Want to run a marathon (or half marathon), but not as an individual, as part of a relay team?

There’s now TWO relay options:

FULL EKIDEN RELAY (Total Distance: 42.2km)
All you need is SIX relay team members, and they can choose different run leg distances, starting and then finishing in Heathcote.

MINI-EKI RELAY (Total Distance 21.1km)
A new, shorter option, also for SIX team members, with legs between 2.7km and 4.5km from Knowsley to Heathcote.

Both relays follow the O’Keefe Challenge Marathon and Half Marathon courses.

Our relays are perfect for community groups, school groups, sporting clubs, work mates or friends.

The O’Keefe Challenge Ekiden Relays have a number of awesome team categories for you to choose from:

  • Male
  • Female
  • Mixed (Minimum of 3 female runners)
  • Secondary School
  • All Abilities (Minimum of 1 person with a disability)
  • Family (Minimum of 3 people from the same family)

So get your friends, family, work mates and club mates together and choose your challenge!

Course Maps
Event Schedule
2023 RESULTS
REGISTER NOW

NEW Relay Registration Process

There is a new Registration process for Relay teams in 2024.

The Team captain is required to register and pay for the team.
They can create a ‘team name’ and create a team ‘access code’ before completion of their registrations.
Captains should then send their team members a link and the ‘access code’ created via an email.
Then when a member registers they have to include this team ‘access code’ to complete their registration.

Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us >

FULL EKIDEN

EVENT DETAILS

Ekiden Relay

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE 42.195 km
START LOCATION Camp St, Heathcote
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 16 years and older on event day
RELAY LEGS Six legs (distances to be announced!)
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 6:00 AM from Barrack Reserve, Heathcote
BRIEFING 7:45 am
START TIME 8:00 am
CUT OFF TIME 6 hours (2pm)
WATER / AID STATIONS See list of changeover locations.
There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local volunteer groups, along all course routes and at the start and finish locations. We will have lollies and water at ALL aid stations this year.
CATEGORIES - Male - Female - Mixed (Minimum of 3 female runners) - Secondary School - All Abilities (Minimum of 1 person with a disability) - Family (Minimum of 3 people from the same family)
TRANSPORT There is no transport available for this event. Teams are required to self drive during this event.
ENTRY FEES* Early Bird: $120.00 (Until midnight Thursday 29 February 2024)
Standard: $180.00 (Until midnight Wednesday 17th April 2024)
Registrations for our relays close at midnight Wednesday 17th April 2024.
INCLUSIONS Finisher Medal, professional timing, first aid and medical suppor and on-course drink stations.
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >

FULL EKIDEN (Total Distance: 42.2km)

CHANGEOVER POINTS

Leg 1. Start to Derrinal Station
9.1 km
(The longest leg in this relay format, although this section is slightly downhill overall)

Start – Camp St, Heathcote (Google Maps)
Derrinal Station (Google Maps)

Leg 2. Derrinal Station to Knowsley
7.7 km
(Super picturesque section, especially if the water levels are high in Lake Eppalock. Light rolling hills)

Derrinal Station (Google Maps)
Google Map Link: Knowsley 

Leg 3.Knowsley to Knowsley
8.4 km
(Out to the turnaround and back! Takes in a cracking part of the Knowsley State Forest. Uphill on the way out means a downhill return!)

Google Map Link: Knowsley 

Leg 4.Knowsley to Derrinal Station
7.7 km
(Super picturesque section, especially if the water levels are high in Lake Eppalock. Light rolling hills)

Google Map Link: Knowsley 
Derrinal Station (Google Maps)

Leg 5. Derrinal Station to Speed Street
6.4km 

(Slightly uphill through the picturesque One Eye Forest. This is the section that athletes ALWAYS underestimate in the marathon on tired legs.)

Derrinal Station (Google Maps)
Speed Street (Google Maps)

Leg 6. Speed Street to Finish
2.9 km
(The glory run! Half on the O’Keefe Rail Trail, half on sealed asphalt roads to the finish. Short and sharp.)

Speed Street (Google Maps)
Finish – Barrack Reserve (Google Maps)

Please note that ALL six ekiden Relay Team Members are encouraged to cross the finish line together to collect their medals!

MINI-EKI

EVENT DETAILS

Mini Ekiden Relay

DATE Sunday 21st April 2024
DISTANCE 21.1 km
START LOCATION Knowsley, 20 Knowsley-Eppalock Road, Knowsley, VIC 3523
(Google Map)
FINISH LOCATION Barrack Reserve, High St, Heathcote
(Google Map)
AGE RESTRICTIONS Participants must be 16 years and older on event day
RELAY LEGS Six legs (See list below)
BIB COLLECTION OPENS 7:30 am
BRIEFING 8:50 am
START TIME 9:00 am
CUT OFF TIME 4 hours
WATER / AID STATIONS Start Line, 3.5 km, 7.5 km, 9.5 km, 12.5 km and 17 km.
There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local volunteer groups, along all course routes and at the start and finish locations. We will have lollies and water at ALL aid stations this year.
TRANSPORT There is no transport available for this event. Teams are required to self drive during this event.
ENTRY FEES* Early Bird: $120.00 (Until midnight Sunday 11 Feb)
Standard: $180.00 (Until midnight Wednesday 17th April 2024)
Registrations for our relays close at midnight Wednesday 17th April 2024.
INCLUSIONS Finisher Medal, professional timing, first aid and medical suppor and on-course drink stations.
THE FINE PRINT Please review our Terms and Conditions here >

MINI-EKI (Total Distance: 21.1km)

COURSE MAP AND CHANGEOVER POINTS

Leg 1. Knowsley to Knowsley
4.8 km

Google Map Link (Knowsley)

Leg 2. Knowsley to Moorabbee Foreshore Road
3.3 km 
(flat with slight undulations)

Google Map Link (Knowsley)
Google Map Link (Moorabbee Foreshore Road)

Leg 3. Morrabbee Foreshore Rd to Derrinal Station
4.3km 
(mainly flat but good downhill section)

Google Map Link (Moorabbee Foreshore Road)
Google Map Link (Derrinal Station)

Leg 4. Derrinal Station to Mia Mia Rd
2.9 km 
(very gradual incline in some parts)

Google Map Link (Derrinal Station)
Google Map Link (Mia Mia Rd)

Leg 5. Mia Mia Rd to Speed St
3km
(gradual incline in first half before mainly flat finish)

Google Map Link (Mia Mia Rd)
Speed Street (Google Maps)

Leg 6. Speed St to Barrack Reserve (Finish Line)
2.9km
(gradual incline in first half before mainly flat finish)

Speed Street (Google Maps)
Google Map Link (Barrack Reserve)

Ekiden Relay Information

Bibs:

Team Captains will be required to collect their race packs from:

  • Full-Ekiden – Marathon Start Line: Barrack Reserve on the morning of the event, unless otherwise arranged.
  • Mini-Eki – Half Marathon Start Line: Knowsley on the morning of the event, unless otherwise arranged.

Do we ALL need to attend the Pre-Race briefing?

No. Only the first runner needs to attend the Pre-Race briefing just prior to the race start.

 

Do we carry a baton or a sash?

(Example only)

Every member of the team when running their relay leg will wear the Ekiden Sash. It is like a relay baton and passed from runner to runner at the changeover points.

The sashes can be collected either at Bib Collection OR at the race start.

 

Is there transport provided for the Ekiden Relay?

Ekiden Relay teams must manage their own team transport to and from each checkpoint.

‘First leg’ runners may book to travel on the bus to the Half Marathon start line in Barrack Reserve with the other Half Marathon competitors. Please note there is no bus for the marathon this year as it starts and finishes in Heathcote. The cost of these spots is $5 for the bus.

This bus will be leaving Heathcote in High St near Barrack Reserve at 7:50am for the Marathon start in Junortoun. Bookings essential.

Is there a ‘Bag Drop’?

Please make sure your own transport person collects your warm-up clothes if you leave them behind. The runner that you take the Ekiden Sash from may also collect your clothing. Alternatively, wear clothes that are going to the opportunity shop as clothes discarded on the day will be donated to charity.

