Alice Springs Running Festival 2026

Runners begin and end their race next to Simpsons Gap, with the red desert landscape and the MacDonnell Ranges providing the primary visual focus. The Alice Springs Running Festival is a winter road race held in Central Australia, featuring a 10 km run/walk, a half marathon, and a marathon. The event originated from the Alice Springs Marathon and the local running club, which has been active since 1979 under various names. The courses consist of sealed out-and-back roads that are largely flat. However, the open exposure and the cold desert temperature fluctuations mean that appropriate clothing and hydration are important considerations. Shorter race distances are suitable for newcomers, while the marathon attracts local participants as well as those from other Australian states and overseas. Aid stations are positioned approximately every 3 km, offering water, Vaseline, and energy supplements. A distinctive tradition is the prohibition of personal music devices.