Add to aura of big event MONDAY IN YOUR BULLETIN 48-PAGE RESULTS LIFTOUT

THERE are 27 million good reasons to watch the Gold Coast Marathon this weekend.

The marathon weekend – worth $27 million to the local economy this year – will see about 27,000 runners line up across eight races, cheered on by 50,000 spectators.

And while you’re likely to nab a spot anywhere along the 42km track, not all vantage points were created equal.

Among the best spots to catch all the action are, of course, the start and finish lines at the Southport Broadwater Parklands.

The main race kicks off at 7.20am on Sunday with the leaders of the pack expected to return just over two hours later around 9.20am.

There will be ample opportunities to cheer on the athletes along Hedges Ave in Mermaid Beach too, with slightly higher elevation on the coastal side and performers African Beat drumming up a storm at Montana Ave.

At the halfway mark in Burleigh, just before First Ave on the Esplanade, the Gold Coast Bulletin will have a marquee set up to encourage locals to continue cheering runners on with paper megaphones and the crew from Hot Tomato.

Finally, around the 37km mark at Runaway Bay, sit down at some of the local cafes on Bayview St to catch the action as the runners go past.

On the corner of Broadwater St and Bayview St, Caribbean-roots band Babash will also perform.

An event spokesman said the marathon was important to the community as it allowed locals to take on a personal challenge and go toe to toe with some of the world’s best.

“The Gold Coast Marathon remains an attraction for international and interstate entrants and spectators, from both the Asia-Pacific region and the USA,” the spokesman said. About 7500 international runners are tipped to take part.