Entries for the 36^th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon to be held from Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July opened this morning with more than 30,000 runners of all ages and abilities expected to take part in the history making event.

For the first time in Australian history, participants will have the opportunity to run in an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label event after it was awarded the prestigious honour earlier this year.

In addition to running a course rated alongside some of the world’s most illustrious races such as the New York City Marathon and Tokyo Marathon, participants will witness some of Australia’s best marathoners in action with the Australian Marathon Championships hosted on Sunday.

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be one of the most significant in the event’s history and encouraged runners to take part.

“With the designation of the IAAF Road Race Gold Label and the announcement of the Australian Marathon Championships, this year’s event is set to be one of the biggest and best,” Mr Hart said.

“We’re expecting more than 30,000 runners from Queensland, interstate and overseas to experience our fast and flat course with one of the strongest field of elites from Australia and the world.

“Our current men’s course record holder and 2:08:10 marathoner, Yuki Kawauchi from Japan, is set to return to the Gold Coast and we’re expecting our current course record of 2:10:01 to be broken.”

For the second year in a row there will be a limited amount of entries in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and ASICS Half Marathon.

“We are already experiencing high interest from international runners and as result we are limiting entries in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to 6,500 and 11,000 in the ASICS Half Marathon,” Mr Hart said.

“I strongly encourage participants, particularly from Australia, to get in early and secure their registration so they don’t miss out on what will be a historical event.”

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in Queensland, Australia.

It is set to attract more than 30,000 participants of all ages and abilities across a number of events including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge and Junior Dash 4km & 2km races.

For more information or to enter visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au.