The Sunshine Coast Marathon and Community Run Festival
Professional athletes, recreational runners, and spectators will delight in the upcoming 7 Sunshine Coast Marathon and Community Run Festival. From the 2nd to the 4th of August, health and fitness enthusiasts of all ages can take part in this fantastic event with the chance to win a $25,000 prize for breaking the half marathon record.
Kids Marathons
On Sunday the 4th August the Family Dash takes off from Alexandra Headlands Surf Club. This 2km run is a fantastic chance for sporty kids to take part in a fun activity as family and friends cheer them on! Kids under 7 need to be accompanied by an adult, but older kids can run solo.This is also a wheelchair friendly event.
For kids with a higher fitness level there’s the Cricks 5km Run. Also starting at the Alexandra Headlands Surf Club, and prizes will be awarded for different age groups. The 5km run is also open to adults that want to get involved without committing to a longer course.
Westpac 10km Run
This course is for athletes 11 years and older, and runners are allocated three hours to complete the 10km track. With fantastic cash prizes up for grabs for each age group, you’ll want to push yourself and claim either first, second, or third place to win. Not to mention the bragging rights!
McDonald Half Marathon and Channel 7 Full Marathon
The minimum age for the half marathon course is 14 years old, and athletes have three hours to complete the 21.1km course. Prize money jumps up to $1000 for first place for this event, and is the perfect opportunity for a practice run for athletes considering taking part in a full marathon next year.
The full 42.2km marathon is for athletes 17 years and older, and is the ultimate challenge. This course is to be completed within 6 hours, with various checkpoints set up along the way. You could score up to $1500 in prize money in this marathon category, as well as the knowledge that you’ve competed against some of the greatest athletes around. The atmosphere at the finish line is absolutely electric, with the spectators cheering on the runners as they complete this monumental journey back where they started.
It’s taking part that counts
Whether you choose to run with the family, friends, or solo, there’s something magical about joining in on this fantastic community event. With the support of members or the crowd that you know or well wishing strangers stepping over that finish line offers such a sense of accomplishment.
Spectators get right into this event, with costumes, banners, and lost voices at the end of the day as they cheer on the competitors. Many of the athletes will have trained for months in the lead up, and the acknowledgement all of this hard work and time invested really means the world to the competitors.
Don’t forget, this is a festival and not just a marathon. Friday night is the Family Movie Night at Alexandra Headlands, and the Run Nation Film Festival is taking place over the weekend and beyond as well. The Marathon Expo is a must for running enthusiasts looking to grab great deals and samples.
So if you are planning to stay with us this August, make sure you stop by to cheer on these dedicated competitors, from the smallest and youngest, to the most experienced professionals. The atmosphere is absolutely exhilarating, and you’ll be so glad you joined in!