Goulburn Running Festival 2026 presented by Goulburn Soldiers Club 5K 2026

4-8 weeks is enough for a 5K, whether it's your first or you're chasing a PB. Short, sharp interval and tempo sessions matter more here than overall mileage.

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 few days, keeping a short, sharp race-pace effort or two to stay sharp. Arrive at Riverside Park - Inclusive Playground, Quiberon Way, Goulburn NSW, 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.