Ambassadors
Meet our ASICS Gold Coast Marathon Legends
Benita Willis, Steve Moneghetti, Pat Carroll and Rob de Castella
Legendary athletes inspiring the next generation. From world-class achievements to a lifetime of dedication to the sport, each of them has an incredible story and a wealth of knowledge to share.
Pat Carroll
What’s your favourite thing about GCM?
A magnificent holiday destination. The early morning start with the sun just about to greet us as it rises above the Broadwater. The race precinct caters brilliantly for all of the events, almost as if it was purpose built with the Marathon in mind. The runners experience “on course” is first class. The event team go to great lengths (trouble shoot/cap numbers) to ensure runners get a clear run with minimal running traffic. I embrace the opportunity to encourage runners by giving shout outs/high fives on course, as well as congratulating runners immediately upon finishing their event.
Best advice for running GCM?
Do your homework as to how long it will take you to arrive (parking/transport/walking) at race precinct morning of your race – aim to arrive a good 40min -1hr prior to race start. Involve a lengthy campaign which involves short term goals/events throughout. Such will enable you to have a solid feel for what you can shoot for “time wise” on race day. Experiment with eventual race day nutrition during your campaign. Trial and error will eventually allow you to discover what works best for you.
“The Asics Gold Coast Marathon is largely responsible for the blessed life that I have lived. A debut stint over the Marathon as a 20 year old set me up for a professional running career which lasted 20 years. Each year I look forward to being involved just as much as I did for my first.”– Pat Carroll
Nickname: PC
Lives: Brisbane, Queensland AUS
Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Career Highlights
- Four-time winner Gold Coast Marathon (1983, 1984, 1988 & 1997)
- Australian half marathon All-Comers record holder (1:01:11)
- Three-time Commonwealth Games Australian marathon representative and top-eight finisher
- Winner 1995 Beppu Marathon (2:09:39)
- 1988 and 1999 Australian Marathon Champion
Robert de Castella
What’s your favourite thing about GCM?
It is the fastest, biggest and best weekend of running in the country and one of the best in the world…something not to be missed!
Best advice for running GCM?
Draw on the energy, support and excitement of the event, the crowd and all your fellow runners, so when it gets hard (and it will), over the last 5 or 10k, you can push all the way to the finish & hopefully a PB!
“It’s the best running weekend in the country because of its course, crowd, location and organisation. It’s one of the biggest second-tier marathons and now the winning times are getting faster, we’ll see more and more top runners coming to get personal best times and this will increase the profile even more.” – Robert de Castella
Nickname: Deek
Lives: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory AUS
Contact: Website | Twitter
Career Highlights
- Winner 1981 Fukuoka Marathon in 2:08:18 (world record from 1981 to 1984)
- Three-time Commonwealth Games Australian marathon representative and two-time winner (1982 & 1986)
- Winner 1983 World Marathon Championship
- Winner 1983 Rotterdam Marathon (2:08:37)
- Four-time Olympian and three-time top 10 finisher (1980, 1984, 1988 & 1992)
Steve Moneghetti
What’s your favourite thing about GCM?
My favourite thing is catching up with friends I haven’t seen in a while and, of course, seeing the smiles on participant’s faces as they run up the finishing straight knowing they have achieved their dream.
Best advice for running GCM?
My best piece of advice is to study your chosen event course map and if possible run the last 6km of it prior to race day so you know how far to go when you start to get tired.
“It is such a friendly and well-organised event that it is too good to miss. It is certainly comparable to other major international marathons in terms of course, scenery, organisation and atmosphere and it is now building a real tradition also.” – Steve Moneghetti.
Nickname: Mona
Lives: Ballarat, Victoria AUS
Contact: Twitter | Facebook
Career Highlights
- Winner 1994 Commonwealth Games marathon (2:11:49)
- Four-time Olympian and three-time top 10 finisher
- Four-time Commonwealth Games representative and medalist
- Six-time World Championship representative and three-time top 10 marathon finisher
- 1993 ASICS Half Marathon equal-winner (1:01:48)
Benita Willis
What’s your favourite thing about GCM?
My favourite thing about the Gold Coast Marathon is that it brings the community together through health, fitness, and common goals. Not only the local community but across Australia and around the world. I love the excitement that you feel when you visit the expo, arrive on race day and throughout the whole weekend.
Best advice for running GCM?
My best advice I’d give to runners would be to make sure you don’t overtrain. You want to arrive at the event feeling ready to go – make sure you take it super easy the week before especially, so you feel amazing on race day!
