This year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon will once again welcome back one of its favourites and most memorable marathon entrants, Trent Morrow aka Marathon Man. Since 2008, Trent has run the event, dressed head-to-toe in ‘Marathon Man’ lycra in his effort to raise money for a number of charities around the world.

Clocking up hundreds of kilometres, 38-year-old Trent has completed 55 marathons in 49 months since March 2008. Like most superheroes, Marathon Man’s selfless endeavour begun as a result of wanting to help others.

It was in 2006, when Trent first made the decision to get some balance back into his life when work commitments were beginning to impact on his health. He made the conscious decision to take control and commenced his journey to lose 30kgs. Following on from his first success, Trent set his sights on the next – completing a marathon.

Trent developed the Marathon Man identity in a bid to raise money and support several charities around the world, with a large focus for the past four years on South African charities dedicated to children suffering from noma disease. It was for this reason Trent chose head-to-toe lycra to be his running attire.

“I am one of many who run marathons to raise money for a charity. If I wanted to make the Marathon Man stand out from the crowd I would have to wear something distinctive,” said Trent.

“The costume is a great way to raise the Marathon Man’s profile, which in turn raises the profile of the charities in need of support.”

Aiming high, Trent chose to debut Marathon Man at the Marathon Des Sables, a six day, 250km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco. Since then, Trent has completed the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, Racing the Planet Sahara Race Challenge and is one of the very few people to complete the ANZAC Marathon Sweep – completing a marathon in each state and territory of Australia and on both islands of New Zealand in the same calendar year.

One of Trent’s biggest challenges is finding the balance between preparing physically for upcoming marathon events and fulfilling the requirements as National Sales Manager for a pharmaceutical company.

“My job requires a great deal of travel, where I can be in a different state every day,” said Trent.

“However preparing for a marathon isn’t only physical, but mental as well. The power of the mind cannot be underestimated in competing in marathons.”

When Marathon Man isn’t competing in long distance marathons, he is training fours times a week in preparation for his next and is very excited about the upcoming Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

“After completing the Gold Coast Airport Marathon last year, I would have to say it is my favourite course in the Southern Hemisphere.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has the best organisation, the support of the crowd is amazing and the atmosphere and environment is great.

“The event continues to get better and better each year.”

Marathon Man is hoping to finish the 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon under four hours and we wish him all the best for his run.

For more information about Marathon Man check out his website:http://www.marathonman.com.au/