Sunshine Coast Marathon and Running Festival
I have always believed that running is a great way to explore a place and an organised running event just means you have a few extra people exploring with you.
With a little trepidation – it has been a few years since I ran anything more than 7km – I decided to enter the half marathon event on the Sunny Coast.
Taking place towards the end of August, the idea is that this is a cooler time of year to run, but coming from the south, this winter was the warmest I have ever experienced so training was a little harder and it was definitely warmer on the day than I anticipated…
One of the best things for me was that a local group – associated with radio station and event sponsor Hot 91.1 – organised a free running club 12 weeks out which ran part of the course once a week. This meant was not only was I training with other people (essential), I was also getting to know what most of the course would feel like.
Even though this would be my 5th ever half marathon, the hard work beforehand never gets any easier!
The run was certainly very picturesque – starting at the Alex Beach Surf Club just on sunrise.
For the run itself, the one and only hill is pretty much right at the start. For me this is a good thing because I can get it out of the way and the back 10km are mostly flat – and this is where I generally feel the pain.
The run takes you south at first, from Alex to Mooloolaba along the beachfront before heading back north and along the South Maroochy River.
The beach and river front streets are closed for the duration of the event so runners have plenty of room to move.
Given the hotter day, I stopped at more of the drink stations than I have in the past and I was very grateful for the frequent hydration options.
To be honest, twenty one kilometres is a long way. Running that far requires patience and persistence. There's a lot of time to talk to yourself - in your head, not out loud because that would make you look like a crazy person, plus you want to make sure you are breathing properly. But that’s the good thing about an event like this, there are hundreds of other people right there doing the same thing and people on the sidelines cheering you on. The atmosphere definitely helps you get to the finish line.
Once over the finish line, my friends and I celebrated our achievement with something cold and bubbly - it is tradition after all!
I was definitely not in the running, but 2017 saw Australia’s fastest male and female distance runners will not only vie for line honours at this year’s 7 Sunshine Coast Marathon, but a $25,000 pay day if they break the country’s long-standing half marathon record in the Red Hot Half.
The event just gets bigger and better every year and if 21.1km is too overwhelming for you, there are five distances to choose from including 2km, 5km, 10km, 21.1km half marathon or challenge yourself to the full 42.2km marathon.
