Thank you for participating in the 13th Annual Run for the Young presented by Bridge Builders Youth Charity, happening on Sunday 29th November 2025.
The following guide has been split into 3 sections; pre-race, race day, and post-race to provide you with all the important information you need for the event.
Date: Sunday 29th November 2025
Venue: Mount Lilydale Mercy College – 120 Anderson Street, Lilydale, Victoria.
Start Times:
Registration opens at 5:30am.
The event concludes at approximately 1:00pm.
Online registrations close at 11:59pm on Saturday 28 November.
Entries after 28 November are considered on-the-day registrations. Please note race bibs are limited.
We encourage participants to consider their endurance capability at a younger age, and encourage the following minimum age guidelines:
Super Early Bird and Early Bird entries include free untracked mail out (Australia only).
All other entries must collect from The Running Company Lilydale or the Event Village.
If you did not select mail out, you must select to collect your bib:
Option 1 – instore pick up, at the Running Company Lilydale. (dates and times to be confirmed)
Option 2 – at registration, the day before the event (Saturday 22nd Nov) from 9am to 4pm. This is the preferred option, for all local residents.
Option 3 – at registration, on the morning of the event (Sun 23th Nov) Marathon, Marathon Newbie and Half Marathon entrants from 5:30am-7:30am. all other categories can pick up after 7:30am.
Transfers of entries are allowed and to do so you must login to your Race Roster account and click Transfer.
In doing so, participants must pay the difference if the new entry is more expensive than the original entry. You will not receive a refund for the portion of your entry fee if you downgrade, for example if you enter the marathon for $65 and then choose to downgrade to the Half Marathon which costs $55, you will forfeit the $10 difference.
There is a range of merchandise items available for purchase, from performance singlets to caps, to collapsible cups! You can view and purchase these items from our website.
The Run for the Young is a charity fundraiser for Bridge Builders Youth Charity and you can help raise more funds to support young people in need. If you would like to fundraise for the cause, click the link below and it will take you to our official fundraising page.
We are incredibly excited to partner with Mount Lilydale Mercy College again this year. It is a fabulous location, with direct access to the scenic Warburton Trail. The location is 120 Anderson Street, Lilydale, Victoria, 3140.
Free parking is available for participants in the designated Event Car Parking Area (which is located onsite). It is only a short walk to the Start line, which will be marked and directed by signage. See the site map for details. More details regarding parking will be made available closer to race day.
Registration will be open from 5:30am. If you have pre-registered (which is advised) simple wear your bib and proceed to the start/finish line. Registrations after the 30th September will need to be picked up on the day before the event, or on the day from the bib pick up point at registration on the day. We are introducing staggered start times due to the increase in participant numbers;
On the morning of the event you can organise to leave your gear at bag drop, to be collected at the end of your event.
• Individual items only may be placed within the bag, such as a change of clothes, light weight jacket, water bottle and post-race snacks.
• After your run you will be asked to show your bib to collect your bag.
• Any valuables such as wallets, keys or phones placed in these bags are at your
own risk. The event team will take care of your belongings, but no responsibility will be taken for valuables or clothing that are lost or damaged.
You can access all the course maps for each event here
The majority of all events are on a gravel trail. It is sturdy underfoot. If you have not done much running on this type of surface we would advise you do so prior to participating in Run for the Young. Participants in the 10km, 21km and 42km events get to experience the beautiful surrounds of the Warburton Trail, towards Woori Yallock while the 2.5km kids run and the 5km event also experience the Warburton Trail in the direction of Coldstream.
All drink stations will be approximately 3 to 4 kilometres apart, so there is ample hydration on course. Our friendly volunteers will have provisions for water and Tailwind Nutrition as the electrolyte source at each station. Tailwind Nutrition will be pre-mixed, flavour will be dependent. A reminder our drink stations are plastic cup free, so you will need to BYO reusable cup, or purchase one of our collapsible cups.
The Run for the Young has engaged an external service to provide first aid on the day. They will be positioned at 3 points – the start/finish line, at the turn around point for the Half Marathon and the turn around point for the Marathon. If you have any enquiries or need to discuss any special requirements with the first aid officers please connect with our team prior to your event starting on the morning.
