About the race
The Gold Coast Marathon is an annual road marathon in Queensland, Australia, marketed as Australia's premier road race. According to Wikipedia it is one of two Australian races holding World Athletics Label status, the other being the Sydney Marathon.
History
The first Gold Coast Marathon was held on 2 September 1979 in the suburb of Evandale as part of a health awareness campaign for the city. It started and ended at the Evandale Civic Centre and consisted of six laps over Chevron Island Bridge, through Surfers Paradise and over the Isle of Capri Bridge. There were 124 marathon competitors, 144 in the half marathon and 423 in a fun run. The first winners were Eric Sigmont from Victoria and Mary Murison from Lismore. The 2020 edition was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 the race was cancelled four days before the event, when a snap three-day lockdown was announced across parts of Queensland, including the Gold Coast.
Schedule
The marathon is held on the first Sunday of July each year, with other races on the Saturday before. The men's course record is 2:07:40, set by Naoki Koyama in 2023, and the women's record is 2:24:43, set by Lindsay Flanagan in 2022.
The course
The first race started and ended at the Evandale Civic Centre and ran six laps over Chevron Island Bridge, through Surfers Paradise and over the Isle of Capri Bridge. Check goldcoastmarathon.com.au for the present route, distances and maps.
Cut-offs and entry
The organiser's site is the place for the current entry windows, start-time details and cut-offs.
Where to watch
Surfers Paradise appears in the race's earliest course, which was run as six laps, but check the organiser's spectator guide for current viewing spots.
Weather
The Gold Coast has a humid subtropical climate, with mild to warm winters and hot, humid summers. A July race falls in winter. This is general background, not a forecast.
SourcesGold Coast Marathon site · Wikipedia: Gold Coast Marathon · Wikipedia: Gold Coast, Queensland (climate)