Marathon Report 2013

Last updated 29 Jan 2014.

This report summarises Australian 42.195 km marathons in 2013.

The entire population of marathons was included. The event website must have stated it was a standard marathon race for inclusion.

Australian marathon results from 1909 to 2013 are available here

1. Key Facts

Two thousand thirteen was a record-breaking year with 60 marathon events and 23,491 marathon performances.

Male:

• 16,705 performances
• 71.1 percent of all performances
• 38.7 average age
• 3:57:50 median time
• 2:13:09 - fastest Australian male was Michael Shelley in the United States
• 2:10:01 - fastest male in Australia was Yuki Kawauchi of Japan

Female:

• 6,786 performances
• 28.9 percent of all performances
• 36.7 average age
• 4:20:18 median time
• 2:26:05 - fastest Australian female was Lisa Weightman in Australia
• 2:26:05 - fastest female in Australia was Lisa Weightman of Australia

2. Participation

2.1 Events

A total of 60 marathons had at least one finisher in 2013. This total was a 25 percent annual increase.

The number of trail marathons increased at a faster rate than road marathons. A 44 percent annual increase.

Table 2.1.1: Marathon events.

^a Road was defined as a course with mostly good-quality sealed surface that can be accurately measured.
^b Trail was defined as a course with mostly unsealed track.

2.2 Performances

Note on terminology: More than one performance may be recorded by a performer. More than one run may be recorded by a runner.

A total of 23,491 marathon performances in 2013. This total was a 10.5 percent annual increase and the most performances ever recorded in Australia.

The total comprised of 16,705 male and 6,786 female performances. An 11.6 percent increase of females was greater than of males although males had a greater increase in absolute numbers.

Performances increased 7.2 percent in the same marathons from 2012 to 2013 (21,191 to 22,715).

Trail marathon performances increased 20.7 percent.

Table 2.2.1: Marathon performances.

2.3 Performers

An attempt was made to estimate performers by using a database to match similar names, sex, age, and relative times.

The total number of performers was estimated at 19,905. An increase of 88 percent on 2008. The Australian population increased 8 percent during the same 5 year period.

There were approx 12 male marathoners for every 10,000 Australian males and 5 female marathoners for every 10,000 Australian females in 2013.

The number of marathons per runner per year increased to 1.18. Male performers finished marathons more frequently than female performers.

Table 2.3.1: Marathon performers.

^a Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate at 30 June.

Table 2.3.2: Marathons per runner per year (performances divided by performers).

2.4 Gender

The proportion of male performances decreased to 71.1 percent. The absolute number of male performances did increase but at a slower rate than female performances.

Table 2.4.1: Gender proportion of performances.

2.5 Age

Age data was not reported for all marathons and a sample was used instead. The sample included 20,220 performances.

The average age was 36.7 for females and 38.7 for males (medians were 36 and 38).

The youngest marathon finishers were 13 years of age.

The oldest marathon finishers were:

• Antony Martin (85) finishing at Melbourne in 6:18:44.
• Patricia Shelper (72) finishing at Melbourne in 5:18:29.

The sample comprised of 0.5 percent juniors (Under 20), 54.2 percent open runners (20–39), and 45.3 percent masters runners (40+).

Table 2.5.1: Age group percentages from sample:

2.6 Median Times

The road median time was 4:03:33, the slowest overall median time recorded in Australia. This time may be interpreted as the average runner getting slower.

Generally median times trend slower each year because of

• The increasing proportion of females. The difference between male and female times was 22 minutes on average.
• The increasing average age of finishers. The slowing is expected to accelerate as the proportion of 40+ increases.
• Generous cut-off times in larger events attracting first-time runners and walkers.

Thirty years ago, at the peak of the previous running boom, the male median time was 3:31:58 (12,695 performances) and the female median time was 3:57:20 (722 performances).

Table 2.6.1: Road marathon median times.

Table 2.6.2: Road marathon median times from age sample.

3. High Performance

3.1 Australian Nationals

This section is on performances by Australians recorded anywhere in the world. It includes record-ineligible races such as Boston.

The fastest male in the world was Wilson Kipsang (Kenya), 2:03:23 world record at Berlin.
The fastest Australian male was Michael Shelley, 2:13:09 at Chicago. He was the 353rd fastest male in the world.

