This was my second Gold Coast race - fantastic. Would recommend it to anyone wanting to do their first marathon. Long, flat, easy course, though it can get warm towards the finish if you're out there beyond 3 hours. It was 25 degrees C when I finished this year just before 10 a.m. (I ran 3:03:25). Start line excitement was a big buzz again this year.

I went out hard looking to break 3 hours for the first time; 40:50 through 10 KM. At halfway I still felt fresh, but knew the pace would have to slow (1:27:40). The searing pain in the hammies and quads was really bad by 25 KM. Crossing back to the start/finish line around this point is a real boost, and the crowd is a big help.

I was questioning myself by the 32 KM (2:18:03). I think the last 10.2 KM were the hardest of my life; each step was agony and the KM markers seemed to tick by at longer and longer intervals. I was running 4:35 mins/KM and feeling awful. Running the last 2.2 KM are always a surreal event and relatively easy compared to the previous 40 KM that you've just experienced.

The finishing chute was terrific - the crowd, the announcer, the location. That first 10 minutes after finishing is not something anyone enjoys, but straight after that I was back to the hotel to get some rest but to also read the free running magazine to plan my next one!!

The only fault that I know of was the last 3K of the marathon. It coincides with the last 3K of the walk. There were only 100 marathoners battling to finish in the hot sun and millions of walkers strolling along in the warm sun on a Sunday. They were all over the road, especially the lane reserved for marathoners. Dogs and prams and chatting amblers were a special problem. Unfortunately, I was extremely hampered by the wall of walkers, and so my performance was affected so much that I was almost unable to finish. I had to struggle against this wall of happy strollers, causing me to hyperventilate. I am thankful that I was not disqualified - certainly I was unable to prevent the occasions when I crashed into people, as this is not my style. You need to define and police a lane for marathoners - there was utter chaos for 3K. This was my 20th G.C. Marathon and I was lucky to finish. You had every right to disqualify me, but I did not deserve my predicament. Strollers did not know that there was still a lane for marathoners. I am not exaggerating my description of the trauma that I went through. Otherwise, I congratulate you and your staff and volunteers. (Your medical staff were superb.)

I came from hot, humid Tokyo to run here, and it was well worth it. Conditions were perfect and the course is fast. I beat my PR by 7 minutes and hit my qualifying time for Boston. Expo was disappointing and few fans, but the organization was great. The confusion with walkers, etc., talked about in comments from past years seemed to be fixed. A great event in a wonderful part of the world

My first marathon - what a wonderful atmosphere. Bands playing in the streets, people cheering on balconies, runners from all over the world. Well organized. The best Australian race. Fantastic beaches. The only problem was that when I finished it was hot (25 degrees). Highly recommended!

I trained for it, but due to work commitments I could only do the half. Anyway, this was a great race on a great course. Some comments:
- Toilets at the start need improvement, but where is this situation actually perfect?
- I'd like to see a few more spectators, but there were some fantastic supporters, cow bells, steel drums, jazz band and lots of encouragement throughout the race.

After the floods a few days earlier, it was amazing that this event actually took place. Well done everybody. Keep up the good work.

Well organized, fast course. Weather always superb. Have run this one 3 times. Growing and will be better every year. Great place for a vacation. Exchange rate terrific for USA, British and European residents. The best beaches in the world here. Cheap entry at $77A. You will run a P.B.here. Great course to qualify for Boston. Roads closed - no traffic. Competitive accommodation prices. Close to Brisbane [45 min drive]. Also run half marathon, 10K, kid's races and walk.

I think the marathon is an excellent way to be healthy and fit. I have run the marathon in 2003 and I was fat - now I am all fit and healthy.

I have run this one twice and am looking forward to a third. I believe this is a world best time course. It needs the right prize money to attract the best marathoners. A great place to combine a vacation with a run. I have run a number of marathons throughout the world and this one is up there and will continue to grow in popularity.

My first Gold Coast Marathon. Course generally flat, weather perfect, and nice beach scenery. Unlike Mrs. Smith from So. CA, USA, I felt that there were more than enough water points. But, like Mrs. Smith, I finished around the 4:30-plus mark and felt a little frustrated with the Asics walkers (but instead of during the run, at the completion of it when it came to lining up for the free massage). Five other runners and I (and more were to follow) had to wait behind the 7.5K walkers, who, in my view, still looked fresh as a fiddle, and us runners, who did look the worse for wear, should have been given priority (after all, we run further, our entry fee was larger, and we suffered more). Minimum waiting time was 30 min., so after waiting for a frustrating 20 min., I went to another tent and paid for a much needed massage.
My thanks to the organizers and all the hardworking volunteers. Give yourselves a deserved pat on the back.
If finances and work allow, I'll return in 2004.

My wife and I ran this race for her first marathon. The course is indeed flat (by flat, I'm ignoring the undulations in the road and the couple of bridges you cross), and a good majority of the race is run in the shadow of the large hotels dotting the coastline. The course spends some time hugging the water, offering beautiful views of the Gold Coast shoreline and bay. As for weather, it's a perfect time of year to run down here. Low humidity, nice breezes, and cool temperatures made for great conditions. The wonderful headwind at the 34K turn-around was a godsend.

My wife commented that there could have been more water stops and more convenient toilets throughout the course. Toward the end of the course (we were running about a 4:30) the marathon course joined with the Asics walk, and caused us much frustration as we tried to avoid the walkers hogging the road. At 40K, the slightest irritation or obstacle is enough to mentally defeat you, and it was frustrating to the point that we wanted to start shoving people out of the way. This could have easily been avoided if the cones separating the two courses prior to 41K had been kept there until the turn off to the marathon finish just before 42K.

Despite those few dings, the race was heaps of fun, held at a great locale, and had decent local support. I'd recommend it to anyone who'd like to run a race down-under.