There was no room to move at the Yeppoon Running Festival start line, especially for the half-marathon.
The YRF organisers were blown away when 550 half-marathon competitors took to the start line, a whopping 83% increase from 2024’s 300 competitors. They hit the roads, just after the 5.30am for a lazy 41.1klm marathoners whose numbers were up 15% to 120. Total competitor numbers hit more than 2,500 for the newly revamped course route and two jam-packed days of running events.
The Festival was to mention around 20 or so international competitors from Norway, Japan and the UK. Preliminary numbers for this popular event put the economic benefit to our region estimates at around $1.3 to $1.6Million. Impressive results for an event that’s been running just nine years.
Capcoast Living caught up with Yeppoon Running Festival Director Rob Dendle to chat about the event and find out how it went.
This year, the YRF events ran at the opposite end of the Capricorn coast, what inspired the move?
“The competitors. Each year, we collect survey feedback and use that to improve the event. This year competitors were telling us it was the course route that needed improvement.
“Competitors have said the old course had safety issues and not much to inspire spectators or competitors. We wanted to find that balance between competitor experience and keeping Yeppoon open to traffic as much as possible. And this year’s track was the result.
“And really, why wouldn’t you want to run up Wreck Point? It’s stunning and we wanted to show that off to the ever-growing list of competitors travelling [from interstate and internationally] to the event.”
How many competitors did YRF have this year?
“There were 2500 registered competitors for the two-day event, 120 were marathoners. That’s up 12% on last year, so we’re still getting growth in the marathon, that’s great.
“The event that grew the most over the weekend, was the half marathon. There were 550 people registered, which is up 250 from 2024.”
Wow. Wow. And what do you put that rise in the half marathoners down to?
“Running is very popular right now. It’s driven by the run clubs and, I think there has been a real shift in the community in Yeppoon. They value the goodness that fitness brings to you physically and mentally.
How many years have you been organising the Yeppoon Running Festival?
“So this is our ninth year with our 10th anniversary next year, somehow we’ve got to come up with a bigger and better event for next year!
How do you do that? Come up with a bigger and better event?
“We rely on our competitors for that, their feedback, We’ve got the survey out at the moment. So we’re looking for advice from them.
There was anecdotal talk about people struggling to find accommodation, did you find that?
“Yes, it wasn’t an issue we’ve encountered in the past.
“There’s just a general lack of accommodation, especially during events like these running and it’s probably one of the factors that is limiting our growth, especially for those travelling from outside the region.
“We had phone calls a month out saying our competitors were struggling to find accommodation options. I rang around to everybody and found a little bit, so there were still options there, but there wasn’t a lot.
“If the competitors are keen, they do need to jump in and book early.”
Has anyone considered or suggested a similar set-up to Beef Week, where they offer a billeting or accommodation system, where locals can offer to put up visitors in their homes, if people have a room to rent?
“Look where we’re certainly open to suggestions. There are a lot more Airbnb options popping up around just off that main street, which is perfect for the event. We’re certainly open to any holiday establishments giving their details and we’ll get the information out there.”
A new course, a new traffic plan, with vehicles diverted and different roads closed for a short time. How’d that go?
“We have to thank the community of Yeppoon for their patience and understanding throughout the morning of the event.
“We certainly had meetings with traffic management after. There are certainly points that we can improve on, but as a whole, it went well. It was, generally, well-received by the community.
“We had over 20 people on that traffic control and two officers from the Queensland Police. So, a big team to help control the roads. We had a lot of eyes out there. We knew what was going on at all times.
“The first time we change a course route, we try to plan as much as we can, but until it is fully in motion, we don’t know how it’s going to unfold.
“There’s always going to be negative feedback around the road changes but for every negative comment we had, there were 100-odd positive comments. That comes back to that community support that we certainly experienced over the weekend,
“We worked with Queensland Police, they had a few suggestions that we had to go back and make changes for. So it wasn’t just us deciding this is what we want to do. It was certainly a community effort between our event, the police and Livingstone Shire Council.
“We want everybody to win as much as possible; between a competitor and their experience and keeping the roads running for the community as much as possible.
“We advertised that the roads would be open around 12.30pm and we had that main street back open by about 11.45am, well before the advertised reopen times.”
