Event Overview

THE FEEL GOOD ULTRA – this is ultra trail running at its best!

Saturday 13 September 2025

Imagine standing at the foot of some of Australia’s tallest coastal cliffs with the low tide of the Southern Ocean lapping at your feet and ahead of you lies a magical 100km and 50km journey along Victoria’s surf coast and wildflower hinterland.

With the training behind you and celebration of race day ahead of you – this will be a journey that will change your life.

Set yourself the goal, achieve something great and gain that post race satisfaction from doing something awesome with friends.

We welcome you to be part of all this and more in 2025!

I had a great time at the Surf Coast Century 50km. Such a varied running experience from wet clay to hard packed surfaces. Great scenery along the way and lots of conversations with other participants.
(Shane, 2022 Participant)

The most feel good event I have experienced in a long time! The vibes were electric. I loved every minute! (Stephanie, 2021 Participant)

DISTANCE:

  • 100km solo ultra marathon – 2024 AURA Long Course Trail National Championships
  • 50km solo ultra marathon – Legs 1 & 2 of the 100km course (reinstated in 2024)
  • 100km relay for teams of 2, 3 or 4

DATE:

Saturday 13 September 2025

LOCATION:

Start / Finish in Anglesea, Victoria, on the Great Ocean Road

ENTRIES (open in March):

WHO:

Australia’s elite and experienced runners (the course is fast!), amateur runners, and those tackling their first ultra marathon.

Returning for the second time at the Surf Coast Century was beautiful, challenging, friendly and an absolute delight to be part of. Nothing compares to running along the beach in the dark with a trail of headlights in front and behind you. (Mandy, 2019 Participant)

Event Features:

We’re super excited about the event and have a range of exciting features to roll out again – making it another great Century! These include:

Love this event!  The trails are varied, the coastal scenery is amazing, the support from the volunteers and members of the public is great; right down to the kids standing at the edge of the course waiting for high-fives.  Very well organised event. (Kathy, 2019 Participant)

Should you take part on this event? Absolutely! Fantastic organisation, super-friendly training runs and race, in an amazing setting with stunning views and a good mix of running environments. What else do you need? (George, 2018 competitor)

The course

If the course can be summed up in two words it would be ‘spectacular’ and ‘diverse’. There’s clifftop trails providing endless ocean views. There’s single track weaving hinterland bush, wild flowers, waterfalls, lighthouses, beaches and amidst jaw-dropping landscapes.

We have stopped at nothing to secure the best possible course for this race. And we’ve included all the secret spots that few people know about since the race is in our own backyard (Rapid Ascent is based in Torquay).

The course provides plenty of variety to keep you interested and excited. Not to mention easy access for spectators and support crews and professional support from event officials.

Do it solo or in a relay team

100KM – solo and relay teams

The 100km format can completed by individuals and relay teams.

  • Individuals: one person completing the full 100km
  • Relay teams of 2*: two people who share the four legs between them, interchanging only at the designated transition areas. Each runner may do consecutive legs, or break it up and do alternate legs and then hand over to their team mate who does a leg who then hands back and so forth.
  • Relay teams of 3 or 4*: this may be four people who each do one leg, or a team of 3 where one person does 2 legs and the others do 1 leg each. 

*Can your relay team go under 7 hours? You could WIN $2000 CASH, details HERE

50KM – solo only

Individual runners only (no relay teams for the 50km). In 2025, the 50km Half Century course will be held over the FIRST HALF of the 100km course, over Leg 1 and Leg 2 – last used in 2016 and reinstated in 2024.

Kids Run (2.5km)

A 2.5km run around the Anglesea Beach and River for kids on Sunday morning. Well over 100+ enthusiastic kids take part in this spectacle event that gives our junior runners aged up to 12 years the chance have a go. Click Here for KIDS RUN details.

Boat Ramp Battle

Part of Celebration Sunday, held just after Presentations. The Boat Ramp Battle replaced the Concrete Shoe Award in 2021.

Read more about it HERE and watch the Video below:

Ideal event for first timers

The Surf Coast Century is recognised as the ideal event for runners tackling their first ultra marathon. We take pleasure in providing a whole range of information and resources to help you get started, such as:

  • Training programs and free advice from a highly regarded coaches
  • Free guided training runs over the entire course in the lead up to the race
  • Blog stories and testimonials from other ultra-new-comers to provide you with plenty of inspiration and encouragement
  • Gear advice and some fun FAQ’s to help answer all those ‘how do I’ questions.
  • Monthly blog updates from someone else who’s also training for their first ultra marathon so you can follow along together

Check out our ‘First Timers’ page for all the information..

 “I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing experience at the Surf Coast Century! I was the very last runner to cross the finish line at 1:30 am, and it was just a great event! It was my first 100 km race and I really enjoyed it. I loved the running, the landscape, the athmosphere… just everything about it! Thank you for putting up a great event!” Anna (100km Solo runner 2015)

ITRA  /  UTMB qualifying race

The Surf Coast Century individual races are registered with the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and will provide successful runners with ITRA points (to help runners qualify for large international races). Both the 50km and 100km solo race are UTMB World Series Qualifying events.

100km solo

  • ITRA rating: 4 Endurance Points & 2 Mountain Points

50km solo

  • ITRA rating: 2 Endurance Points & 2 Mountain Points


For further information on what the ITRA points mean click here.
For more information on the UTMB (Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc) click here, and the UTMB World Series qualification races and indexation click here.

 Western States Endurance Run Qualifying Race

Runners who finish the Surf Coast Century 100km course as a solo runner under 16hrs may use their result as their qualifying race for the Western States Endurance Run (100 mile) ballot. 

The Western States 100 is the world’s oldest 100mile trail races and one of the world’s most prestigious running events. To be one of only of only 6 races in the Southern Hemisphere to receive this commendation is a great honour.

Highlights reels

2021 Surf Coast Century highlights reel

2020 Surf Coast Century highlights reel

2018 Surf Coast Century highlights

The ‘official’ video from the 2018 that captures the landscapes and the people who completed this iconic event.

The 100km journey

A terrific 9min narrative made by Elliana Saltalamacchia made for her university studies that follows the journey of 3 different runners as tackle the 100km event.

2015 race summary 

Check out this truly beautiful video documenting the 2015 Surf Coast Century journey, compiled by Adventure Types. For those who haven’t been to the event, this will provide a great insight into what it’s all about. Enjoy!

Here is another beautiful documentary made in 2014 by Norm Douglas that really captures some of the people and personalities behind the event.