Coonawarra Running Festival - 2026 12.6km Run 2026

6-10 weeks is a solid window for a 7.83-mile race. Combine a weekly long run with threshold work so you can hold pace over the full distance.

This is a largely flat course, so most of your long runs can mirror that — flat and steady, building time on feet rather than hill strength.

Ease off mileage in the final week, keeping a couple of short, sharp race-pace efforts to stay fresh. Arrive at Coonawarra Memorial Park, South Australia fresh, energized, and primed — not fit, fresh.

Lock in your target pace using the interactive splits calculator below — no official pacers are confirmed for this event, so a pace band on your watch is the more reliable option.

Test your race-day fuel and hydration plan on your long training runs, not for the first time on race day — check the Race Day Checklist below for what's actually on this course.

A normal diet is fine. There is no need to carb-load for a race of this length.

Eat a carbohydrate-focused breakfast two to three hours before the start, and stick to something you've already tested in training rather than trying anything new.

No on-course fuel is needed at this distance for most runners — water stations are the usual provision.

A mix of carbohydrate and protein in the hour or so after finishing supports recovery.