Event Rules

1. Eligibility & Participation 

• The TCS Sydney Marathon is conducted in accordance with the applicable World Athletics rules and regulations, World Para Athletics rules and regulations where applicable, and these TCS Sydney Marathon Race Rules. Participants must comply with all reasonable directions issued by race officials, event staff, medical personnel, police and other authorised authorities.

• You must be 18 years or older on race day to enter the Marathon (42.195km).

• No prams, scooters, skateboards, wheeled mobility scooters, handcycles or crank cycles are permitted.

• Push day wheelchairs are permitted. Event Organisers will assign specific starting groups to ensure participants in wheelchairs are starting from the appropriate location. 

• Racing wheelchairs are restricted to qualified elite athletes and athletes with a qualifying time of sub-2hrs 45mins (qualifying period being 1 year before event registration date). Entries are subject to availability and are only accepted through an application process.

• The sale, exchange, or transfer of event entries or bib numbers is strictly prohibited. Any individuals involved may be disqualified and/or barred from participating in future events.

• Any non-registered participants who duplicate, modify or produce their own bib for participation will be banned from future events.

• All participants must provide accurate information, including age, gender, and emergency contact information when registering for an event. Event organisers reserve the right to cancel any entry with false information without refund at any time.

 

2. Conduct & Behaviour 

• Participants must behave respectfully and professionally throughout the event. This includes strictly prohibiting alcohol consumption, public urination or defecation (outside of designated toilet facilities), and obstructing other participants on or near the course. Aggression towards staff and volunteers will not be tolerated. Any breach of this code of conduct will result in disqualification and removal from the event.

• Only registered participants and authorised event staff are permitted on the race course. Unregistered individuals may not accompany participants or provide assistance, refreshments, photography or videography during the event without prior approval from event management. Anyone not wearing an official event bib will be asked to leave the course.

• Participants must not receive pacing, physical assistance, refreshments or other race assistance from an unregistered person on the course unless specifically authorised by the Event Organiser. Approved guide runners or other approved assistance arrangements for participants with a disability are permitted where authorised by the Event Organiser.

• Participants are prohibited from engaging in behaviour or activities that could be considered hazardous to others on course, especially through the use of non-essential running equipment. 

• Due to safety concerns, the TCS Sydney Marathon discourages the use of phones and cameras on course. If a participant utilises a recording device other than a mobile phone, it must be no larger than a GoPro and must be handheld or affixed to the participant's head or torso. Selfie sticks, tripods and drones are strictly prohibited. No one may enter the course to film for any reason without prior authorisation from the TCS Sydney Marathon. Any participant using a recording device who interferes with or poses a hazard to other participants –including by utilising an unauthorised film or photography crew – may be disqualified. 

• Offensive conduct or clothing is strictly prohibited. This includes:

  • Clothing or signage with obscene, discriminatory, or politically offensive messages.

  • Any behaviour or messaging that could be deemed divisive, provocative, or inappropriate for a public, family-friendly event. 

• Participants violating this rule may be disqualified, removed from the course at the discretion of race officials, and/or banned from future events.

• Participants must dispose of all waste, including gel wrappers and cups on course in the designated bins provided. Deliberate littering on the course is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply may result in time penalties or disqualification at the discretion of race officials.

 

3. Timing, Cut-Offs and Redirection 

• The marathon has a 7-hour time limit (starting from the closure of the start window). Runners must finish by the cut-off time to be considered official finishers. Note that the start window and / or the cut-off times may vary due to safety reasons.  

• Any participant that skips part of the course will be disqualified. More information on course cut-offs will be available on the TCS Sydney Marathon website closer to event day.

 

4. Equipment & Accessibility 

• No motorised or geared assistance devices (e.g. e-scooters, powered wheelchairs) allowed.

• Wheelchair athletes must complete the course under their own power. They may not receive assistance or be pushed by other participants.

• Subject to event organisers approval, non-motorised assistive devices such as walkers or crutches may be used by athletes with a disability. Please send us an email at accessibility@sydneymarathon.com with an image and description of your device.

• Only service animals are permitted on course.

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5. Start Waves & Bib Collection 

• Participants are assigned to a start group based on valid registration details and cannot change waves after allocation.

• Registered participants must collect race bibs in advance by showing valid government-issued photo ID that matches the name on their registration. Bib swapping is not allowed.

 

6. Participant Safety 

• Participants are responsible for understanding and recognising all event signage and symbols, including those related to maps, facilities, and directional guidance.

• Authorised medical personnel may examine any participant who appears to be in distress. If, in their professional judgment, continued participation could compromise the individual's health or safety, they may remove the participant from the event. 

• Participants must immediately withdraw from the race if instructed to do so by event officials, medical staff, or relevant authorities, including police or fire personnel.

• Participants should familiarise themselves with the Event Alert System (EAS) and adjust their Event plans accordingly.

• The TCS Sydney Marathon may delay, suspend, shorten, redirect or stop the race where required for participant safety, weather, emergency, security, medical, traffic or other operational reasons. Participants must immediately comply with instructions issued by race officials or relevant authorities.

 

Amendments / reservations / acknowledgements 

• Event officials reserve the right to modify, supplement or waive all or part of the Event rules at any time.

• Participants shall be bound by any modification or supplement of the Event rules published prior to the Event.

• In addition to the violations listed above, the TCS Sydney Marathon may assess penalties for other violations not listed in these Event Rules. Individuals may be disqualified from race results and may be banned from future events. The TCS Sydney Marathon reserves the right to reject any entry, disqualify an individual or assess a ban from future events.

• Failure to follow these Event rules, as may be amended, will result in immediate disqualification, loss of prizes and removal from official results.