All events are professionally timed. For those participants in the 42km marathon you will be able to use your results as qualifier for some other marathon events, including Two Bays. Please note: Results from the Run for the Young may not be eligible for qualifying in all marathon events, please check before hand.
You can be assured that this course has been measured and is accurate.
In order to receive an accurate time, runners should ensure:
• Bibs are clearly visible on the front of the torso and not covered (e.g. by a jumper).
• Bib tag is unaltered and unmodified – please do not bend or fold your bib.
The 42km Marathon event will be open for 6 hours approx, closing at 1pm.
We had an incredible line up of pacers in 2026, and we are thrilled to cover the same times again this year! Please see the list of pacers below;
| 21.1km | Male | 1:30 |
| 21.1km | Female | 1:30 |
| 21.1.km | Male | 1:40 |
| 21.1km | Female | 1:40 |
| 21.1.km | Male | 1:50 |
| 21.1km | Female | 1:50 |
| 21.1km | Male | 2:00 |
| 21.1km | Female | 2:00 |
| 21.1km | Male | 2:10 |
| 21.1km | Female | 2:10 |
| 21.1km | Male | 2:20 |
| 21.1km | Female | 2:20 |
| 21.1km | Male | 2:30 |
| 21.1km | Female | 2:30 |
| 21.1km | Male | 2:40 |
| 21.1km | Female | 2:40 |
| 21.1km | Male | 2:50 |
| 21.1km | Female | 2:50 |
| 21.1km | Male | 3:00 |
| 21.1km | Female | 3:00 |
| 42.2km | Male | 3:00 |
| 42.2km | Female | 3:00 |
| 42.2km | Male | 3:15 |
| 42.2km | Female | 3:15 |
| 42.2km | Male | 3:30 |
| 42.2km | Female | 3:30 |
| 42.2km | Male | 3:45 |
| 42.2km | Female | 3:45 |
| 42.2km | Male | 4:00 |
| 42.2km | Female | 4:00 |
| 42.2km | Male | 4:15 |
| 42.2km | Female | 4:15 |
| 42.2km | Male | 4:30 |
| 42.2km | Female | 4:30 |
| 42.2km | Male | 4:45 |
| 42.2km | Female | 4:45 |
| 42.2km | Male | 5:00 |
| 42.2km | Female | 5:00 |
| 42.2km | Male | 5:15 |
| 42.2km | Female | 5:15 |
| 42.2km | Male | 5:30 |
| 42.2km | Female | 5:30 |
| 42.2km | Male | 5:45 |
| 42.2km | Female | 5:45 |
There will be toilets located at the start/finish line. We are also supplying portable toilets at the start/finish line and at the half marathon turn around point on course, there are also public toilets at two locations along the Warburton Trail should you choose to use these at your own leisure. These are located in Mt Evelyn and Seville.
There will be multiple food/drinks vendors at the start/finish line where you can purchases food and beverages. We will also try our best to include vegetarian and vegan options. All participants are responsible for provisions of their own meals and snacks in the lead up to, during and post event. The Run for the Young team will have provisions of water and Tailwind at all drink stations as previously stated.
Use of headphones is permitted; however we would encourage you to keep the volume to a level where you are still able to take directions from our team. There are multiple road crossings and your safety is a high priority.
Our event is dog friendly! But please make sure they are on a lead at all times, and to clean up after your dog.
The use of prams and other equipment such as wheel chairs and walking poles are permitted across all categories. Please keep in mind that the course has a bit of undulation.
Our event is completely inclusive, and we encourage all people with varying abilities to participate. Entrants with a varied ability, including those with visual impairment are allowed to have a guide enter free of charge. Please use the code GUIDE when purchasing an entry for your guide. Please keep in mind that entrants enter the run at their own risk.
Your finisher medal will be waiting for you at the finish line. We know this is a very exciting part to concluding your run and our friendly vollies will be excited to hand this to you.
The Event Village will be situated near the start/finish line. This area will foster a range of exciting activities including sponsors marquees, food and beverages, giveaways, entertainment stage, and a cool down zone.
If you finish your event in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place please make your way to the podium for a photo. Be sure to collect your prize!! Podium photos will be taken approximately 30mins after the 3rd place runner has passed the finish line.
Professional photos from the event will be available a couple of days after the event. Photo’s will be made available on our website.
Results will be available online soon after the race.
