Start of the 2015 ASICS Half Marathon

By Tayla Dillon

Burleigh Heads local Wayne Clarke is preparing for his 16^th consecutive ASICS Half Marathon this Sunday as part of his ultimate goal of reaching the 20 Year Half Marathon Club.

The 58-year-old’s passion for running started 17 years ago and, after reaching the 10 Year Half Marathon Club in 2009, he knew he had to strive for 10 more.

“I love this event. It’s so well organised. It is a flat and fast course and the weather is always perfect,” Wayne said.

“It was a struggle to reach the 10 Year Half Marathon Club but I made it. I was so happy. It made me want to go further and join the 20 Year Half Marathon Club.

“I have to keep going every year, and who knows, I may keep going after that and make it to 30 years.”

Wayne is determined to achieve another personal best at Australia’s most prestigious marathon.

“My most memorable run goes back to when I ran under 1hr and 40mins at the ASICS Half Marathon in 2009,” Wayne said.

“It was such a good feeling to achieve a personal best and I’m hoping I can achieve another this year.”

Wayne is busy training and preparing for this year’s race with the help of his local running group, ‘Burleigh Heads Running Club’.

“I have a small running group called Burleigh Heads Running Club. We run approximately 12 kilometres every Tuesday night and on Thursday nights we do sprints and hill runs along the Burleigh Esplanade,” Wayne said.

“I am feeling good and training well. However, the boys in the club who are running the Gold Coast Airport Marathon with me are not happy that we have to cut back on Thursday pub night.”

Entries for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon close Friday 1 July 2016 (8pm QLD).