Press Release - The Gold Coast Airport Marathon - 2/26/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         New Elements Add to Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2009

The 31st annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon to be held on Sunday 5 July 
will feature a new segment to its waterfront course, a brand new race on 
its program and a new home for the Asics Sport & Leisure Expo and 
Registration Centre.

Queensland Events Gold Coast General Manager Cameron Hart said these 
changes will add additional appeal for participants and the community as 
well as streamlining the operation and management of the event.

The full 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon course which starts at the 
Southport Broadwater Parklands will this year stretch all the way to a 
southern turnaround point at Burleigh Heads, rather than the previous 
turnaround at Miami.

"This will add another scenic and flat section to the course at the 
southern end taking in one of the most beautiful and well known beaches in 
the world, Burleigh Heads," said Hart.

"The marathon course will take participants into another beautiful part of 
the Gold Coast and continue its standing as one of the most picturesque 
courses in the world."

A new 5km event to be called the Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge has been 
added to the program for both runners and walkers, replacing the previous 
7.5km Walk.

"The addition of the Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge will be a great 
introduction for those runners who may not feel ready to tackle a 10km race 
just yet," said Hart.

"The new event will allow a runner to start with the 5km this year and then 
'Embrace the Next Step' to a longer distance next year.

"The 5km is also a good distance for the walkers, many of whom are 
participating for the health and fitness benefits as well as to enjoy the 
atmosphere of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon with friends or colleagues."

The Event Registration Centre and Asics Sport & Leisure Expo will this year 
be located at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre at Broadbeach 
from Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 July, moving from its previous temporary 
facility in the Start and Finish Precinct at the Southport Broadwater 
Parklands.

"The move to a permanent convention and exhibition centre will enhance the 
standard of our expo and registration centre," said Hart.

"With our significant growth in participant numbers over recent years, 
moving the expo and registration centre offsite will free up much space for 
additional race day infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion around our 
race precinct in the days leading into the event.

"It also enables greater visitation to the Asics Sport & Leisure Expo by 
the wider community to check out the latest in fitness and sporting 
products and services."

Following the success of the 2008 event, a number of initiatives launched 
last year will also continue including 5km split times for the marathon and 
a webcast, both live on the official website www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au.

This year's race start times on Sunday 5 July are as follows: 
6.15am - Wheelchair Half Marathon
6.20am - Asics Half Marathon
6.45am - Southern Cross University 10km Run
7.30am - Gold Coast Airport Marathon
8.25am - Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge
10.00am - 2.25km Junior Dash
10.30am - 4km Junior Dash

The full Gold Coast Airport Marathon will have a cut-off time of 6 hours 30 
minutes this year ensuring all races have concluded by 2.00pm.

For further information including entry fees visit 
www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au. Entries will open for this year's Gold Coast 
Airport Marathon on Tuesday 14 April via the website.


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