Kangaroo Island Marathon takes next step
The founder of the Kangaroo Island Marathon has sold the event he started 10 years ago to an international travel agency.
Nathan Godfrey, current general manager of Football Australia, told InDaily he had been considering a handover for over a year.
“But I certainly wanted to make sure that I found the right partner,” he said.
The business has now been acquired by Marathon Tours & Travel, an international tour operator that offers trips to marathons and other events around the world, including the Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon.
Godfrey said he had worked with the company previously and had travelled to Antarctica in its Seven Continents Adventure Running Series.
“They have incredible pedigree, and obviously have experience delivering world-class running experiences all around the world,” he said.
“I experienced that as a runner, and I certainly was confident they were the right partners to continue to work with us and grow Kangaroo Island [Marathon].”
From the United States, William Hirokawa is one of few people who took on the “Aussie Challenge” in 2024 – running the Kangaroo Island and Sydney marathons on consecutive weekends. Photo: 3 Lens PhotographyGodfrey said the Kangaroo Island Marathon will join Marathon Tours & Travel’s seven-continent adventure running series.
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“The Kangaroo Island Marathon will sit alongside events in Patagonia, Madagascar, Greenland,” he said.
“For runners wanting to complete the Seven Continents, Kangaroo Island will be that opportunity for them to tick the Oceania box.”
The acquisition was announced early this year, with the business bringing more than 50 participants from the United States to the 2024 marathon held on September 8.
“That gives you a little glimpse of what’s possible in the future,” Godfrey said.
“For me, it was more around being able to ensure that they could leverage their global database and bring visitors to South Australia, and to Kangaroo Island. That’s the most exciting thing for me.”
Marathon Tours & Travel president Jeff Adams said the company was “delighted to join forces with Nathan and his team”.
“The Kangaroo Island Marathon course offers a unique combination of inspiring geographic landmarks and rugged beauty, of varying terrain, and ideal for adventure runners that are seeking an authentic Australian experience,” he said.
“Nathan and his team have done a superb job growing the event over the past decade, and we’re fully committed to building on these foundations.”
Piper Binstead’s mother Sherilee, pictured behind her, is the only runner to have participated in every Kangaroo Island Marathon since 2015. Photo: 3 Lens PhotographyWhen Godfrey founded the Kangaroo Island Marathon in 2015 he was working on his personal goal to run seven marathons on seven continents over 10 years.
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“I started to deviate away from running traditional city-based marathons and started to search for adventure-based marathons,” he said.
“I kept having these incredible experiences where I would travel overseas and would connect with like-minded people and have these really authentic experiences.
“For example, running the Inca Trail Marathon in Machu Pichu in Peru, running around a lake in Kawaguchi in Japan, running through a gaming reserve just out of Johannesburg in South Africa.
“I had all these amazing experiences and I kept coming back and I kept kind of challenging myself about, what can we offer in Australia, or in South Australia, that will attract international runners.”
Despite his international marathon experience, Godfrey admits that he is yet to run the Kangaroo Island Marathon himself, having been tied up in the event’s delivery.
He said that just the name of Kangaroo Island lent itself to attracting international visitors.
“Once I visited the island and spent some time down there, I kind of fell in love with it and realised that there was so much to offer,’ he said.
Over its decade in business, Kangaroo Island Marathon has received support from the Department of Environment and Water, as well as the Kangaroo Island Tourism Alliance, South Australian Tourism Commission, Kangaroo Island Oats, and Sealink Travel Group.
At the South Australian Tourism awards in 2021, the event was recognised for its resilience following the 2019-2020 bushfires.
Nathan Godfrey. Photo: 3 Lens PhotographyGodfrey said the decision to sell was difficult “in some ways”, due to what has grown to be a “really strong emotional connection to the island”.
“My wife and I got married there a few years ago, and we’ve taken our kids down there and had family holidays down there. It means so much to us,” he said.
“But in saying that, I’ve got a young family and I’ve got a very busy day job at Football Australia, so I have other commitments.
“I just felt like it was the right time, after our 10th anniversary.”
Godfrey said he was confident in the event’s future, as he prepares to begin an ambassador role with Marathon Tours & Travel, representing the marathon at international expos.
