What is the minimum or maximum age? 

• 1km Kids Dash – Participants must be under 13 years of age on event day.

• 3km Junior Dash – No age restrictions.

• 5km Run / Walk – No age restrictions.

• 10km – Participants must be 13 years of age or older on event day.

• 21.1km Half Marathon - Participants must be 16 years of age or older on event day.

Participants under the age of 18 years will need parental permission. 

Children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult during the event.

Yes, we will be providing a complimentary Bag Drop for all participants at this event.

You will need to pull off the bottom strip of your race bib and arrange your own bag to help with organisation.

We recommend using an insulated, zippable, green bags (ie. Woolworths or Coles-type) as they can be enclosed and the bag tags easily attached to the straps / handles.

No responsibility is taken for any valuables left at Bag Drop.

You can collect your participant bib at the following times:

Wed 25th - Friday 27th Feb: 10:00am - 6:00pm at VERVE Running.
Saturday 28th Feb: 3:00pm – 5:00pm at Rosalind Park Event Village.
Sunday 1st March: From 6:30am onwards atRosalind Park Event Village.

NOTES ABOUT BIBS:

• Your bib is fitted with a timing chip. It will start recording your time when you cross the start line, so no need to rush at the start line!

• Bibs will NOT be posted out prior to the event.

• All participants must wear their bib on their front during the event at all times.

• Any participant not wearing a bib during the event will be asked to leave the event course.

• Bikes are not permitted on the course.

• Sorry, but no dogs are allowed on course or at the Event Village (Assistance Dogs excepted).

• Prams are permitted in each event (excluding the Team Relay), but must start at the rear of the field or in the PRAM WAVE. Please take extreme care and be alert to other participants.

• Headphones - see 'Music' section.

The city hosts a variety of carparks within easy walking distance including two multi storey carparks in Hargreaves Street and Edward Street.

There is also parking available at the QEO carpark via View Street.Item description

The courses are a mixture of walking / bike paths and closed roads around the centre of Bendigo.

Course maps may be found on our website under the “Events” tab.

Simply find your event and scroll down to locate the map.

1. Please head to our RaceRoster event listing here:
   https://raceroster.com/events/2026/105576/bendigo-ford-fun-run-2026

2. Click on 'Transfer'

3. Log-in and follow the prompts.

Please note there is a $10 admin transfer fee applied to all transfers.

No refunds are available for downgrades of events.

To reduce the time commitment of our volunteers and our road closure teams, there are cut off times for the following events:

• Half Marathon: 3 hours.

• 10km: 2 hours.

• 5km: 1.5 hours

• 3km: 45 minutes.

• 1km Junior Dash: 30 minutes.

Participants outside of these cut off times will not be formally removed from the course, but will need to obey all normal road rules.

Unfortunately, they will not receive an official electronic time in the official results.

Great idea! If your organisation wants to cover the cost of your team’s registration fees, we can organise an invoice.

The authorised representative must contact us via our Contact form prior to any participant registrations and we will issue you with a bespoke promotional code for your team. Only participants that register using the promo code can be included in the invoice for payment. Invoices can not be issued if fees have already been paid.

Invoices will be sent out to organisations on the Tuesday after the event and must be paid by 5pm on the following Friday.

Find out more about the Business Challenge here >

The answer is both 'No' and 'Yes', see below:-

No: Not in the start / finish chutes whilst our marshals are providing directions and instructions.

Yes: Once you are out of the Rosalind Park area you can pump in the volume.

However, we ask that you keep the volume at a reasonable level so that you can maintain awareness of other participants around you and still receive directions or instructions from our marshals.

This is both for your safety and the enjoyment of all.

Official event photographs are available through our official event photographer. You can expect to receive a link to view photos within 48 hours after the event.

There will also be a photo booth at the finish line to capture the special day, too.

If you do not wish your photograph to be taken, please cross your arms when you see our snap happy photographer. (Photographs may be used for future promotional purposes.)

The overall place getters in each event (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in male and female will each receive a prize pack from our event sponsors and partners.

Please check the event schedule for our Presentation time. Please listen out for Public Address announcements on the day.

We will offer refunds, minus an admin and RaceRoster platform fee of $10 per registration up until 5pm on Friday 13th February.

After this time no refunds will be offered.

To request a refund or withdrawal, please contact us.

Portable toilets will be located:

• In the Event Village,

• Behind the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre.

• At the QEO, and

• Near the water / aid station near the 10km & Half Marathon turnaround on the Bendigo Creek Trail.

1. Please head to our RaceRoster event listing here:
   https://raceroster.com/events/2026/105576/bendigo-ford-fun-run-2026

2. Click on 'Transfer'

3. Log-in and follow the prompts to transfer to another participant.

Please note there is a $10 admin transfer fee applied to all transfers.

No refunds are available for downgrades of events.

ELITES

Whilst there are no special provisions for ‘Elite Starts’ at this event, we STRONGLY encourage faster runners to be in first wave for their respective events.

WAVE STARTS

Each event – except for the 1km Junior Dash and the 3km – will feature wave starts to allow spacing out on course. Each wave will set off at short intervals.

5km Run / Walk

Athletes can select their preference upon sign-up.

• WAVE 1: Elite and Runners

• WAVE 2: Joggers and Mid-Pack

• WAVE 3: Prams / Walkers

10km Fun Run

• WAVE 1: Faster than 45 minutes

• WAVE 2: Slower than 45 minutes

21.1km Half Marathon

• WAVE 1: Less than 1 hour 35 minutes.

• WAVE 2: Slower than 1 hour 35 minutes.

All results are taken on ‘net time’, meaning that a participant’s time begins when they cross the timing matt at the start line and will stop when they cross the finishing matt.

We ask that faster runners self-seed towards the front of the event and those who are slower or intend to walk self-seed towards later waves.

Participants in the 1km Junior Dash and the 3km Short Course will all start together.

EVENT VILLAGE

There is water freely available at the start / finish area in Rosalind Park, courtesy of Coliban Water.

ON COURSE

On course, there are two drink stations located on the course on Bridge Street and one on the Bendigo Creek Trail near the 10km turnaround in White Hills.

There is also a drink station for Half Marathon participants near the event village as they start their second lap.

Bendigo weather in autumn remains warm with averages between 13’c – 25’c. 

Rainfall is usually low. In the unlikely event of rain, all events will proceed.

In case of lightning, we may adjust the schedule of events for the day or cancel events in line with our Emergency Management and Safety Plan.

If the weather is set to exceed 35’c, we may adjust the schedule of events for the day or reduce the duration of some events.