“I love the Gold Coast and feel this buzz of excitement in the air during the whole Gold Coast Marathon weekend. The organisers do a great job with such smooth running of all races and making it such a great experience for all involved.” – Benita Willis (head coach of Lace Up Running – individualised online coaching).
Nickname: B
Lives: Gold Coast, Queensland AUS
Contact: Website | Instagram
Career Highlights
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Winner- 2004 World Cross Country Championship
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Has set 11 national records over distances from 2km to marathon
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Four-time Olympian (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012) + 2 x Commonwealth Games Representative
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Represented Australia 25 times at a World Championship level including 10 x top 10 finisher
ASICS Gold Coast Marathon Trailblazers
Meet our ASICS Gold Coast Marathon Trailblazers — Erchana Murray-Bartlett, Pete Rudland, and Joshua Manning
Inspirational people doing inspirational things. From superhuman achievements to overcoming significant personal challenges, each of them has a moving story to share.
Pete Rudland
Gold Coast Marathon’s newest Ambassador Pete Rudland has had nearly three decades of experience in the Australian Army and is a qualified counsellor and fitness instructor who now provides assistance to veterans with post-traumatic stress and physical injuries.
He is a passionate advocate for veterans and their families bringing to the fore his lived experience from his time during service and on deployment to Cambodia, East Timor Iraq and Afghanistan
Pete was medically separated from the Defence Force following a 2010 Blackhawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan that left him with skeletal injuries and a traumatic brain injury.
As part of his rehabilitation, he has gone on to represent the Australian Defence Force in three Invictus Games including one as Australian co-captain. An incredibly versatile athlete, he won two Invictus gold medals in recumbent cycling and one in wheelchair rugby. He also competes in Ironman and marathon events, including the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon as part of the continued evolution of his rehabilitation.
Pete is an Ambassador for RSL Australia, a Pain Champion for Pain Australia, an Ambassador for the Kokoda Project at Liverpool Plains and a board member for RedSix, an app created to assist in defence and veteran mental health. He is also a member of the Australian War Memorial Gallery Redevelopment Advisory Committee and is on the Advisory Committee for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Erchana Murray-Bartlett
Erchana Murray-Bartlett is no stranger to endurance. In 2023, she etched her name into the record books by completing 150 marathons in 150 consecutive days, running from Cape York to Melbourne. Her world-record-breaking Tip to Toe challenge raised over $120,000 for at-risk Australian wildlife, amplifying her mission to keep wild places wild.
In 2024, Erchana pushed her limits even further by tackling The Speed Project Solo – an unsanctioned 500km race from Santa Monica, Los Angeles, to the Las Vegas sign in Nevada. Running through Death Valley on little sleep and with only a small support crew, she completed the journey in just over five days, proving her resilience and determination on one of the toughest stages imaginable.
Beyond her own feats, Erchana is an NSA-registered nutritionist and the founder of Project Run – a coaching community built on the pillars of performance: tailored run coaching, strength training, and nutrition. Through her coaching, she empowers runners of all levels to unlock their potential and enjoy the process of becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident athletes.
Passionate about making running accessible and inclusive, Erchana brings her trademark positivity, grit, and infectious energy to every start line – inspiring others to dream big, run far, and never lose sight of the joy in the journey.
Joshua Manning
Josh Manning ran his first race at just 16 — a gruelling 50km ultra through Nerang, and he’s never looked back. The Gold Coast Marathon quickly became central to his story, with his first Half there in 2014, following which he debuted at the marathon distance at the 2014 Honolulu marathon and in 2015 ran a 3:22 Gold Coast Marathon at age 18. Ever since, the Gold Coast Marathon has been the anchor of his running story, his hometown race, the one that fuels his passion year after year.
Living with Autism, Josh has found in running a powerful source of connection and community. Over the years he’s become well known on the Gold Coast for his passion and encouragement, embodying Eliud Kipchoge’s mantra that “No Human is Limited.” His message to every runner is simple: whatever your goal, it’s worth chasing.
Beyond racing, Josh is also an accomplished hyperrealism artist. In 2025 he combined his two passions in a dream moment, presenting Eliud Kipchoge with a drawing of the shoes he wore to win the Rio Olympic Marathon.
Through his YouTube channel and Instagram, Josh shares honest stories of training and racing to inspire runners of all abilities. Looking ahead, he’s preparing for the Gold Coast Half Marathon in 2026 under the guidance of Olympian Ryan Gregson, with a return to the marathon firmly on the horizon.