The fastest female in the world was Rita Jeptoo (Kenya), 2:19:57 at Chicago.
The fastest Australian female was Lisa Weightman, 2:26:05 at Melbourne. She was the 52nd fastest female in the world.

Jessica Trengove (11th) and Martin Dent (23rd) finished within the top 24 places and with B-standards at the IAAF World Championships. They have been automatically nominated for the 2014 Commonwealth Games according to Athletics Australia's Selection Policy.

Contrasting Australia's competitiveness to other nations, four Australian males recorded performances faster than the United Kingdom's best performance. One Australian female recorded a performance faster than the United States' fastest performance. In terms of tenth-placed depth, Australia was not as competitive against more populous nations.

Table 3.1.1: National rankings (ranked by gun times).

^a National record is Robert de Castella's 2:07:51 at Boston 1986 (The record by IAAF rules is now Stephen Moneghetti's 2:08:16 at Berlin 1990).
^b National record is Benita Johnson's 2:22:36 at Chicago 2006.

Table 3.1.2: First and tenth ranking for selected nations in 2013.^a

^a Sources: Japan Running News, Association of Road Running Statisticians, Power of 10, and Athletics NZ.

3.2 Australian Allcomers

This section is on performances recorded in Australia.

The fastest male in Australia was Yuki Kawauchi (Japan), 2:10:01 [2:09:58] at Gold Coast. His performance was equal to the 3rd fastest ever recorded in Australia. Kawauchi finished 11 marathons in 2013 including a best of 2:08:14 at Seoul and two sub-2:10 marathons within 14 days.

The fastest female in Australia was Lisa Weightman, 2:26:05 at Melbourne. Her performance was the 4th fastest ever recorded in Australia. Weightman's performance was the fastest Australian ever recorded in Australia.

Allcomers rankings were processed up to 1,000 performers for 2008 to 2013. For the year 2013, 641 males and 48 females ran under the three hour mark. Depth appeared to be improving with increased participation.

Table 3.2.1: Allcomers rankings (ranked by gun times).

^a Allcomers record is Robert de Castella's 2:09:18 at Brisbane Commonwealth Games 1982.
^b Allcomers record is Naoko Takahashi's (Japan) 2:23:14 at Sydney Olympic Games 2000.

Table 3.2.2: Allcomers rankings by year.

3.3 Wins

The fastest male winner and the fastest runner-up was Yuki Kawauchi (Japan) in his two Australian marathons.

The fastest Australian male winner was masters athlete Rowan Walker (43) with 2:24:23 at Canberra.

Magda Karimali-Poulos won her 10th Australian marathon at Canberra, was runner-up in two standard marathons, and was runner-up at the 45km Great Ocean Road Marathon. Susan Hill holds the record of 11 Australian marathon wins.

No runner won more than two Australian marathons during the year. Runners winning two marathons:

• Angela Bateup
• Brendan Davies (best 2:39:11)
• Shayne Falkenmire (best 3:18:19)
• Jodie Oborne (best 3:58:28, trail)
• Sammy Kipkoech Tum

Jodie Oborne at Lamington Eco Challenge was the only female to be outright winner in Australia.

Table 3.3.1: Fastest winning performances.

Table 3.3.2: Fastest runner-up (second place) performances.

4. Events

4.1 Size and Concentration

The largest marathon in Australia was Melbourne, setting another record for the most finishers.
The largest marathon in the world was New York City with 50,266 finishers. Melbourne was the 47th largest marathon in the world.

Gold Coast was 1 of 15 marathons to decline in size. Overall finishers at Gold Coast increased when including 10km and half-marathon events.

The largest 2, 4, and 5 marathons concentrated 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 of all finishers in Australia, respectively.

The largest inaugural marathon was Sandy Point with 175 finishers. It extended its longest distance from half-marathon in 2012 to marathon.

The mean number of finishers was 392 and the median number of finishers was 79.

Table 4.1.1: Marathons ordered by most finishers.^a

^aNoteworthy non-standard "marathons" were Great Ocean Road with 982 finishers and Six Foot Track with 780 finishers.

