EVERYONE is welcome to come and cheer Andy on! You don’t have to be part of an athletics club or a running to be a part of this Olympic Marathon Watch Party.
LOCATION: Lar Birpa Bendigo Athletics Complex, Retreat Rd, Flora Hill, 3550
EVENT SCHEDULE:
From 3:00pm: Doors Open
From 4:00pm: Marathon Race Start!
From 6:11pm – 6:15pm: Andy’s expected race finish time.
6:30pm / 6:45pm: Event concludes.
EVENT DETAILS:
- This will be a family-friendly event, all ages are welcome.
- Nibbles provided by Athletics Bendigo
- We have ample plastic chairs BUT if you’re looking for a more comfy seat please bring a beanbag or cushion!
- Please note that this is an alcohol-free event, including B.Y.O. alcohol.
PRIZES and COMPETITIONS
As part of the evening we will have some fun competitions such as ‘guess Andy’s time’, ‘guess which nations make the podium’ and a ‘lucky door prize’.
Prizes generously donated by the awesome folk at VERVE Running.
About Andy Buchanan
Andrew ‘Andy’ Buchanan’s rise to the top of the Australian distance running scene has been a long time coming, but for the proud Bendigo boy, his seemingly ‘overnight success’ has been years and many miles in the making.
As a two-time national champion, Andy is a well credentialled cross country athlete, but made his Australian debut on the road, as he tackled the marathon at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. He placed seventh in 2:15.40.
Over the next two years, twice at the Hamburg marathon he would run PBs of 2:10.20 (2023) and 2:08.58 (2024).
In July 2024 he lowered his half marathon best to 62:25 when winning at the Gold Coast.
Initially selected for the Paris Olympics as an AP (reserve) athlete, he was named on the team on July 26 following the withdrawal of injured marathoner Brett Robinson.
Born in Colac, but raised in Bendigo, it might be said that marathon running is in Andy’s blood, with both his parents completing all six of the world majors.
Outside of his running career, Buchanan is a specialist athletics coach at Bendigo South East Secondary College’s Athlete Development Program and Run2PB and co-owner of VERVE Running shop.
SPECIAL THANKS
PROUDLY PRESENTED BY ATHLETICS BENDIGO and VERVE RUNNING, with the support of Andy and the Buchanan family’s club – BENDIGO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS CLUB.
