The 2026 Melbourne Marathon should have been remembered for Eliud Kipchoge running a course record and thousands of runners taking on one of Australia’s biggest running events. But instead, the October 11 race has faced widespread criticism after participants reported empty water stations, crowded sections of the course, and problems getting out of the finish area.
I’ve raced enough marathons to know that things don’t always go according to plan, and sometimes you roll with a little chaos because that’s part of racing. However, runners going miles without access to water during a marathon is a huge and quite frankly dangerous issue.
What happened at the Melbourne Marathon, and how did such a large event end up with so many complaints?
What Happened at the 2026 Melbourne Marathon?
According to reports following the race, runners encountered water stations that had run out of supplies, while others reported waiting for water or leaving the course to purchase drinks. One participant reported being unable to get water for approximately 17 kilometers, or 10.6 miles, between kilometers 8 and 25. Yikes!
The Melbourne Marathon’s official aid station information advertised water throughout the course, with Maurten sports drink and gels available at selected locations. Runners planned their races with those arrangements in mind, which makes the reported shortages especially frustrating. Maurten is one of the most expensive gel sources…could it be that Melbourne didn’t buy enough because of that? We don’t know yet.
There were also complaints about congestion, inadequate toilet facilities, and delays leaving the Melbourne Cricket Ground after finishing. Some runners reported having difficulty accessing water after crossing the finish line, when many were already exhausted and dealing with the warmer weather.
Did the Melbourne Marathon Have Enough Water Stations?
On paper, the race had numerous water stations scheduled throughout the marathon course. The issue appears to have involved supply and distribution rather than simply the number of advertised locations.
One complication was the scheduling of the marathon and half marathon. The marathon began at 6:15 a.m., while the half marathon started at 9:45 a.m., with participants from both events using several of the same hydration locations.
By the time some half marathoners reached those stations, marathon runners had already been using them for hours. That overlap may have contributed to the shortages, although the precise operational failures have not been established. Just recently a the Long Beach Half Marathon, the congestion from the marathoners often prevented half marathoners from getting to aid stations.
The race had also expanded significantly for 2026. Organizers announced a planned field of 66,000 participants across the weekend, including 16,000 additional entries compared with the previous event capacity.
Increasing participation is great for the sport, but I’d like to think that selling thousands of additional registrations also comes with a pretty detailed plan for how those runners are going to get fueling and water. And yes, you can always argue bring your own…and I usually do. But when a runner signs up for a race, they are spending money to know there are resources available for them.
Why the Melbourne Marathon Water Shortage Is Concerning
Every runner has different hydration needs, and those needs change with temperature, pace, sweat rate, and the amount of time spent on the course. Someone running a marathon in just over two hours is going to have a different experience from someone spending five or six hours out there.
For recreational runners, especially those finishing later in the morning or afternoon, the potential consequences of inadequate hydration is dangerous. The Melbourne Marathon took place during a day when temperatures increased into the mid-70s Fahrenheit, and participants reported struggling with the conditions.
Personally, I’m all for runners taking responsibility for their race-day preparation. We also need to hold race organizations responsible for delivering what participants paid for.
What Should Melbourne Marathon Organizers Change?
The biggest priority should be understanding why the shortages happened and preventing a repeat in 2027. That includes reviewing how much water was stocked at each location, whether supplies could be replenished, how overlapping races affected demand, and whether volunteers had enough support. Another concern is the finish-line experience. After running 26.2 miles, participants should be able to access water and medical assistance without navigating extended lines or congested passageways.
Runners invest a tremendous amount of money, training, and travel into these events, and expecting adequate water along the course is a pretty reasonable and normal request.
Conclusion
I love seeing running grow, and I love that more people are getting opportunities to participate in major races. However, there needs to be a limit to how much an event expands before its infrastructure catches up. The Melbourne Marathon organizers advertised a major international running experience, and for many participants, the reported water shortages became a defining part of their race…and in som cases ruined their race.
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Questions for you:
Did you run the 2026 Melbourne Marathon, and what was your experience with the water stations?
At what stage should a race stop accepting additional entries if it cannot adequately support the participants already registered?