Joining Running Festival party with all bells and whistles

IT’S all fun and games until someone calls the realtor.

But for North Ward’s John and Marita Hubbard ( pictured), not even an impending sale of their rental house was going to stop their annual party.

The couple decided to buy the house after the owner put the property on the market but not because of its great location.

They wanted to save an annual tradition.

“Long may the party continue now that we’re here to stay,” Mr Hubbard said.

The property became known as “The Party House” after the couple began hosting an annual Marathon Breakfast Party in conjunction with the McDonald’s Townsville Running Festival.

As runners turn on to the Rowes Bay Esplanade, they are greeted by a mass of pyjama- clad revellers encouraging them to keep going. Whistles, bells and a pumping music all greet the runners while smells of a breakfast barbecue waft from the front yard.

“We had to buy it back for the sake of the runners. This has been a tradition for the Townsville Running Festival that we started 12 years ago,” Mr Hubbard said.

“We’ve been a part of the Festival for so long and it wouldn’t be the same without our madness.”

Townsville Road Runners president Tony Gordon said the Marathon Breakfast Party was a favourite part of the course for many runners, with some competitors even forgoing a good finish time for a fry- up.

“It’s been pretty difficult to run past the house some years, smelling the bacon frying and seeing everyone wrapped up in blankets sipping drinks,” he said. “I’ve seen one or two competitors stop to join in the fun.”

The 17th annual McDonald’s Townsville Running Festival will be held on August 2 at Jezzine Barracks. For more information and to register go to townsvillerunningfestival. com