For 10 weeks in the lead up to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon (Monday 23 March to Friday 19 June), 102.9 Hot Tomato‘s The Mal & Luke Show will speak with a Gold Coast Airport Marathon entrant each week live on air.
The interviewees talk about their motivation behind their decision to race in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, how their training is progressing and what they hope to achieve out of the entire experience.
They will reward all of the chosen entrants with a $200 ASICS prize pack.
Anderson ‘Ando’ Moquiuti was once told by doctors that he would never walk again after being diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome, a rare nerve inflammation condition which strikes between two and eight people in every 100,000. It took one year of treatment, strength and motivation for Ando to overcome the extremely painful illness and was soon defying doctors by challenging his body and mind by participating in the 2010 Southern Cross University 10km Run on the Gold Coast. The father of two first came to Australia 10 years ago and admits it took him 32 years to find himself, his sport and a way to make people believe in themselves. Ando has since competed in two ASICS Half Marathons and two Gold Coast Airport Marathons. He now classifies himself as an ultra-marathoner having completed over 10 50km races including winning the 2014 Gold Coast 100 (50km), the gruelling Tarawera Ultramarathon in New Zealand and The Glasshouse 100.
Ashleigh Martland and her husband Andrew have decided to participate in the ASICS Half Marathon to raise money and awareness for HeartKids Queensland. Their son Zachary was diagnosed at their 20 week scan with a complex heart defect called Tetrology of Fallot with Pulmonary Stenosis. When Zachary was born, he underwent a number of complex open heart surgeries. He spent months in hospital with his mother by his side. It is an ongoing struggle for the family but without the help of cardiologists, surgeons, HeartKids Queensland and the staff in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Ward at Lady Cilento Children’s and Emergency Department at the Gold Coast University Hospital, their lives would be a lot different. They are aiming to raise $7,000 for the charity and have already raised more than $4,000. For more information or to donate visit their Everyday Hero page.
Molendinar local Jen Fry will tick of a bucket list item when she competes in the Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon this July. The 46-year-old recently took on running as a leisure activity having lost more than 40 kilograms over the past 15 months. Her orthopaedic surgeon told her that she would never run again, but she is proving them wrong by training and preparing for this race. She is using the My ASICS online training program to prepare for the event and just wants to ‘go out there and give it a go’.
63-year-old Judith Pound will be lining up for her 30th ASICS Half Marathon as part of this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon. The Mermaid Waters local will be the first inductee into the 30-Year Half Marathon Club and will be awarded with a commemorative polo shirt, certificate and trophy. She will also have the opportunity to meet some of the event’s ambassadors including Rob de Castella, Steve Moneghetti, Benita Willis and Pat Carroll. Her first time racing at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon was in 1984 and says “she would not miss it because it such a special event for me.” She admits that there is always a special feeling of satisfaction every time she completes the 21 kilometre distance. “I always respect the distance. You get a personal reward that is difficult to explain by completing each ASICS Half Marathon.”
Lindsay Brown is head of Physical Education at Biggera State School and is entering his school as a team for the 4km and 2km Junior Dash in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon. Lindsay is the director of ‘Go and Run’ which is a children’s school running program that is Queensland-wide. He is encouraging schools all across the Gold Coast and Queensland to get involved by entering their school as a team and take part in the Junior Dash. It is free for schools to set up their own fundraising page via Everyday Hero and all funds raised go back into the school. There are also plenty of great prizes up for grabs for schools that enter.
Gold Coast local Alan Saye is looking to shave four to five minutes off his marathon personal best when he tackles the 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon on Sunday 5 July. The 58-year-old Broadbeach resident has raced at the event on a number of occasions, but only graduated to the full marathon last year where he clocked 4:00.07. His partner, Siobhan Maguire, will be taking on the ASICS Half Marathon and she is aiming to beat her personal best of 1:54.20.
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