Race Training Plans
Canberra Marathon
Training Plan
Run through the nation's capital on closed roads past Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian War Memorial. Held each April, Canberra Marathon is one of Australia's most scenic and well-organised events — and a genuine PB course for the right runner.
For official race information and registration visit the Canberra Marathon official website.
Choose Your Distance
The Canberra Marathon festival offers multiple distances across the weekend.
What Makes Canberra Unique
Unlike coastal marathons, Canberra sits at 580m elevation — air is thinner and autumn mornings can be brisk, often 5–12°C at race start. If you're travelling from the coast, expect conditions that favour runners who've trained in cooler weather.
The course has some gentle undulation through the parliamentary triangle and around the lake, but nothing that should derail a solid training block. Don't bank on a completely flat PB run — train on hills and you'll handle the course comfortably.
Training tip: An April race means your longest training weeks fall in February–March — ideal conditions in most Australian cities. Start your plan in late November or December for a full 16-week build.
How Long to Train
For the full marathon, allow 16–20 weeks. If you're currently running 25–30km per week, 16 weeks is sufficient. Building from less than 20km/week? Give yourself 20 weeks to build safely.
For the half marathon, 10–14 weeks works well for most runners with an existing base. Complete beginners should allow 16 weeks.
Ready to Train for Canberra?
Canberra Training Plan
Set your race date to April, pick your distance and goal pace, and get a week-by-week plan exportable straight to your calendar.
⚡ Build My Canberra Plan