Runner's Guide to Athletics Australia Road Running All Ages 2026

World Athletics sets the standard road distances as: Road Mile (1609.344m), 5km, 10km, 15km, 10 Miles, 20km, Half-Marathon, 25km, 30km, Marathon (42.195km), 50km, 100km and Road Relay.

A Road Relay is recommended to be run over the Marathon distance, ideally on a 5km loop, with stages of 5km, 10km, 5km, 10km, 5km and 7.195km. For an Under 20 Road Relay the recommended distance is a Half-Marathon with stages of 5km, 5km, 5km and 6.098km.

Source: World Athletics Technical Rules (Book C, C2.1), Part VII Road Races, edition updated 1 July 2026: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules

Australian Athletics says unsanctioned meets and races will in general not be valid for any purpose, and they may not be covered by the National Insurance Program unless that is clarified in advance.

For a race to be sanctioned as a World Ranking Competition in Australia:

• The course must be properly measured and hold an International Measurement Certificate valid on race day (organisers without a current World Athletics/AIMS certificate cannot apply for this status).
• The race must appoint a referee nominated by the state or territory Member Association, who declares after the race that it was conducted under all applicable rules and that athletes ran the measured course. From 1 October 2025 at least one Bronze Level Referee must be in attendance.
• The competition must be added to the calendar at least 30 days before the first day.
• Results must be gun times without decimals.

Other races that a Member Association wants recognised need an Australian Athletics Domestic Permit, which the Member Association applies for. Meets with a domestic permit are covered by the National Insurance Program.

Source: Australian Athletics, World Ranking Competitions and Venue Requirements in Australia (version 14 January 2025): https://www.athletics.com.au/world-ranking-competitions-and-venue-requirements-in-australia/

The World Athletics Technical Rules do not set one rule for every runner. For mass participation running events, they advise race organisers to tell all participants which rules and procedures apply to each category, especially for safety when all or part of the race is not closed to traffic.

As an example, the rules say this may allow athletes (other than those in the elite or other categories to whom Technical Rule 6.3 would apply) to use head or earphones when running on a closed course, while prohibiting their use, or at least recommending against it, for slower runners when the course is open to traffic.

Technical Rule 6.3 lists as assistance that is not allowed the "possession or use of video recorders, radios, CD, radio transmitters, mobile phone or similar devices in the competition area".

Source: World Athletics Technical Rules (Book C, C1.1 and C2.1), edition updated 1 July 2026: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules

Australian Athletics requirements for World Ranking road races: athletes must wear clothing, shoes and bibs that comply with World Athletics Technical Rule 5, but for road races this is limited to the elite component as defined by the race organiser. Shoe rules and regulations only apply to Under 20 and Open age groups (an Australian ruling), and also cover any younger athletes competing in those groups.

World Athletics Rule 5, in outline:

• Clothing must be clean, designed and worn so as not to be objectionable, and made of non-transparent material even when wet.
• Athletes may compete barefoot or in Athletic Shoes that comply with the World Athletics Athletic Shoe Regulations.
• Every athlete is provided with two bibs, worn visibly on the front and back of the torso. Bibs must be worn as issued and may not be cut, folded or obscured. In events of 10,000 metres and longer, bibs may be perforated for air circulation, but not through any lettering or numerals.
• An athlete who does not follow Rule 5 and refuses the Referee's direction to comply, or competes anyway, is disqualified.

World Athletics also says that for mass participation events, race organisers are advised to explain to all participants the rules that apply to each category.

Sources: https://www.athletics.com.au/world-ranking-competitions-and-venue-requirements-in-australia/ (version 14 January 2025) and World Athletics Technical Rules (Book C, C2.1), edition updated 1 July 2026: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules

• Water and other suitable refreshments must be available at the start and finish of all races. Water must be available at suitable intervals of approximately 5km. For events longer than 10km, refreshments other than water may also be provided at these points.
• Organisers may let athletes provide their own refreshments, in which case the athlete nominates the stations where they are made available. Officials supervise them from the time they are lodged.
• You may carry water or refreshment by hand or attached to your body at any time, provided it was carried from the start or collected from an official station.
• Receiving or collecting refreshment or water from anywhere other than the official stations (except for medical reasons from or under the direction of race officials), or taking another athlete's refreshment, brings a warning for a first offence (normally a yellow card) and disqualification for a second (normally a red card). You must then leave the course immediately.
• You may pass refreshment, water or sponges to or receive them from another athlete if it was carried from the start or collected at an official station. Continuous support from one athlete to others may be treated as unfair assistance.

Source: World Athletics Technical Rules (Book C, C2.1), Part VII Road Races, in the edition updated 1 July 2026: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules

• You may leave the marked course with the permission and under the supervision of an official, as long as going off course does not shorten the distance you cover.
• If the Referee is satisfied, on a report from a Judge or Umpire or otherwise, that you left the marked course and so shortened the distance, you are disqualified.
• The rules say umpires should be placed at regular intervals and at each key point, with others moving along the course during the race.
• The course must be on made-up roads, though a marked bicycle path or footpath alongside the road may be used when traffic makes the road unsuitable (not soft ground such as grass verges). The course length cannot be less than the official event distance, and the distance in kilometres on the route must be displayed to all athletes.

Source: World Athletics Technical Rules (Book C, C2.1), Part VII Road Races, in the edition updated 1 July 2026: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules

For races under Australian Athletics World Ranking Competition requirements, results in road races must be gun times and must not include decimals. The one exception is the road mile, as set out in World Athletics rules.

The same requirements say not to describe net times as "official". Use terms such as "net" or "athlete" time instead.

Source: Australian Athletics, World Ranking Competitions and Venue Requirements in Australia (version 14 January 2025): https://www.athletics.com.au/world-ranking-competitions-and-venue-requirements-in-australia/

• Road races start with a gun, cannon or air horn, or another distinctive and unambiguous start signal suitable for the competition. Races with large fields should give warnings 5 minutes, 3 minutes and 1 minute before the start.
• On "On your marks", athletes assemble on the start line in the manner the organisers decide. The Starter makes sure no athlete has a foot or any part of their body touching the start line or the ground in front of it, then starts the race.
• The rules say Starters and Referees should avoid being over-zealous with false start rules outside the stadium, because recalling starts in road races is difficult and in large fields impractical. Where there is a clear and wilful breach, the Referee should not hesitate to consider appropriate action against an individual during or after the race.
• Organisers of road races must ensure the safety of athletes and officials. For competitions in the main World Rankings Competition categories, they must ensure the roads are closed to motorised traffic in all directions.

Source: World Athletics Technical Rules (Book C, C2.1), Part VII Road Races, in the edition updated 1 July 2026: https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules