Over 20 athletes from the Warrnambool Athletics Club alone are running at the annual event, which winds its way through the streets of Victoria's capital city and finishes at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Warrnambool Athletics Club member Ben Wallis, who is running in the marathon, said he expected to see more south-west residents not associated with the club taking part.

Fellow members Sean O'Keefe, Craig Bramley, Geraldine Mitchell, Regina Cassidy and Arita Singh will attempt their first marathons at the event.

While they run around for the first time, Jarrod Mast and Kerry Clapham will be aiming to complete their 10^th.

Wallis was in awe of Mast and Clapham's achievement.

"It's a big number and you get a special reward for doing it. 42ks is a long way and to do 10 of them is pretty awesome," he said.

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Kellie Mentha (seventh time) Richard Wade (fifth), Pat O'Keeffe, Chloe Smith (fourth), Leish Bermudez (second), Rachel Ayres, Sam Edney and Wallis are attempting the marathon again.

The courier said he was excited for what he described as running's "grand final".

"I'm always excited to have a bit of a run at these events," he said. "I'm just hoping to run a solid race with a good time at the end."

Jason Dart, Mark Gavin, Tracey Kol and David Wallace will run in the half-marathon. Kristen Maloney and Kris Ten will take on the 10-kilometre run while Laura Aitchison will run the five-kilometre.

Wallis wished every athlete from the region the best of luck in their respective events.

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