The Great Ocean Road Running Festival is returning May 14-15, 2021. We are eager to get back to the Road and bring you “Australia’s most stunning running event”!
The health and safety of our participants, spectators, volunteers, partners and team members remains our top priority, and as such we will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation in partnership with local, state, federal authorities and health officials.
We want to reassure you that we are taking the necessary steps and requirements in conjunction with DHHS in order to deliver a safe and rewarding event for all involved.
It is our intention to keep our loyal community in the loop as much as possible. If we receive any updates we will be sure to let you know via email, our website and social channels, but for now we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2022 Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival.
We thank you for your patience and understanding.
These are the six things you need to remember to help us deliver a COVIDSafe event.
HEALTH CHECK – This afternoon you’ll receive an email asking you to complete the COVID Health Screening Declaration. If between completing the screening declaration and getting to the start line you experience any COVID related symptoms or are directed to self-isolate (quarantine) then we ask you to please stay home. CLICK HERE to find out what to do next.
CONTACT TRACING – As part of your registration, we already have all the necessary details of participants for contact tracing requirements. However, if your friends and family are in the Festival Hubs in Lorne or Apollo Bay please remind them to check-in using the QR codes provided.
HYGIENE – Practice COVIDSafe hygiene measures including frequent hand washing, using the hand sanitizer provided within the Lorne and Apollo Bay Festival Hubs, coughing into your elbow and avoid touching your eyes, nose & mouth.
SOCIAL DISTANCING – We’ve structured the start line, courses and Festival Hubs with plenty of room for everyone to participate and still stay 1.5m apart. At the start line it might mean you start a little further back but remember your timing chip only starts recording once you cross the start line timing mat, so it won’t affect your official time or your race day experience and helps keep us all safe.
MASKS – In accordance with the current requirements you must wear a mask when travelling on our event shuttle buses. We ask you to carry a reusable mask with you to wear on the buses pre- and post-race, or if using a disposable mask that you dispose of it in the waste bins provided. We encourage you to use a mask if you are unable to socially distance in any setting. MORE INFO
DRINKS – Drink stations will be available throughout the courses. Please be mindful of other participants and volunteers, and keep your distance where you can. Remember you can always participate with your own drink bottle or hydration device.CLICK HERE FOR FAQS & MORE INFO
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What COVIDSafe measures will there be?
The Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival has introduced a number of measures to provide a COVIDSafe environment for participants, staff, volunteers and the community for the 2022 event. These measures include pre-event health screening of participants, additional contact tracing capabilities for participants and spectators, overflow areas for the start and finish lines to allow participants to socially distance, additional cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch areas and hand sanitization stations throughout the event sites.
A dedicated COVID19 Safety Officer has been in place to plan, implement and monitor these measures and address any new COVID Safety challenges that may occur during the event. In addition, there will be regular communication across all digital channels in the lead up to the event, and clear signage, PA system announcements and additional support from event staff & volunteers at the event.
What if I cannot make the event due to personal COVID health concerns?
If you develop COVID related symptoms in the lead up to the event have visited a Tier 1 or Tier 2 exposure site, or have been identified as a close contact of a person who has tested positive to COVID you may be unable to attend the event, to apply for a withdrawal please complete the COVID Withdrawal Application Form and provide the necessary documentation. In this instance, you will be entitled to rollover your registration to the 2023 event or a full refund.
How will my event experience change?
Most participants in the Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival won’t notice a great difference to their race day experience. The COVIDSafe measures in place such as hygiene stations, social distancing, contact tracing and health declarations are commonplace for Victorians. The festival is held outdoors and already designed to deliver a safe and enjoyable experience with ample space for all participants and spectators. We ask all participants to follow the health and safety advice in the lead up to and during the event and seek the support of our event staff if they have concerns.
We will be communicating further information via email and socials in the lead up to the event, so please be sure to monitor these channels regularly.
Will drink stations be available?
Drink stations will still be available at designated locations on the course. They have been designed to encourage continual flow of participants to enable a smooth drink collection system, while minimising potential crowding. Staff and volunteers manning the drink stations have been given additional COVID safety training. Participants are also encouraged and welcome to use their own hydration packs throughout the event.
