Your questions answered
Everything you need to know about the event and IMF, all in one place.
Photo: Our I-CAN Program celebrates progress with a Colour Fun Run.
Getting Started
What is the IMF Virtual Run?
A virtual run fundraising challenge that you can complete anywhere, anytime during the event period. Connect your Garmin, Strava and other fitness apps, or log your activity manually. As you progress, you'll unlock stages of a personalised six-part virtual journey inspired by the Indigenous Marathon Project squad's experience.
How much does it cost to register?
The entry fee is $50 per participant. This includes your finisher medal and postage upon completion of your challenge. Better still, your entry fee is counted towards your fundraising total.
Where and when is the IMF Virtual Run?
The event will run from 1 - 30 September. It's a virtual event, meaning you can complete it anywhere, anytime during the event period.
What do I have to do?
Register, create a team, invite your friends, family and colleagues to raise funds and help IMF nurture First Nations leaders. In September go the distance, smash your goal, hit your fundraising target and leave your limits behind.
Can I swim or cycle the IMF Virtual Run?
While we have designed the event around running, walking and rolling, everyone is welcome to participate regardless of the type of exercise they are doing. When you register, pick a goal distance that is appropriate for your exercise type.
How do I share my page to my friends and family?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select Ask for Support
- Scroll down to share and invite where you can share your page to other networks or email your contacts
Registration
How do I join a team?
During registration, you will be able to search for the team you'd like to join.
Or, once registered, search for the team you'd like to join, and simply click on the 'Join Us' button on the team page while logged in to your own account. This will automatically connect you to the team.
If a team is set up as invite only, you will need to contact the Team Captain and request that they send you an invite to join their team.
How do I reset my password?
Login to your the IMF Virtual Run account and head to your dashboard. Click on ‘My account’ and select ‘Reset Password’.
How do I update my fundraising and donations page?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner.
- Select Edit My Page
- Then update your fundraising details
How do I set up my profile and update my fundraising fitness goals?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select Edit My Page
- The image next to your name has a camera below. Click on it to upload a profile photo
- Under the profile photo, there is a second camera image which you can use to upload a background image
- Scroll down to update your fundraising goal and fitness activity
Fundraising
Where do the funds go that I raise?
The IMF Virtual Run is managed by The Indigenous Marathon Foundation, with all proceeds being directed to the Foundation to fund our five programs running around Australia.
Do I get rewarded for my fundraising?
Yes! The more you raise in support of our work nurturing First Nations leaders, the more rewards you earn!
Raise $150 and unlock a pair of our high performance Running Socks.
Raise $250 and unlock one of our IMF Running Visors + previous reward.
Raise $400 and unlock one of our new IMF Caps + previous rewards.
Raise $550 and unlock arn one of our new IMF Beanies + previous rewards.
Raise $750 and unlock the ASICS Every Step Matters Running Shirt + previous rewards.
How do I update my fundraising goal?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select Edit My Page
- Scroll down to update your fundraising goal
How do I thank my donors?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select My Donations
- Scroll down to you see the donations you have received
- Select if you want to thank your donors via Facebook or email
- A template will appear which you can use as is or amend
My Fitness Activitity
How do I log my kilometres online?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select Log My KMs
- Scroll down to log your KM and manual add in your activity
Can I start recording my kilometers in the lead up to September?
You certainly can record any training kms! But we will reset your kilometres to zero on 1 September 2026 for the official start of the challenge.
How do I update my fitness goals?
- Login
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner
- Select Log My KMs
- Scroll down to update your fitness goal
Teams and workplaces
How do I create a team and invite team members?
If you are not yet registered
- Click on the register button at the top of the homepage
- During the registration process you will be asked if you want to create a team.
If you are already registered, Login
- Select CREATE TEAM on your dashboard and here you can complete setting up your team
- Follow the prompts to set up your team.
- Upon completion of setting up your team you’ll receive your team URL which you can email and share on socials to recruit team members.
How can my workplace/organisation get involved?
There are so many ways to be involved in the IMF Virtual Run. Creating a team is the easiest way to get others involved. You can run before work, organise a walking meeting, walk at lunchtime or go for a sunset stroll – whatever suits you and your colleagues best. You can also challenge your clients, suppliers and competitors at other companies – there’s nothing like some friendly competition to spice things up!
If you want to register an organisation rather than a team please get in touch with us at info@imf.org.au
The Indigenous Marathon Foundation
What is the Indigenous Marathon Foundation?
The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) is a health promotion charity (DGR1 status), which uses running and walking as a platform to celebrate First Nations achievement. At IMF, our work is underpinned by the ethos that running and walking is a vehicle for addressing chronic health conditions, personal growth, building leadership qualities, and community good.
Importantly, our work and impact go beyond having the strength, resilience and discipline to ‘run a marathon’. It’s about setting a high standard. It’s about arming the people who participate in our five key programs with the tools to create ripple effects of change within themselves, within families, and within the communities in which they live.
Learn more about the Foundation here
Learn more about the Foundation here
Why running?
Running is simple, accessible, and powerful. It requires just one foot in front of the other — but it’s tough. It inspires. It shows results. It’s physically exhausting. It’s mentally and emotionally recharging. While our programs now extend beyond running to incorporate physical literacy and education, our focus is on achieving better health outcomes for First Nations peoples and providing opportunities for reconciliation.
What Programs does the Foundation deliver?
At IMF, we deliver five proven programs:
The Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) is our flagship program. Each year, 12 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples aged between 18-30 are selected to train for the biggest marathon in the world in November, the TCS New York City Marathon.
I-CAN (Indigenous Communities, Activity and Nutrition) is an eight-week fun, culturally appropriate and educational health and fitness program delivered in remote primary schools and communities across Australia, designed to encourage school attendance and promote healthy lifestyle choices.
IMF RAW (Running and Walking) provides a free, inclusive and safe program for running and walking across Australia. Driven by IMP graduates and IMF Run Leaders, IMF RAW inspires healthier lives through movement and social connection.
The IMF Warrior Project uses running to help break cycles of offending and reoffending by establishing running clubs and an education program within prisons and detention centers and supporting participants post release to run.
Finally, FrontRunners is a grants and mentoring program which extends the involvement of IMP graduates, facilitating leadership opportunities in their respective communities.
Learn more about the Foundation here
Learn more about the Foundation here
Couldn't find an answer?
If you have a question that wasn't answered above, then please get in touch.
Phone: 0477 111 477
Email: info@imf.org.au
Win our running socks
Follow us and post photos with these hashtags to win!
#runsweatinspire #everystepmatters #Running
Photo credit: 2026 IMP squad member Nathaniel Cooper
Share your best running, walking or rolling moments this September for a chance to win!
Every week In September, we'll be giving away three pairs of our high-performance running socks to three followers who posts the best photos or videos using all three hashtags.
