Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Running · Other Distances
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic 2026
- Race day
- Saturday, 12 September 2026
- Location
- Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2), Australia
- Distance
- 8.39 mi / 13.5 km
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic: 12 September 2026, 8.39 miles. Entry, route, a pace chart and the race-day forecast.
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Race Timeline
2 days to go
Mileage is right down. Focus on sleep, hydration, and getting your kit and travel plan sorted rather than any last-minute training.
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic 2026: quick answers
When is Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic 2026?
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic 2026 takes place on Saturday, 12 September 2026, starting at 8:45am.
What time does Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic start?
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic starts at 8:45am from Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2).
Where does Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic start?
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic starts at Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2). The organiser hasn't published a finish location.
How many miles is Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic?
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic is 8.39 miles (13.5km).
How much does Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic cost to enter?
From $20 (see registration for each distance) — confirm the current price on the organiser's own site before entering.
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Saturday, 12 September 2026
- Distance
- 8.39 miles / 13.5km
- Location
- Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2), Australia
- Start Point
- Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2)
- Start time
- 8:45am
- Surface
- Mixed
Not published by the organiser at the time of writing: finish point, cut-off time, age requirement, tracking app. Verus records these as unconfirmed rather than estimating them — check the official race website closer to race day.
Direct Entry Summary
From $20 (see registration for each distance) — confirm the current price on the organiser's own site before entering.
Ballot Policy
No ballot — entry is direct through SingleTrack Events.
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Race Day Weather
Fetching today's forecast for race day…
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Route Map & Elevation Profile
Starting at Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2). The organiser hasn't published a finish location. Total elevation gain is not published for this event, and Verus does not estimate one.
Is Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic flat?
No official elevation figure is published for this course, so Verus doesn't state one. The organiser describes the going as: mixed.
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Course Profile
Elevation change not published for this event.
Tap a point on the course for details.
Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2)
Start line.
Where Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic starts and finishes
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic starts at Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2). We haven't been able to place those on a map accurately enough to show one — a pin in the wrong place is worse than no pin.
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on.
Full Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Route Breakdown
The Puffing Billy Running Festival offers a unique blend of history and adventure. Run through the lush Dandenong Ranges, with the iconic Puffing Billy steam train as your competitor. The 13.5km Classic route runs from Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, offering a mix of forest trails and scenic roads. The shorter races take place at Emerald Lake Park, surrounded by beautiful lake views and family-friendly activities.
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Pace Calculator & Splits
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Pace Calculator
Enter a target finish time to see your pace and projected splits.
Average pace / mile
28:36
Average pace / km
17:46
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Pace Chart
Split markers calculated for standard checkpoints — no official pacers are confirmed for this event.
| Target | Pace /mi | Pace /km | 5K | 10K | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 21:27 | 13:20 | 1:06:39 | 2:13:19 | 3:00:00 |
| 3:15 | 23:15 | 14:27 | 1:12:13 | 2:24:25 | 3:15:00 |
| 3:30 | 25:02 | 15:33 | 1:17:46 | 2:35:32 | 3:30:00 |
| 3:45 | 26:49 | 16:40 | 1:23:19 | 2:46:38 | 3:45:00 |
| 4:00 | 28:36 | 17:46 | 1:28:52 | 2:57:45 | 4:00:00 |
| 4:15 | 30:24 | 18:53 | 1:34:26 | 3:08:51 | 4:15:00 |
| 4:30 | 32:11 | 20:00 | 1:39:59 | 3:19:58 | 4:30:00 |
| 4:45 | 33:58 | 21:06 | 1:45:32 | 3:31:04 | 4:45:00 |
| 5:00 | 35:45 | 22:13 | 1:51:06 | 3:42:11 | 5:00:00 |
| 5:30 | 39:20 | 24:26 | 2:02:12 | 4:04:24 | 5:30:00 |
| 6:00 | 42:54 | 26:40 | 2:13:19 | 4:26:37 | 6:00:00 |
| 6:30 | 46:29 | 28:53 | 2:24:25 | 4:48:50 | 6:30:00 |
| 7:00 | 50:04 | 31:06 | 2:35:32 | 5:11:03 | 7:00:00 |
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Finish Time Estimator
Enter a recent 5K, 10K or Half Marathon time to estimate your Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic finish time.
Your 5K time
Estimated Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic finish
1:11:39
An estimate only, based on Pete Riegel's race-time prediction formula. Real marathon performance depends on endurance, training specificity, pacing and race-day conditions — not just your speed over a shorter distance.
Training for a different distance? Try the full pace calculator, race time predictor or pace chart.
Got your target time? Save it to your profile.
Tag Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic, set your goal pace, and let Verus track your countdown, training and fundraising in one place.
Start Your Verus JourneyPuffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Race Day Checklist
Tap items to mark off your race-day readiness.
- Race number attached, and any timing chip fitted per your race pack instructions
- Weather-appropriate kit, plus something warm and disposable to discard before the start
- A plan for reaching Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2)
- A meeting point agreed with family and friends for after the race
Training Strategy for Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic
6-10 weeks is a solid window for a 8.39-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 Emerald Lake Park, Emerald VIC (Day 1); Belgrave to Emerald Lake Park, VIC (Day 2) 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.
8.39-Mile Nutrition & Fueling Plan
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.
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Charity Places 2026
No formal charity-place scheme published — runners commonly fundraise for a charity of their own choosing.
Lead with your personal story — explain why the charity matters to you. Personal connection generates 3x more support than a generic link broadcast.
Share key training milestones on Instagram (first 10-miler, peak week, race week) with your fundraising link in bio. Publicly thanking donors prompts secondary gifts!
Running Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic for charity?
Link your JustGiving page to Verus and show up right here alongside other Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic fundraisers — goal, progress and story, all in one place.
Add Your Fundraiser to VerusTravel & Logistics
The organiser publishes road closures for this race — see https://puffingbillyrunningfestival.com.au/travel/road-closures/
Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know for race weekend.
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Race details independently compiled and fact-checked by Tommo against the official Puffing Billy Running Festival 13.5km Classic site , last verified August 2026. Always confirm official timings and policies directly prior to race day.