Port Macquarie Running Festival race director Kevin Chilvers believes so after witnessing something special at the Town Green on March 7.

A sight normally reserved for the finishing line at the Gold Coast Marathon was almost matched when up to a thousand people flocked to line the side of the course over the final one kilometre.

"The Gold Coast Marathon is the annual runners' pilgrimage," Mr Chilvers said.

"But over the last kilometre, the streets are lined by people cheering them on and every serious runner has experienced that energy you get.

"Something very special and similar happened here this year when the finishing straight was lined with runners and supporters.

"Everyone has gone away going 'wow, this is fantastic' and I feel we're set for exponential growth."

Chilvers is one of those pilgrims who travels to the Gold Coast Marathon every year, so he is in the best position to compare.

He has been the race director in Port Macquarie for the past five years and has watched on with satisfaction as the event continues to grow.

"Although our numbers are smaller, it has a similar energy to what they have up there on the Gold Coast," he said.

"It really gave me the feels that in a challenging time like we have had over the past 12 months that we could put an event on like we did.

"We've come out the other end with shining colours and 2021 is the year to get back to business all within those restrictions which will be in place.

"The future is very bright for running in Port Macquarie."

More than 2500 runners laced up the shoes to take on the half-marathon, 10-kilometre or five-kilometre races which again showcased the region's ability to host major events.

"It's the largest running festival held between Newcastle and the Gold Coast and there is a lot of real estate in there," Mr Chilvers said.

"It's exciting that every year brings new challenges and Port Macquarie has become the destination for tourists to come to especially in COVID times."

The sight of GP's after the finishing line administering intravenous fluids to runners gave further evidence that the event is a pure marathon.

"Two hundred and fifty people laced up the shoes for the Treble Breakwall Buster and some didn't finish such was the effect the course had on the runners," the race director said.

"One guy finished the 10-kay having done the half-marathon and then checked out ... he couldn't do the final five kays."

Dates have been locked in already for the 2022 event with March 5 and 6 confirmed.

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