Welcome to Canberra Runners
This is an interim web page which will operate until our new web site is operational in 2022.
Canberra Runners (formerly YMCA Canberra Runners Club) is Canberra’s largest running organisation and offers events and activities for runners of all ages and abilities. At Canberra Runners we aim:
- To encourage and promote the sport of running in the Canberra region.
- To conduct a range of running activities, events, and training.
- To promote active lifestyles by encouraging broad participation in social and competitive running activities in an inclusive and supportive manner.
Canberra Runners holds over 90 races each year ranging from 1.6 km to half marathons and a 100 km multi-stage event. Our headline events include Capital to Coast, the Canberra Half Marathon, and the Thredbo Fun and Fitness Week. We also offer training programs for beginner runners looking to run their first 5 kms, through to runners wanting to step up to a half marathon.
If you’re just looking for someone to run with Canberra Runners also offers group runs with the TTS group meeting on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, and Sunday Runners on Sunday mornings.
2022 Canberra Runners Half Marathon
Update: To spread the love of running across all ages, we are pleased to announce as part of the half-marathon event a 1.6km run starting at 10:30am for those 16 years and under. Parents are encouraged to run with young children in this event and entry is free for Canberra Runners members and $5 for non-members. Register at bib collection on Saturday 21 May from 1-3:30pm or on Sunday 22 May.
The Canberra Runners Half Marathon will be held on 22 May following the paths around the west basin of Lake Burley Griffin on beautiful Ngunnawal land. Starting and finishing at Lennox Gardens in Yarralumla the course is undulating and offers views of Australia’s national landmarks including Government House, Parliament House and the National Museum.
Registration: Register now for the Canberra Runners Half Marathon. Entry fees are $65 for Canberra Runners members and $89 for non‑members. Entries close at 7pm on 20 May. Late entries will not be accepted.
Finisher’s medals can be purchased with your registration for $5 and can be collected immediately after the race. The Canberra Runners are conscious of the need to not produce additional environmental waste in the form of unwanted medals. As a result, entry fees have been kept low but we have introduced this nominal fee to ensure that medals are only provided to all competitors who want one.
Race Day: Canberra Runners Half Marathon starts at 8am on Sunday 22 May. Prizes and medals will be awarded to the first three males and females. Other prizes will also be awarded on the day.
Race Bibs and merchandise may be collected on the Saturday afternoon (21 May) between 1pm and 3pm (preferred) or from 7-7:40am on Sunday morning (22 May) in the race village.
Further details about the event will be emailed to entrants prior to the day.
For more information on the Canberra Runners Half Marathon, please email half@canberrarunners.org.au or follow us on Facebook or Instagram
Canberra Runners Half Marathon is generously supported by:
Membership
Membership of Canberra Runners is open to all. Membership categories include adult members, junior members (open to persons under 18 years of age), family members, and volunteer members. All members must agree to uphold the objects of Canberra Runners and comply with the requirements of the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws.
The membership year is from 1 January to 31 December and membership provides free entry to all Canberra Runners activities except the Half Marathon, Capital to Coast, Thredbo Fun and Fitness Week, and Training Programs. Members receive discounted entry for these activities.
Membership pricing is detailed below and signing up is available here. Membership fees are not refundable and memberships are not transferable.
| Membership type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $80 |
| Child (Under 18 years on 1 January 2022) | $40 |
| Family (Family members residing at the same address) | $125 |
| Volunteer | Free |
Events
Canberra Runners has several flagship events run each year:
- Capital to Coast – a two-day staged trail race run between Canberra and the South Coast in August. More information is available at https://www.capitaltocoast.com.au/
- Canberra Half Marathon – The Canberra Runners Half Marathon will be held on Sunday 22 May 2022. The race starts and finishes in Lennox Gardens and follows a beautiful undulating course around West Basin. Early bird entry fees are $50 for members and $75 for non-members. After 6 April, entry fees will be $65 for members of Canberra Runners and $89 for non‑members. For more information and registration here.
- Thredbo Fun and Fitness Week – is a fantastic summer holiday option for families and friends. Held within the Thredbo Alpine Village in Kosciuszko National Park in January each year the program of events runs over 8 days with something for everyone.
More information will be available on the new web site in due course.
Club races
Canberra Runners hosts a series of races throughout the year. Participation is free for members. Non-members are welcome and entry is $15 for adults and $5 for runners aged under 18 years.
- Summer Series – consists of eight events, each including a 2 km race and a 5 km race. Summer series events are held on Tuesday evenings at 6:15 pm between January and March.
- Winter Series – events are held on Saturdays from late April until late September. Distances range from 1.5 k up to half marathon and there are events on bike paths, cross country and dirt roads.
