Taking a run into history
BUILDING an international sporting event is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, according to high-profile Gold Coast businessman John Goldstein.
The former Goldsteins bakery owner was an organiser of the first Gold Coast International Marathon in 1979, which has since grown to become the pinnacle of road running events in Australia and is acknowledged as one of the most prestigious marathons in the world.
As Gold Coast organisers, who are looking for a new naming rights sponsor, gear up to stage the 40th marathon over the weekend of June 30-July 1, 2018, Mr Goldstein has shared the story of the Gold Coast Marathon’s humble origins.
“Every year the starter’s gun is fired I feel proud knowing I was there at the beginning,” Mr Goldstein said. “I came up with the original idea and we at the Surfers Paradise Central Rotary Club – now the Rotary Club of the Gold Coast – made the dream a reality.
“The club created the Gold Coast Runners Clinic in 1979 after a successful health awareness project
called the Marathon Clinic (which started two years earlier).
“The marathon has had far-reaching benefits for the Gold Coast tourism industry.
“It is now recognised as a world event with participants from all over the globe.”
Mr Goldstein, who put in a large portion of the startup money, said 18 months of planning went into the first event, which included a series of lead-up marathon clinics to educate the community about health and fitness.
He said running legend and former Gold Coast mayor, the late Ron Clarke, participated in a number of the clinics held at Macintosh Island in Surfers Paradise.
It was a proud moment for Mr Goldstein when 1000 people took part in the first Gold Coast International Marathon on September 2, 1979.
Of those participants, a small percentage of the 140 full marathon runners were from overseas.
This year the event attracted 25,000 people from all corners of the globe in the various races, with 5911 runners in the full marathon.
“The numbers put it into perspective,” Mr Goldstein said.
“The marathon really did start from a humble beginning.
“I am proud of how the event has grown and I look forward to seeing what the 40th anniversary event will bring.
“It was always meant to be a huge international event.”