Kids waiting for high fives and loving it when passing runners respond is just one of the reasons Japanese runner Takayuki Yamamoto loves the Gold Coast Marathon and will this year become the first international runner and sixth person ever to reach the exclusive 30 Year Legends Club.

Running his inaugural Gold Coast Marathon in 1989 Yamamoto has since then clocked up 29 marathons until COVID forced a disruption in his quest for legendary status and 30 marathons on the Gold Coast.

“2020 Gold Coast Marathon was supposed to be my 30th anniversary, but due to COVID-19 2023 is the time to join the 30- year club participating for the first time in four years,” he said.

An accomplished runner with two first place age category wins and 14 top five age group placings on the Gold Coast, Yamamoto admits he never thought he would come this far or run so many Gold Coast Marathons.

“When I completed my 20th marathon, I just decided that I would keep going until the 30th marathon on the Gold Coast.”

He said it was an honour to be the first international runner in the 30 Year Legends Club.

Yamamoto said he really enjoyed running on the Gold Coast year after year because it was off running season in Japan, the course is flat and easy to run and after running it five times it became his favourite marathon.

Recalling special moments in his 29-year Gold Coast running history Yamamoto said he remembered his first race in 1989 when he was the first Japanese runner over the finish line, placing 14th overall but taking out a special award from the Japan Tourism Association of Queensland.

From starting his marathon journey in his early 30’s the sprightly sexagenarian and seasoned runner said he wanted to have more fun running than ever before on race day in 2023.

“I always feel the Gold Coast Marathon is one of the best races in the world because of the good weather, comfortable temperature and humidity.”

The 2023 Gold Coast Marathon weekend (1-2 July) will also feature the ASICS Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Gold Coast Airport 5km Run, the Health and Wellbeing Queensland 2km and 4km Junior Dashes and the CPL marathon and 10km wheelchair races.

The Gold Coast Double 63.3km event – contested by hardy runners competing in both Saturday’s half and Sunday’s full marathon – will also be contested.

The Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events Management Queensland, a major event management company wholly owned by the Queensland Government as part of Tourism and Events Queensland. For more information visit: www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au