YOUR GUIDE TO THE RUNNING FESTIVAL

ON YOUR MARKS

A FLY-IN fly-out worker is aiming to run 60 marathons by her 60th birthday at the end of the year.

Amanda Barlow is one of more than 2200 registered in this weekend’s Townsville Running Festival, kicking off early tomorrow morning at Jezzine Barracks.

“I usually run five or six marathons a year and that meant I’d have to step it up to eight to reach my goal. Townsville will be number 57, so I’m very close now,” Ms Barlow said.

The Gold Coaster has big plans for number 60, running a marathon in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean the day of her 60th birthday.

Because of her schedule, the FIFO worker trains on a treadmill, only running on actual roads during marathon events.

“However, I do run them every six to eight weeks; I’m kind of in a permanent taper phase, where I just keep to the 10 or 15k training runs at a higher pace and my body stays in good condition from the previous marathon,” Ms Barlow said.

The Townsville Running Festival has received bumper nominations this year, with a trip to Japan up for grabs.

The prize is part of the council’s Sister Cities Program and will be awarded to the first male and first female to cross the finish line in the Mike Carney Toyota Marathon.

Acting Mayor Les Walker said the prize would give the winners the chance to compete internationally at the 2020 Iwaki Sunshine Marathon.

“The prize will include flights, three days’ accommodation in Iwaki, the registration for the Iwaki Sunshine Marathon and some activities across the city,” Cr Walker said. “I’d like to thank the Iwaki City Government for working with council to offer this prize and I’m looking forward to seeing our Townsville marathon runners compete internationally.”

Ho Cheol Shin is visiting from Townsville’s Sister City, Suwon, South Korea, to compete in the half marathon.

“It’s hard to get here; it’s a long way but I will enjoy it,” he said.

“Marathons are actually painful. When you finish, you feel successful.”

Participants in this weekend’s festival include 20 international runners from nine countries.

Registrations are open until 4pm today via townsvillerunningfestival.com