SURF COAST TRAIL SHINES FOR WINTER RUN 2023

The Surf Coast, Victoria, played host to more than 600 runners on the weekend, with the Brooks Surf Coast Trail Marathon once again proving to be one Australia’s most popular coastal trails runs, attendees lured seaside by clifftop trails, big surf views, and this year…mid-winter sunshine.

Given the near-solstice timing, the event has a reputation for some wild weather and big swell tides to contend with. This year, however, turned out mostly blue skies and the waves only lapping minorly at competitors’ feet as they tiptoed along Torquay, Bells, Anglesea and Sunnymeade beaches.  

Participants took on marathon and half marathon challenges as individuals along with a team of two marathon relay, starting at Torquay and finishing at Fairhaven Surf Lifesaving Club.

Running Happy, and some of em, running fast!

The course record of 2:51:17 seemed under threat with eventual men’s winner Mathieu Dore, from Albury, NSW, running record pace splits early on. The notorious 3.5km stretch of Urquharts Beach and its high tide soft sand forced the lactic acid brakes on a little however, Dore eventually winning in a time of 3:12:30. Daniel Loughnan from St Kilda was hot on his heels in second place, barely a minute behind crossing in 3:13:32 .Local, James Ralph from Newtown, managed a credible third place on the podium a further 10 minutes back in 3:23:03.

In the women’s marathon, another border town visitor took home line honours with Moama-based runner Rebecca Cladingboel storming home comfortably in 4:00:21, followed 11 minutes later by Sally Theobold from Trafalgar (Vic) in second (4:11:32) and Karen Moir from Hawthorn less than a minute behind in a close third (4:12:12).

DEFINITELY RUNNING HAPPY AT BROOKS SURF COAST TRAIL MARATHON

In the half marathon, it was a fairly close tussle between first and third in the women’s with Alicia Cognian from Brunswick (Vic) drawing away to claim first place in 2:04:14. Second and third were separated by only 22 seconds, with Nicole Evans from St Kilda triumphing in second in a time of 2:07:08, with local Torquay resident Sandra McKie home third in 2:07:30.

Only five minutes separated the men’s half marathon podium, Adamo Traini  from Wallan (Vic) coming home the victor in 1:46:16. Local runner Tom Pearce from Geelong West, took silver line honours under two minutes later (1:48:04) with Felix Esperson from Ivanhoe (Vic) rounding out the men’s podium in 1:51:14.

The Teams Marathon was won by Team Heatcool Today’s Shaun Mooreand Brad Rindfleisch in a time of 3:33:16 with Team Tez n Flash William Kiel and Nicholas Waters in second (3:47:58) and mixed team Kanga Kanga Kanga, Claudia Higgins and Max Mills, in third (3:48:22)

STILL HAPPY, VICTORIAN ULTRA RUNNER MICHELLE GROCOCK PASSES THE SPLIT POINT LIGHTHOUSE AND NEARING THE FINISH LINE ONLY 2-3KM AWAY

Event Details at: www.surfcoasttrailmarathon.com.au

Full results at:https://tomatotiming.racetecresults.com/Results.aspx?CId=16&RId=29491&EId=1

Surf Coast Trail Marathon is supported by the Surf Coast Shire and Surf Coast Events via its Major Events Grant Program, along with Brooks Running, Tailwind Nutrition, Surf Coast Trail Runners, Melton City Runners, T8, Salty Dog Cafe, The Aireys Pub, Salt Brewing, The Happy Runner, Active Feet Geelong & Ocean Grove, Glimmer Gear, Beyond, and Runner Chats.