GOLD COAST MARATHON A FAMILY AFFAIR
WHEN registration for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon opened late last year, Vanessa Hogan beat everyone to the starting line.
She was the first to register her large team of extended family for the annual race, which will involve more than 28,000 competitors in eight events on July 1-2.
Of that, more than 6200 runners, including two-time winner Kenneth Mungara of Kenya, will compete in the 42km marathon.
While some runners might be setting out for a top three finish, Vanessa Hogan is hoping to raise money and awareness for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Her team, the Blue Dragons, will run The Star Gold Coast 5.7km Challenge in honour of her father, Les Blake, an avid marathon runner who died of prostate cancer last year. “It will be very emotional, but still really special,” she said.
Gold Coast Airport Marathon CEO Cameron Hart said the marathon was a gold label event, one of just two in Australia, and running groups from Hong Kong and China were expected.