We’ve chatted about community feedback, you must get a lot of questions leading up to the Yeppoon Running Festival and unusual ones that stick in your mind?
“We get them all. I think the one that sticks in my mind, not from this year but over the years, is feedback about the restaurants. One competitor said that their breakfast had too much spice and could we speak to the restaurant for next year!
LOL! We’re still laughing about that one!
What are the highlights of this year’s event?
“Saturday afternoon, down along the foreshore, the family run. It was a fun, controlled chaos!
“You’ve got the kids going 100 miles an hour, then you’ve got the parents trying to keep up, but then, you know, the kids run out of steam about 300 metres into the 1.6 kilometre events, so it’s mum and dad trying to get the kids to the end.”
And all of a sudden, we’re having flashbacks…. bribing kids, piggy backing kids, threatening and cajoling kids to the finish line…. I’ll buy you an ice cream. I’ll take you to Big W….
Rob laughes…
“So yes, there’s a lot of bargaining going on. We do notice that. So that’s why we’ve got the lollies and lots of incentives to get everybody home. But it’s great and it sold out this year!
“The other thing we love is seeing the kids, parents and spectators lining the course and the crowds on a Saturday afternoon down the foreshore, we’ve never seen that many people line the foreshore for it and definitely, seeing the families come across the finish line and getting their medal.”
We love to see the next day where the kids are like, yeah that was easy, a walk in the park…. None of the, oh, mum had to drag me 1.2klm of the 1.5klms.”
“Mmm let’s not bring out the video evidence of how gruelling it actually was!”
“Second biggest highlight is the marathon and seeing those first timers we get there. It’s a huge feat of perseverance, of training and completing the race on the day. It takes a lot to get a marathon done, especially on the YRF course with the added hills in there.”
What is the longest distance that a competitor travelled for the race? Any International competitors?
“We had two families from Norway, Oslo that was a total of 10. We asked them how they found out about it. They said they were coming for the Sydney Marathon, but looked outside of New South Wales for other events and somehow landed on Yeppoon, which is crazy, but it’s also great and they brought another family too, from Norway. There was also a family from the UK and some competitors from Japan. All up around 30 International competitors.l
“Lots of people putting their YRF encouragement signs up on Saturday too, which is it’s phenomenal to see.
“We love that you don’t have to be running. You just line line the course, or go down to one of the coffee, stops along the course, grab a coffee, grab something to eat, you know, support all the runners out there on the course.”
We could hear the cowbell at Wreck Point, that was memorable!
“Yes, there was some big chat about how much support there was going to be on Wreck Point. We were telling everybody to try to keep it down to at least 6.30am or 7 o’clock.”
Not us! We thought 5.50am was the time to start encouraging the runners. After all, it’s one day of the year!
What’s the breakdown of local competitors, interstate to international?
“We had over 30 international competitors and around 70 Interstate competitors including the half marathon winner female and male winner from Newcastle.”
The challenge is on for CQ locals then?
“Yes, the challenge’s been thrown down because we do have some elite runners in the CQ area. So we need to step up our local game. We can’t have all the prizes going down south!
“Marathon winner, Brian Hawkin was from the Gold Coast. and Burger was from Grass Street Beach, Mackay.”
Where does the funding come from to help run the event?
“Tourism and Events Queensland help with funding. Capricorn Enterprises works with them in delivering that funding to the event. We certainly appreciate their help. And of course, we thank Queensland Government for their support in the event.
Everyone would love their event to be self-sustaining. I feel like it’s difficult to do that.
“We try to reduce the fees as much as possible. We could increase those fees and put costs back on the competitors. But we try to keep our pricing affordable. I think our marathon, is about $120 but if you go anywhere else, it’s at least $200. We hope we can keep it very accessible and while we have the support local council, TEQ and State Government, we can do that. That gives back to the competitors.”
Is your main sponsor locked in for next year?
“I believe so, I think Shanahan Swaffield, a local accounting firm both in Yeppoon and Rockhampton are keen.
“We certainly don’t underestimate the support that our sponsors give us.”
Anything else we can share with the readers?
2026 Dates are in!
“Yes, we’re back next year, as we said, for our 10th Anniversary event and it will be on Saturday 25 August and Sunday 26th of July 2026.
“We’re looking forward to next year. Hopefully, we’ll see you out there!”
We hope so too!
For more information: www.yrf.com.au