 

Parking in Heathcote

 

It is essential that instructions are followed from parking marshals. There is plenty of parking at the race start.

 Parking at Barrack Reserve in Heathcote

There is limited parking available close to Barrack Reserve at the event finish site. Nearby options include the Heathcote Primary School car park off Herriot St and also the Former Heathcote Railway station site, which is also on Herriot St and is the former O’Keefe Rail Trail Marathon finish location. These locations are a short 10 minute walk from the event finish site.

Parking at the Half Marathon Race Start – Knowsley

 

It is essential that instructions are followed from parking marshals. There is plenty of parking at the race start for the competitors.

Parking – Parking is available in the recreation reserve car park to the right of the Knowsley CFA. These spaces are to the right hand side of the start line area. We ask people DO NOT park cars on Moorabee Road between Moorabee Road and Bywater Street.

 

Parking at Changeovers

 

Please follow the directions of the parking marshals at each Changeover. Whilst there is traffic management in place for the runners, all drivers are required to abide by road rules.

Event Catering for Spectators

At the race finish at Barrack Reserve, there will be a BBQ and coffee from local community vendors.

Are there toilets along the route/s?

Yes! There will be official toilets located along the route/s at each of the Ekiden Relay Changeovers.

There will also be toilets at the start and finish locations. (When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go)

 

What First Aid is available?

Basic First Aid is available at all Relay changeover stations. There are event nurses at the finish line also.

We also ask other runners to be observant if they see an athlete in trouble and notify aid stations. A ‘Tail end’ rider will also be out on the trail.


Are the drink stations along the route?

Yes. There will be drink and aid stations, manned by local volunteer groups, along all course routes and at the start and finish locations. Please note these are water only.

Runners can have drinks or gels handed to them by support people or family along the Trail. We ask though for any helpers not to obstruct other runners. There is no sports drinks provided and only water.

These stations are situated roughly every 4km – 5km along the Marathon course.

Cattle Grids

The 10 cattle grids between Heathcote and Knowsley which will be covered in this year’s event. The covers are wide enough to fit two runners wide. Some runners though may have the agility to get over them easily with one step in the middle without an issue if a runner is just ahead blocking their way. These have never caused any issues.

Roads and Course Management

There are over 20 road crossings, most are minor road crossings with normally small numbers of houses in the area.

Most major road crossings will have qualified traffic management personal there to stop traffic.
Most minor roads will have traffic marshals only that will have flags. Even though if it is very unlikely you see a red flag, you must stop. A yellow flag means ‘cross with caution’.

‘Event In Progress’ Signage will be around all roads warning of runners. Everything has been done to ensure your safety, but we also share the area with all others and it is not a closed athletics track.

On some cross roads you will see a set of upside down U-shaped poles with red on it. Unless indicated, you must run between them. There are several when you enter the residential area of Heathcote where you do cross over a few roads. 

 

The Final Relay Runner 

Please ensure the final relay runner crosses the finish line!

If the other runners want to link arms with their final runner and run the last 200 metres on the oval, we encourage this. Your team has gone on a long journey. Just be respectful of other runners if they are behind you completing other events.

Are there cut off times for this event?

To reduce the time commitment of our volunteers and our road closure teams, there is a cut off times of 6 hours for the full ekiden and 5 hours for the mini-ekiden.

Participants outside of these cut off times will not be 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, however, they will receive a Finishers medal.

Will I receive a participants medal or badge?

Yes, all finishers will receive a Participants’ medal or badge at the finish line.
IF you are ran an earlier leg of the Ekiden Relay, please speak with our finish line officials and show your bib to collect your bib.

Where will I find our results?

Results will be published on our Results page by Multisport Australia within 4 hours of the event finish. Please note that only the total team time will be officially recorded, not the individual legs.

Race Presentation

The race presentation for the winners of the Ekiden Relays will be held as close to 12 noon as possible. There is a strong possibility it may be later as some teams will not be in by this time and so all categories will not have been decided.