The Townsville Marathon was started by a group of hardcore enthusiasts in 1972, who founded the “Townsville Marathon Club.” The name was a little exclusive and elitist so they toned it down somewhat to become “The Townsville Road Runners” which we all know and love today. The club meets and runs socially and competitively every Saturday of the year, and from its enthusiastic beginnings in 1972 has held the Townsville Marathon every year since-making the marathon event the second longest running annual Marathon on the Australian calendar.