Great Australian Run

First held in 2008, it is an international version of the British-based Great Run series.

The race featured over 4000 competitors at its inaugural edition, and also succeeded in attracting high-calibre elite athletes such as marathon world record breakers Haile Gebrselassie and Catherine Ndereba, as well as Australian 2008 Olympians Craig Mottram and Benita Johnson.

[4] The course of the race, which passes the IAAF's world record standards,[3] begins and ends in Albert Park and passes many of Melbourne's touristic landmarks, including the Yarra River and Flinders Street station.

[5] The course, which follows a double-looped circuit style, heads north from Albert Park before switching back in a south-easterly direction through the Royal Botanic Gardens.

[6] The race has also served as the Australian road running championships, with Collis Birmingham and Nikki Chapple taking the national titles in 2009.