Alice Springs Running Festival 2026

Lasseters on Barrett Drive, adjacent to the Alice Springs Convention Centre, hosts the start and finish for a desert road race with genuine club origins. The Alice Springs Running Festival began with the Running and Walking Club’s founding in 1979. The location itself provides much of the appeal: the "stunning red desert landscape of Central Australia," the "breathtaking MacDonnell Ranges," and the "unique desert flora" surrounding the town. The courses are out-and-back routes on sealed roads. They are mostly flat but exposed, with some paths extending to Simpsons Gap in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. The shorter distances are suitable for beginners, though the "cold desert winter conditions with dramatic temperature swings" necessitate appropriate clothing and fluid intake. Aid stations are positioned every 3km, offering water, Vaseline, and energy supplements. One traditional rule to note before starting is that personal music devices are not allowed, allowing participants to experience the Red Centre’s "rugged beauty" without a soundtrack.