Organisers of the Great Barrier Reef Marathon are ‘delighted’ after the event was listed as #3 on the Top 10 Regional Marathons in Australia by Australian Marathon Reviews (AMR). 

Organised by Port Douglas Events Management (PDEM), the marathon's course includes Four Mile Beach and shows off Port Douglas scenery.

AMR editor John Mouland said the Douglas-based event had impressed runners with its scenic surroundings, impeccable organisation and friendly staff. 

Mr Mouland said the event also acted as a tourism draw for the entire region. 

“What we’re hearing back from a lot of our national runners that come up for it is not only are they keen for the race but they’re also planning an extensive holiday in Port Douglas and Far North Queensland around it,” he said.

“The organisers of the Great Barrier Reef Marathon should be commended for delivering a race that draws in runners from all over the country to the region, not just to run but also enjoy everything Port Douglas has to offer.”

PDEM sales and marketing manager Jess Coleman at said the listing was ‘fantastic for the event and fantastic for the entire town’ and would help boost the numbers of runners in the next marathon and the Port Douglas tourism market in general.

“The whole reason for the event is to help showcase our destination and holding it in November is designed to increase visitation at a time when the numbers generally drop,” she said. 

“This recognition just adds to our event’s credibility, helping us become the ‘must do’ event on the sporting calendar - runners, more than any other athlete choose their holiday destination based on where they next want to run.

“Having us rank so highly on this list will mean that people will see it as a destination list to run in an event, then tick it off, like a bucket list for running.” 

The marathon is rapidly increasing in popularity, with runner numbers in 2013 double that of when it was first established in 2011 and organisers now aiming for a total of between 1500 and 2000 participants this year.

PDEM staff have also recently returned from promoting the event in the Gold Coast and Melbourne to more than 40,000 runners and will head to the Townsville Marathon on Friday to continue spreading the word. 

Ms Coleman said the event was an excellent way to draw prime tourist demographics to Port Douglas. 

“It is this type of people we are targeting at the various expos we attend, these people are generally empty-nesters with money to spend an eagerness to travel and see the sights - and Port Douglas does it best.”

Mr Mouland added the marathon had only very narrowly been edged out for second place and as it increased in profile and popularity could very well find itself in a higher position on the list next year.

The listing page on AMR is available here.