	Australia/Brisbane
Official Site	Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival (Atlas Multisports / EVA Air title sponsor)
Registration	Register · 185 AUD

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	15°C / 59°F
Humidity	60%
Wind	15 km/h
Rain Chance	20%
Typical Conditions	Early August is Southern-Hemisphere winter on the Queensland coast, and it is the festival's headline selling point: dry, mild and fast. Race-morning lows sit around 9-12°C, climbing to roughly 20-22°C by midday under clear skies with low humidity (~60%) and a light south-easterly sea breeze near 15 km/h. The race-window average is about 15°C / 59°F — close to ideal marathon conditions.

What to Prepare: Start cool and warm fast: arm sleeves or a throwaway top for the 6am gun, singlet and shorts underneath. With the sun climbing over a low-shade coastal course, wear a cap and sunscreen and take fluids early. Check your day with the Weather Score tool.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 15 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Course Profile

Course Type	Multi-loop beachfront course — a 21km loop plus two 10.5km laps (start = finish at Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club)
Elevation Gain	50m
Terrain	Sealed road and coastal pathway along the Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore beachfronts, with ocean views for most of the route.
Profile	Flat and fast — roughly 50 m total elevation gain. AIMS-certified and accepted as a Boston qualifier, one of Australia's most PB-friendly coastal marathons.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Sunshine Coast Marathon - Aug 2

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Wind Effect on Running — How Much Does Wind Slow You?

How much does a headwind actually slow you down? This free calculator turns wind speed and direction...

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Marathon Predictor — 5K, 10K & Half Marathon Race Predictor

Free marathon predictor — convert your 5K, 10K, or half marathon time into race-day estimates from R...

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Race Finish Time Calculator & Predictor — Free

Predict your race finish time from pace, or set a goal time to find required pace. Free instant calc...

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View all running tools

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the 2026 Sunshine Coast Marathon?

The EVA Air Sunshine Coast Marathon is on Sunday 2 August 2026, with the full marathon starting at 6:00am. The start and finish are at the Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, about 100 km north of Brisbane.

How do I enter and what does it cost?

Entry is open registration online through the festival's race hub — no ballot. The marathon costs around AUD 185. Bib personalization and mail-out close on 22 June 2026; after that you collect your bib in person at Buhk Park, Alexandra Headland, between 30 July and 1 August 2026.

Is the course flat, and is it a Boston Qualifier?

Yes on both counts. The course is a flat, multi-loop beachfront route — a 21km loop followed by two 10.5km laps — with only about 50 m of total climb, run along the Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore foreshores. It is AIMS-certified and accepted as a Boston qualifier, making it a strong PB and BQ target. Check your standard with the Boston Qualifying calculator.

What is the time limit?

The marathon has a generous 6-hour cut-off, which works out to roughly an 8:32 per kilometre (13:44 per mile) average pace. That makes it accessible to first-time marathoners as well as runners chasing a fast time. Plan your splits with the Pace Calculator.

What will the weather be like in August?

August is mid-winter on the Sunshine Coast, which here means dry, clear and mild rather than cold. Expect a start near 9-12°C warming to about 20-22°C, low humidity and a light sea breeze — conditions the event actively markets as fast-running.

How do I get there from overseas?

Fly into Brisbane (BNE), then it is roughly a 1 to 1.5 hour drive north to the Mooloolaba / Alexandra Headland area. Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) is even closer, about 15-20 minutes from the start, with domestic and some trans-Tasman connections.

How big is the field?

The full marathon drew roughly 2,400 finishers in 2025 — a solid mid-size field for an Australian road marathon, big enough for atmosphere and crowd support but far from the congestion of a major. The wider festival also includes half marathon, 10 km, 5 km and 2 km events.