By Isabelle Bambach

Gold Coast Airport Marathon official lead up series race director, Travis Ireland, has been helping thousands of runners reach their potential at the annual event for more than a decade and now he’ll have a chance to run his own debut marathon this July.

The Helensvale, Queensland local started the Sports Super Centre Fun Run Series in 1999 after he decided to take on the ASICS Half Marathon and felt progressive running challenges would help him prepare.

“The reason I started the series was because I wanted to do it,” Travis said.

“I was just training at the gym and doing the normal lead up training and I thought to myself, ‘There needs to be a lead up challenge – a series where like-minded people could get together and complete training programs.

“Unfortunately, because I organise them, I can never run [in] them.”

Travis has strategically ordered the series’ races to improve fitness and endurance in the lead up to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon weekend.

“The distances get progressively longer and are the perfect lead up to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon,” Travis said.

“I designed it so that the first [race] is 8km, then moves onto 10km, then 15km then a 21km [race], then back to the 10km two weeks before the marathon.”

Travis said he’s always been a runner and is no stranger to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon having competed in the annual event seven times across a number of races including the ASICS Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run and Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge.

However, in 2000, a sudden unknown health issue arose while Travis was competing in another endurance event, which for years went undiagnosed.

It held him back from running long distances, including the 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

“During the run in the Noosa Triathlon, I passed out and ended up in intensive care for two days,” Travis said.

“It was very scary laying in intensive care – I had five hours worth of memory loss; I remember absolutely nothing.

“I had run a half marathon previously that year and  also passed out once during that, [but] I had completed four successful half marathons previously and three successful Noosa Triathlons, and for some reason, just that year something didn’t go right.

“And that was it; I vowed never to compete again.”

Travis went on to start a family with his wife of now 10 years, but found he wanted to give long distance running another shot.

“When I had kids in 2005 I decided I would go back and give it another try. I went back and did a 10km [run] – and passed out again,” Travis said.

“I ended up in the medical tent and when we got home my wife said to me ‘That’s it, we have a kid now, you are never doing this again’.”

Though in 2012, Travis’ determination led him to try once more, as he attempted a five kilometre run which he completed.

Last year, on the day of the 35^th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon, Travis was diagnosed with a non-life-threatening illness.

“The condition won’t kill me but I need to do something about it,” Travis said.

“My family and close friends are aware of the condition and I just wanted to get myself healthy for them and for myself.”

Since his diagnosis, Travis has been preparing to complete the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, and though the decision is nerve-racking for him, he believes his health issues have made him more focused and determined than ever before.

“I made a pact with a mate on the day of the event last year that in exactly 365 days I would run the full Gold Coast Airport Marathon,” Travis said.

“I went home and talked to my wife about what I was going through and from that day on I have been counting down [the days].

“I get an alert every day to tell me how many days it has been since the diagnosis and how many days until the marathon.

“My aim isn’t to run like hell – my aim is purely to finish – regardless of what the time is.”

Fitting with his nearing 365 day goal, Travis has organised ‘365’ as his race number, and has also put together a team – ‘Team 365’ – who will be competing across different races.

Travis said the support of his family and friends is his best source of motivation.

“I have a lot of people who are coming to support me,” Travis said.

“There will be about 10 of us running in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon – I’ve got two mates coming up from Melbourne to run with me, and another two who are coming to spectate and support.

“My mum and dad are doing the Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge, my sister is doing the Southern Cross University 10km Run and my nephew is competing as well.

“It’s like they are waking me up to get out and run and train every morning; now I owe it to them to do the best I possibly can.”

Though Travis admits the lead up to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon has been both physically and mentally challenging, he is looking forward to the race and said there’s now a phrase he’ll never say.

“I’m so excited about getting to that start line,” Travis said.

“I’m not scared about letting other people down – they will support me no matter what – I’m more scared about letting myself down.

“The day before the Gold Coast Airport Marathon last year, I would have said ‘I’m never doing a marathon’.

“I will never say never now.”

There are two races of the Sports Super Centre Fun Run Series remaining. Race four will be held on Sunday 1 June (21km) while Race five will be held on Sunday 22 June (10km).

If you would like to participate in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon’s official lead up series, visit the website.

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 visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au.