Thousands of serious runners and casual joggers converged for one of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest sports events on Sunday, August 13.
About 7000 participants signed up for the Sunshine Coast Marathon Festival, which included a marathon (42.2km), half marathon (21.1km), 10km, 5km and 2km.
Photographer April Gillies was on hand to capture the action.
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Atlas Events spokesperson Sally Battin said the festival was more popular than ever, under brilliant sunshine.
“The event was fantastic and ran smoothly,” she said.
“There were record numbers for the event’s 10th year and there were the best weather conditions in the history of the event.”
More than 900 people registered for the marathon and more than 3000 signed up for the half marathon, which doubled as the national championships for the sixth time.
Race records were broken in the men’s half marathon, women’s 10km and men’s 5km.
The festival started in 2012, missing 2020 due to COVID restrictions.
There are plans to further grow the festival in the lead-up to 2032, when the Sunshine Coast will host the Olympic marathons.
Winners: Marathon: Robert Collins (2:26.12), Tamara Carvolth (2:45.21), Half marathon: Brett Robinson (record 01:02.26), Lisa Weightman (01:09.51), 10km: Alex Harvey (30:48), Olga Firsova (record 33.21), 5km: Gus Gannon (record 14:45), Addison Houslip (17:32), 2km: William Kisby (06:30), Mary Thompson (07:22), wheelchair half marathon: Natasha Price (01:19.41).