4.2 Growth

Glow Worm Tunnel, Mt Mee Classic, and Western Sydney doubled in finishers albeit from a relatively small base.

Newer events tended to grow at a faster rate. For example, Glow Worm Tunnel (2012), Western Sydney (2010), Barossa Valley (2012), or Sunshine Coast (2012).

Table 4.2.1: Marathons with at least 50 finishers ordered by largest growth.

4.3 Gender

Gold Coast had the largest proportion of females with 1 in 3.

Sri Chinmoy Princes Park had the largest proportion of males with 7 in 8.

Table 4.3.1: Marathons with at least 50 females ordered by largest female proportion.

Table 4.3.2: Marathons with at least 50 males ordered by largest male proportion.

4.4 Median Times

Macleay River had the fastest median time of 3:52:24. Portland had the slowest median time of 4:13:11. Portland encouraged race walking.

The fastest median times were mostly from marathons held in the first half of the year.

Table 4.4.1: Road marathons with at least 50 finishers ordered by fastest 2013 median times.

Table 4.4.2: Road marathons with at least 50 finishers ordered by slowest 2013 median times.

4.5 Entrants and Starters

Entrants and starters were seldom reported.

Melbourne had the largest number of entrants with 7,500 followed by Gold Coast with 5,400.

Based on the available data, on average, 12 percent of entrants failed to start and 5 percent of starters failed to finish.

4.6 Entry Prices

Entry fees were recorded for all marathons. Due to different fee structures (for example, early bird), the fee recorded was for an Australian resident entering four weeks prior to the race, was for a one-off race, and included club membership if required for entry.

The median entry price was $78 for a road marathon and was $85 for a trail marathon.

The largest marathons, Melbourne and Gold Coast, increased their fees by $5 from 2012 to 2013.

Table 4.6.1: Entry price ordered by least expensive.

Table 4.6.2: Entry price ordered by most expensive.

4.7 Prize Money

Male and female prizes were equal for all events.

The largest prize fund offered was $100,000 at Gold Coast. Conditions to award the entire fund were not met.

The largest prize awarded was $20,000. Five winners equalled this prize:

• Yukiko Akaba (JPN), female winner at Gold Coast, 2:27:17
• Luka Kipkemboi Chelimo (KEN), male winner at Perth City to Surf, 2:13:16
• Pius Dominic Ondoro (KEN), male winner at Melbourne, 2:10:47
• Tsega Gelaw Reta (ETH), female winner at Perth City to Surf, 2:41:07
• Lisa Weightman (AUS), female winner at Melbourne, 2:26:05

Note: The Association of Road Running Statisticians maintains records of Australians and their winnings on road or track.

Table 4.7.1: Prize money ordered by largest prizes.

^a Additional $6,000 and $3,000 prizes for 1st and 2nd Australians, respectively.
^b Additional time-incentive prizes. For example, additional $20,000 for Australian allcomers record at Gold Coast.

5. Miscellaneous

5.1 States and Territories

This section is selected national data split into state and territory components. The ACT and NSW are considered one geographic area.

Queensland had the most events. Victoria had the most performances. Northern Territory had the fewest events and fewest performances.

Queensland had the most performances per capita although Gold Coast finishers declined. South Australia had the fewest performances per capita.

Tasmania was the fastest state with a combined median of 3:56:05.

Table 5.1.1: Selected state data ordered by largest population.

cont.

^a Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate at 30 June.
^b Not necessarily state residents.

5.2 Calendar

The marathon running season is effectively from April to October because of cooler weather.

Of the 60 events, 29 were concentrated in the third quarter, specifically, 12 in August and 5 on the weekend of 24–25 August.

Sunday was the most popular day hosting 51 events. Saturday hosted 7 events.

The most marathons that could be finished in Australia in 2013 were 40.

Table 5.2.1: Distribution of events and performances by month.

5.3 New Zealand

New Zealand had a total of 39 marathons in 2013. This total was a 14.7 percent annual increase from 34 marathons.

A total of 7,688 performances in 2013. A 2.9 percent annual increase from 7,472 performances.

The proportion of male performances was 65.1 percent and female performances was 34.9 percent.

There were over three times the events per capita and almost double the performances per capita compared to Australia. New Zealand's population was 4.2 million.