It’s been sitting on your bucket list for years and, rather generously, you’ve been giving yourself the excuse that they’re all held too far away.

Not any more.

Launceston is set to host its first marathon in recent memory this year, with race director John Claridge announcing plans to hold the inaugural event on September 24.

Claridge said organisers were hoping to attract about 500 entries for the event’s first year.

“The response I’ve had from it so far has been awesome, everyone is loving the idea and Launny needs one,” he said.  

“It’s a nice time after the Launny 10 so everyone can train for that then and continue on, it gives them something else to aim for and the same with Ross (Marathon), we’ll be able to promote Ross back the other way.” 

The event will include marathon, half-marathon and quarter-marathon races around a 10.5km loop.  

Claridge said he was in the process of choosing between six different courses around Inveresk and Heritage Forest. 

“The intention is to start at the roundhouse, we’ll use the levee bank and a fair portion of Heritage Forest, and then we’re going to use the river loop over Black Bridge as well so you get a bit of a view of the river.

“I think it’s going to be really good for spectators, and there’ll be plenty of family stuff.”

For more information visit the Launceston Marathon Facebook page.