Jamie Cook, from the Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club, stole the show in the men's event, winning in a fantastic time of 2:34.10.

Not to be outdone, Sarah Jalim showed her rivals a clean pair of heels in the women's event.

The Bendigo University Athletics Club member slashed 18 minutes off her previous personal best time to be first across the line.

Jalim, contesting her 10th marathon, was assisted in the latter stages of the race by pacer and current Victorian marathon champion Brady Threlfall, who also acted as race ambassador.

She finished ahead of Kennington's El Vester, whose 3:30.11 was a also a personal best, eclipsing her previous mark by 28 minutes.

Winner of the women's 45-plus event, Castlermaine's Karina Taylor was third in 3:47.34.

Eighty-two participants lined up for the two marathons, which were contested along the O'Keefe Rail Trail that connects Heathcote and Bendigo. Another 460 people contested fun run events.

Kennington runner Stephen Freemantle was second in the men's event in a time of 2:46.49.

Former Australian triathlon champion David Meade was third in 2:53.25, good enough for victory in the 45-plus section.

Event director Sandra Slatter said organisers were ecstatic with the event's success, with its future assured after the securing of a gold sponsor for the next three years in Mandalay Resources.

“With 188 participants coming from outside the region to participate, the race is attracting participants from all over the state and country and bringing in significant funds into the region," she said.

"Over 100 other people volunteered with the vast majority locals from Heathcote to ensure the event ran effectively."

The unique Ekiden Relay attracted the largest number of participants, with 29 teams of seven runners competing over a full marathon distance.

It was won by the Eaglehawk Athletics Club men's team in a time of 3:06.45, ahead of the Castlemaine Park Runners C Team (3:08.12) and the Bendigo-based The Year Of team. 

Eaglehawk runners made up four of the teams.

The men's 21.1-kilometre half marathon was won by Ben Fahy (1:21.21) from Bendigo Harriers' Ben Stolz (1:22.50), with Bendigo’Luke Crameri (1:25.01) in third place.

Victor Cook, of Bendigo Harriers, was first in the 45-plus age category.

Rebecca Cladingboel, of Moama, won the women's half marathon in 1:32.52, ahead of 45-plus winner Mia Franzmann (1:36.04), from Shepparton.

Eight runners tackled the challenging quarter marathon (10.58km) from Heathcote, with Bendigo University's Matthew Heislers winning in 37.12, also taking out the under-18 event. Edithvale's Shaun Williams (39.12) was second.

Thirteen-year-old Taryn Furetti, from the South Bendigo Athletics Club won the women's event in 44 minutes, ahead of Moama's Vicky Gunn (45.32).

Forty-three runners, most of them juniors, participated in the O'Keefe Mile event.

Bendigo Harriers' Zahli Drummond was first across the line in 6:24.

The first boy to finish was under-11 athlete Oscar Fox (5:35.

Other age category winners were Isaac Willits (under-15 boys); Georgia Smith (under-11 girls); Jude Barrett (under-9 boys); and Renee Ford (under-99 girls).