The ASB George Street Mile is coming to Dunedin
Meet the ASB George Street Mile, a brand-new event launching as part of the Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon weekend on Saturday 12 September 2026.
We’re turning one of New Zealand’s most iconic streets into a race course for an afternoon. The route starts and finishes in the Octagon, heading out on George Street, past the shops, the cafes, the bars, the buildings that make Dunedin city special, before turning and coming back to the finish line in the heart of the city. Races run from 4pm to 6pm, building through the afternoon from the youngest competitors to the fastest, with the NZ Championship Mile closing out the programme in the middle of town!
What makes a street mile special isn’t just the racing. It’s the proximity. You can stand on the footpath cheering on the kids crossing the finish line in the Octagon, and ten minutes later watch the country’s best milers fly past.
The ASB George Street Mile has been designed from the ground up to be a running event for everyone, four events across the programme, with something genuine to offer whether you’re racing for a national title or a shakeout ahead of your big day on Sunday.
Event director, Libby McGee said, “We’re looking forward to having people who have never considered themselves runners show up, pin on a number, and cross a finish line in the Octagon.”
Enterprise Dunedin Destination Manager (Interim) Teresa Fogarty says this addition to the Dunedin Marathon programme further embeds the event as a celebration of what makes the city special.
“Events like the Marathon bring vibrancy, visitors, and economic benefits for Dunedin. This new element broadens its appeal, encouraging more people, of varying ages and abilities, to take part while drawing more supporters for this fantastic event.
“We are seeing growing demand for destinations that offer unique outdoor experiences. The George Street Mile gives participants a chance to engage with our outstanding urban environments in new and unexpected ways just as the Marathon showcases the spectacular natural environment right on the doorstep of the CBD.
“It’s also a fantastic way to showcase our redeveloped main street and how we can flexibly activate it for events such as this.”
The ASB George Street Mile is made possible with the support of ASB and their partnership with Athletics New Zealand. Bringing together first-time participants, kids, local communities and elite athletes, the event is a powerful example of the grassroots-to-elite pathway that sits at the centre of ASB’s new sponsorship with Athletics New Zealand.
The Social Mile
The George Street Mile takes place the evening before the Emersons Dunedin Marathon, and if you’re already in the city for Sunday’s race, the Social Mile is the ideal way to spend your Saturday afternoon. Enter at a discounted rate, use it as a shake-out run to settle the nerves and warm up the legs, and finish the day in the Octagon knowing you’ve already got a race under your belt before the main event. Run it with friends. Run it with your flatmates. Run it as your first race ever.
The Uni Mile
Dunedin is a university city. It is arguably the defining thing about it. And the University Mile is the event that puts that front and centre. George Street connects the University of Otago to the Octagon, the two poles of student life in this city, and racing that connection is about as Dunedin as it gets. Whether you’re a club runner with a time in mind, or a student who’s never pinned on a race number but fancies a crack at something new, the University Mile is your race. The entry barrier is low. The atmosphere won’t be.
The Kids Mile
Kids get the full ASB George Street Mile treatment, same course, same finish line, same Octagon crowd. Because there’s nothing quite like watching a seven-year-old sprint the last hundred metres with everything they’ve got.
The NZ Championship Road Miles
New Zealand’s fastest milers contest the NZ Championship title on the same course as everyone else. If you’ve wrapped up your race earlier in the afternoon, it will be great viewing to see who takes out the title!
Championship distances will be held over senior, age group, and masters grades.
The event is also supported by Dunedin City Council, Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon, and Athletics Otago.
Saturday 12 September 2026 | 4pm–6pm | The Octagon, Dunedin