By Kenzi Osborne

Attracting an influx of local, intrastate, interstate and international runners, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon brings many positives to the Gold Coast – a healthier community, an economic injection for the tourism and retail industries, and many smiles for participants and spectators.

Next year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon will one again captivate the community on the weekend of Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July.

Promoting strong community awareness, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon sees local residents and volunteers rally together to embrace the major event with positivity and pride.

From decorating houses, providing marathon retail specials, to yelling words of encouragement as runners make their way past local residences, Gold Coast locals make it clear just how loved and valuable the Gold Coast Airport Marathon is.

Main Beach resident Ryan Durrant said living along the course provides a wonderful perspective of the race weekend.

“Watching runners make their way past as they’re just starting out and then when they’re making their way back to the finish is inspiring,” Ryan said.

“You feel such a great sense of pride cheering them on, along with the rest of the community.

“It’s a great feeling to know an event can bring so many residents and businesses together in a positive way.”

Four year volunteer of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Belinda Pennisi, said the event highlights how enthusiastic locals are of Gold Coast events.

“The vibe and atmosphere of all the volunteers on race weekend is electric,” Belinda said.

“Thousands of people from around Queensland offer to volunteer to be a part of this event each year because of the excitement and opportunity it brings to the Gold Coast.”

Race secretary for long-time volunteer group, All Saint’s Swimming Club, Michelle Sabotic, agreed and added that the event was a great bonding opportunity.

“It’s a fantastic chance for the team to bond with other volunteers and with the competitors,” Michelle said.

“It gives the team the chance to connect with other members of the community in such an encouraging environment.”

Broadcasting the Gold Coast to an international audience, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon provides businesses and residents with global attention and an influx of visitors.

The international reach allows the Gold Coast to be projected as a destination hot spot for visitors and emphasises its focus for the community.

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw praised the Gold Coast Airport Marathon for its ability to positively promote the Gold Coast to large audiences attracting an inundation of customers for local businesses.

“The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is fantastic for promoting the Gold Coast to an international audience. It reinforces the Gold Coast as a holiday destination and showcases our active and healthy lifestyle,” said Mike.

“The marathon is one of the Gold Coast’s major events. With Surfers Paradise holding nearly 50 percent of overall room stock on the Gold Coast, the event is a boom for the local traders.

“We see a strong drive in overnight accommodation with subsequent economic flow on to our restaurants, cafes and attractions.”

The course, which runs from the northern suburb of Paradise Point through to the southern area of Burleigh Heads, encompasses a great number of supportive local businesses along the way.

Renowned for drawing tourism and business-boosting crowds, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon sees companies ranging from cafes and restaurants, right through to holiday parks getting involved in the celebration over race weekend.

Mermaid Beach café BSKT manager Neil Sallaway said being located directly along the course not only sees a boost in business, but a wave of bright visitors ready to cheer their family and friends on come race day.

“As a restaurant we love the marathon for the extra business of local and interstate patrons it brings to our business. As locals we love what it brings to the Gold Coast.

“Being an international event, it brings so much business and attention to the coast. It broadcasts us as an attractive holiday and events destination.”

Famous for decorating its iconic cow statues on race weekend, Cav’s Steakhouse manager David Taylor reinforced the positive environment the event promotes.

“We take advantage of being situated along the course every year by bringing out the outfits and showing our support for the race weekend by decorating the restaurant and cows,” David said.

“We often get runners stopping mid race or coming back later in the day for photos.

“For us it is our way of showing local support and being a part of an event we love.”

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon encourages runners of all different ages and abilities to participate in the events across race weekend.

Thirty year ASICS Half Marathon runner Judith Pound said the event has generated a greater interest in running across the Gold Coast.

“The welcomeness of the long term event has generated more of a running culture across the coast,” Judith said.

“Over my 30 years of competing I have seen numbers increase every year with more and more people of different abilities wanting to be a part of such a great event.

“It’s much more than just a run.”

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July in one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world in Queensland, Australia.

It is set to attract more than 27,000 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 visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au