A Sunshine Coast man has run the distance of a marathon within the region’s largest shopping mall.
Logan Adams completed the 42.2km journey at Sunshine Plaza, fuelling with Hungry Jacks and filming the event for social media as he went.
He told Sunshine Coast News he wanted to do something unique.
“I enjoy creating endurance challenges that make people stop and smile, and that bring running into unexpected places,” he said.
“I let my Instagram audience vote on where the next marathon should be held. The plaza ended up winning the poll, which made it feel like a shared idea rather than something I decided on my own.
“A shopping centre felt like the opposite of where you’d expect a marathon, which made it interesting. It’s a space people already share daily, so it became a way of blending movement, curiosity and community.”
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Mr Adams started at 6am and made his way through the plaza during the day, finishing with a moving time of 4 hours and 45 minutes.
He ran loops through the mall, mostly on the upstairs level, and filmed it with a handheld camera/phone, capturing short clips along the way.
He carried fluids with him and “even squeezed in a refuel at the food court”.
Mr Adams said shoppers and staff were supportive.
“At the start, I was excited but curious about how people would react,” he said.
“During the run it became quite motivating, with a lot of smiles, laughs and encouragement.
“The reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Most people were amused and encouraging, some asked questions, and lots of people cheered.”
He said he was wary of running into customers.
“(I was) mindful of foot traffic and slowing or stopping when needed,” he said.
“At busier times, I slowed right down or paused to make sure I wasn’t in anyone’s way.
“If security or centre management had approached me and asked me to stop, I would’ve done so immediately.
“The intention was never to cause disruption; it was simply about doing something a bit different and active while sharing a positive moment with the public.”
A Sunshine Plaza spokesperson said Mr Adams’ effort was remarkable but urged people not to run in the mall.
“While we recognise that completing a marathon is an impressive achievement, we ask that customers walk around the centre.”
“The safety of our visitors is important, and we want to ensure the experience at Sunshine Plaza is safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
Mr Logan said he was tired but delighted to complete the challenge.
“Afterwards, I was obviously physically fatigued, but really happy with how positive the whole experience felt,” he said.
“The video has gained a lot of attention online and sparked plenty of conversations. I’ve had people message saying it made their day or inspired them to get moving, which is always the goal.”
Mr Adams said he’s an avid runner.
“I’ve completed a range of endurance challenges in the past, including multiple marathon-based events and long-distance runs designed to push physical and mental limits, while keeping things creative,” he said.
“I’ve (also) completed multiple (official) marathons and endurance runs over the years. Running is something I’ve been consistent with for a long time.”
He said he’s considering his next challenge.
“I’ve got a few ideas in the pipeline, similar concept, different locations,” he said.
“I like keeping them local, creative, and a bit unexpected, and I’ll continue to involve the audience through social media.”