- Spring Series – are held on Tuesday evenings for 5 weeks commencing on the first Tuesday in November. Each event includes a short and a longer event. The final event in the Spring Series is the Christmas Relays, a low-key, fun event where teams of 8 runners compete over 16 kms.
- Jogalong – is held on the first Sunday of every month in Weston Park. There is a 6 km event for women* and girls, a 3 km event for women* and girls and boys aged 12 years and under, and a 1.6 km minijog for boys and girls aged 12 years and under. Children aged under 6 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult. All events are run on dirt tracks and bike paths. Jogalong is free to members. Non-members are welcome and entry is $15 for adults and $5 aged under 18 years. Jogalong events are all about participation and enjoyment. They are designed to encourage women* and girls to get out and get active by providing a physical challenge in a friendly and social environment.
Jogalong newsletter (pdf): Jogalong Jottings June, July and August 2021. Jogalong Jottings November and December 2021, Jogalong Jottings January February and March 2022.
*including non binary and gender diverse people who may normally include themselves in women's events.
| Date | Event name | Start time | Distance(s) | Start address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 30 April 2022 | West Basin 10 miler | 7.30 am | 16 km | Black Mountain Peninsula |
| Sun 1 May 2022 | Jogalong and Minijog | 9:00 am | 6/3/1.6 km | Weston Park |
| Sat 14 May 2022 | Stromlo Forest Park | 12.45 pm | 1.5/2.5/5 km | Stromlo Forest Park |
| Sun 22 May 2022 | Canberra Runners Half Marathon (incl. shorter and children’s events) | 8:00 am | 21.1/5/1.15 km | Lennox Gardens |
| Sun 5 June 2022 | Jogalong and Minijog | 9:00 am | 6/3/1.6 km | Weston Park |
| Sun 3 July 2022 | Jogalong and Minijog | 8:00 am | 6/3/1.6 km | Weston Park |
| Sat 23 July 2022 | The Runners Shop | 12.45 pm | 2/5/10 km | East Basin |
| Sun 7 August 2022 | Jogalong and Minijog | 9:00 am | 6/3/1.6 km | Weston Park |
| Sat 13 Aug 2022 | Stromlo Forest Park | 12.45 pm | 2/4/6/8 km | Stromlo Forest Park |
| Fri 26-Sun 28 Aug 2022 | Capital to Coast | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Sun 4 Sept 2022 | Jogalong | 9:00 am | 6/3/1.6 km | Weston Park |
| Sat 24 Sept 2022 | Goorooyarroo Off-Road Half Marathon and relays | 7.00 am | 21.1/14/2x10 km | Mulligan’s Flat Car Park |
| Sun 2 Oct 2022 | Jogalong | 9:00 am | 6/3/1.6 km | Weston Park |
Group runs
Group Runs occur all year round and are free to members. Our group runs cater for runners of all ages and abilities, although runners aged under 18 years should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- TTS – meets for group runs from 6:30 am to 7:30 am on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Lennox Gardens, Flynn Drive in Yarralumla and from 7:00 am to ~ 8:30 am on Saturdays at varying locations around Canberra. Generally, there will be a group breakfast at a local coffee shop after the Saturday run. For more information on TTS runs contact us here or sign up for the TTS newsletter here.
- Sunday Runners – meets 7:30 am on Sunday mornings at varying locations around Canberra for a 60 minute out and back run followed by a group breakfast after. For more information on Sunday Runners join the Sunday Runners Facebook Group or contact us here. You can also sign up for the Sunday Runners newsletter here.
Training programs
Canberra Runners offers structured training programs which cater for beginner runners through to more experienced runners wanting to increase their distance or pace. Each program is delivered by Training Program Coordinators, volunteer members with Level 1 Run Leader (or above) accreditation through Athletics Australia, with assistance from volunteer members of Canberra Runners.
Each program is designed to all allow participants to develop fitness and running strength in a fun and supportive environment. Programs are priced individually with a discount offered to current members.
Our current programs are:
- Get Running 2022 is Canberra Runners' 8-week training program designed to help you reach your running goals and finish the 5.4km or 10km fun run at the Canberra Times Marathon Festival. Starting on Sunday 13 February 2022 we train three mornings a week: Tuesday and Thursday (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.) and Sunday (from 7:30 a.m.) for 8 weeks. More information is available on the registration link. Register now.
- Step Up to Half 2022 is Canberra Runners’ Half Marathon Training Program designed to help you reach your running goals and finish the Canberra Runners Half Marathon on 22 May 2022 with a smile on your face. Starting on Saturday 26 February 2022 we train three mornings a week: Tuesday and Thursday (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.) and Saturday (from 7:00 a.m.) for 13 weeks. More information is available on the registration link. Register now.