What about buses?
Shuttle buses are available to transport participants to and from events held on Sunday 15 May. At this stage, in line with the DHHS public health advice masks will be required to be worn when on the bus as per the current rules on public transport, taxis and ride share vehicles.
Will I be required to wear a mask?
The current requirements for masks to be worn on public transport, in taxis and ride share vehicles in certain settings such as hospitals and health care facilities and in instances where you cannot maintain physical distancing (1.5m from other people). At this stage masks will be required to be worn when utilising the event shuttle buses but not during the race itself. If the health advice changes prior to the event, we will provide an update. For more information and guidelines on mask wearing please visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks-when-wear-face-mask#when-do-i-need-to-wear-a-face-mask
Will there be capacity limits on the race distances?
The Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival offers 9 different event distances from the 1.5km Kids Gallop through to the 60km Ultra Marathon and new in 2021, a 6.5km and 13km Trail Run. Each of these distances have their own capacity limit based on delivering an enjoyable and safe race day experience for all participants. The 6,250-participant limit on the Saturday will be made up of the 1.5km Kids Gallop, the 6km and 14km Paradise run. On Sunday the 6,250-participant limit will be made up of the Great Ocean Road Walk, the Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra Marathon and the two new Trail Runs. These events are highly popular and interested participants are encouraged to register early to secure their race entry.
What will happen at the start line?
The Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival start, and finish lines have been designed to allow adequate space for all participants to socially distance. Each participant has a timing chip in their race bib that is not triggered until they cross the timing mats at the start line and finishing times are submitted when they cross the final timing mat at the finish line. Whilst the extra space may mean some participants start further back or take a little longer to start the event, their official race times (net time) will not be affected.
If the event is cancelled, what happens to my registration?
In the event of a cancellation, participants holding a live and current registration will be provided with a number of options including transferring to the following year or a full refund of your 2022 registration.
If the event is postponed, what happens to my registration?
In the event of a postponement, participants holding a current registration will be provided with a number of options including keeping your registration for the postponed event date or a full refund of your 2022 registration.
What happens if travel restrictions prevent me from getting to the event?
In the event of travel restrictions affecting registered participants outside of Victoria at the time of the event, we will provide options including transferring to the following year and or a full refund of your registration.
If the event is cancelled will my accommodation be refunded?
Each accommodation has and is entitled to their own refund policies. We strongly encourage you to discuss the terms & conditions regarding refunds (and any other applicable concerns) with the accommodation before booking. The Great Ocean Road Running Festival will not be held responsible in instances where refunds are not granted if the event does not go ahead or if you are unable to get to the event.
If the event is cancelled/if I am unable to get to the event will my flight be refunded?
Each airline has and is entitled to their own refund policies. We strongly encourage you to discuss the terms & conditions regarding refunds (and any other applicable concerns) with the airline before booking. The Great Ocean Road Running Festival will not be held responsible in instances where refunds are not granted if the event does not go ahead or if you are unable to get to the event.
Are there cancellation fees if I cannot make the event due to personal reasons?
If you withdraw from the Event prior to April 5th, a cancellation fee will apply. You will be returned your entry fee, minus the cancellation fee listed below:
Ultra / Full / Half Marathon – $30.00
14km / 6km / 5km-10km Walk – $15.00
Kids 1.5km Gallop – $5
Should you withdraw after 11:59pm April 5th for any reason (excluding personal COVID health concerns), there will be no refund of any portion of the entry fee, subject to applicable laws.
Can my friend take my entry if I can no longer compete?
As stated in the registration terms and conditions, under no circumstance are you permitted to give your bib to another person. Name changes are strictly not permitted. If you cannot compete in the event, you must complete a Withdrawal Application Form to withdraw from the event.
Why should I register now?
If you’re planning to participate in the Kieser Great Ocean Road Running Festival, we recommend you register online as early as possible. Some distances may sell out and it is important we capture all your relevant registration details in our system for contract tracing and to communicate important event updates.
Please contact our Customer Service Team with any additional questions or review our full FAQ’s here.
