No matter how hard they’ve trained and how well they’ve run, participants in the 2022 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon (2-3 July) will have NORT to show for it.

That’s thanks to a heady partnership brewed up this week between Queensland’s premier distance running event and brewer NORT which will offer every runner a race finish sample of Australia’s lowest calorie full flavoured non-alcoholic beer.

According to Events Management Queensland General Manager Cameron Hart, NORT, launched in September 2020, is the right beer at the right time.

“As increasing numbers of Australians take a more balanced approach to their drinking choices, we are very proud to raise a glass and welcome NORT as the first official beer of our event,” Mr Hart said.

“Every runner who crosses the finish line will be offered a free beer at the NORT Meet and Greet Zone to help rehydrate and get a taste of a superb brew without any fuzzies afterwards,” he said.

According to NORT founder Jaz Wearin there is a steady flow of mindful drinking coming into Australian society that can’t be ignored.

“Our alignment with the marathon weekend is perfect as it puts us right in the middle of a huge group of people that might like the refreshing taste of beer, but not the ill effects of the alcohol varieties,” Mrs Wearin said.

“The take up of our range of brews that mimic their alcoholic cousins has been phenomenal over the past year and a half and plenty of our sales have been to people, of all ages, who play sport and want clear heads when the starting gun goes.

“And that’s born out in the fact that non-alcoholic drinks sold at liquor outlets across the nation had increased by over 80 per cent in the past year, with beer the biggest seller in the category,” Mrs Wearin said.

The 2022 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon weekend 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 always-hotly-contested CPL 42km and 10km wheelchair races.

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

The Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events Management Queensland and is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

People wanting further information on the NORT range of craft beers can visit Home – Nort Beer.