Come along and join the Red Man Runners. It's completely FREE and you'll be running with a group for company and motivation.Everyone is welcome. Check out the list of THIS WEEKS RUNS below.

Where do the Red Man Runners run from ????    MAP!  

GOLD COAST MARATHON DAY JULY 2008

   CHECK OUT THE RACE DAY REPORTS and PHOTOS BELOW THE RESULTS TABLE

*** USE THE RACE NUMBERS TO LOOK UP THE OFFICIAL PHOTOS AT GOLD COAST PHOTOS *************************

  Race Day Reports:      

    Geoff.J.R:   It seems to me I got there late as I was one of the runners overflowing onto and past the footpath. After the gun went bang my first challenge was to     hurdle the barrier. Then my next challenge was to weave in and out of all the slower runners. I heard all the panting from nearby runners and I saw a few redmen     along the way. I didn't get to my desired time but I'll put the crowd as my excuse. It really was packed. I managed to be the 507th to cross the line in the time of     1:33.56.    

    Liz.A:  I managed to catch up with a few people before the start and wished every one well. I started out well running just under the time I was aiming for. Until I     had a slight delay giving first aid, and getting help to a fellow competitor, once all that was taken care of I made it home in just over 2 hours. Not the time I was     looking for but that cannot be helped.      

    Jason:  I think Elf man is unbelieveable. To even capture some photos would be hard enough since the day is so long. Easy to miss anyone and its never expected     anyway. I did jump up to be noticed I know....why not!! Not sure if I could do that today by the way.....owwww My time was 3:24:42.....and I felt every last km of     it!!!

    Janelle:   Thanks Red Man Runners for the big cheer as I ran past yesterday! I would have to say that it was REALLY hard, and after about 21km, I didn't enjoy     it. Kms 28 to 35 were the worst. It ended up taking 4h 28min, which was a little disappointing, but at least I finished it. Gethin ran (it was a shuffle by then) the last     14km with me, and convinced me to keep going. I was also pretty happy to see Kirsty there cheering for me when I finally reached the 41km point! I learnt a lot     from it, and I think I'll have to go back next year & try for a better time. At least I know now that I can do it. I'll definitely be trying to talk Kirsty into it next year. I'm     reasonably sore today, but can walk around OK, I just feel tired. Thanks for all your encouragement, you've been really great. Think I might have a rest for a week     or two, but I'll see you back at running soon.

    Ian.H:  Hey thanks Red Man Runners but now I'm embarrassed. A special email and everything! The banner was hanging from the ninth floor so people studying     the road wouldn't have seen it....but they (wife and daughter)told me one funny thing about a guy's family who called out to him from a balcony and while looking up     he ran over a witches hat. As to next year, my daughter says she's going back...must have had a good time (not quite what I was expecting) so I'll have to go. I can't     believe how sore my thighs are, I feel I've run 42kms up hill, not flat!

    Tara:  Well done everyone!! What a great day it was for all the Redman Runners. I have to say it was a super morning. I loved every step of the way, seeing and     cheering to all the Redman Runners out on the course was great. I am blown away by all this running business...its just the best. And I was REALLY REALLY     chuffed with my time, l honestly don't know where that came from! See you all back out there soon :-) 

    Geoff.A.R:   "Geoff and the Cramp Stop Spray". Based on actual events that took place during the Gold Coast Marathon 2008.

    There is not much to report in the first 35km of a marathon. I ran with Paul, Sarah, Chris and Trudy for the first kilometre. I soon realised this was not a good thing     and backed off from their pace. Having seen their excellent finishing times, this turned out to be a very good decision. A few kilometres later Jason overtook me. He     stayed and talked a while before shooting off. I let him go too. Another good decision. At 35 kilometres Alan’s words started playing in my head - “There’s no such     thing as an easy marathon” - over and over. Between 37 and 39 kilometres I moved down a gear and started the “marathon shuffle”. I was to learn very soon that     5:45 minutes per kilometre is not actually a “marathon shuffle”. For the 41st and 42nd kilometres I clocked 17 minutes! Now that’s a shuffle. I should have bypassed     the last 40 km timing mat to save my dignity. Between 39 and 40 km things went pear shaped. I had just started my last big push for home with a pace increase,     when my left hamstring cramped.

    The same hamstring (at the same distance) that started to cramp during the Toowoomba marathon 8 months ago. I’m starting to see pattern emerge here. Things     were not looking good. I was stationary, in the middle road, with a left hamstring cramp and a sympathetic right quad cramp. After an eternity (probably only 30     seconds), as if from nowhere, someone pats me on the shoulder from behind and, while offering me a small white bottle, says, “Here, squirt some of this under your     tongue”. “What is it?” I replied. “Stop Cramp”. He answered. I don’t recall any comprehension on my part. After one tentative squirt, he says, “Have another one”.     After three or four squirts in rapid succession. “Give yourself thirty seconds to a minute and your cramps will be gone.”. He said. “What is it?” I asked again – clearly     having not processed the answer from the first time I asked the question. “See you at the finished, and let me know if it worked.” He replied as he ran off into the     distance, not to be seen again.

    I don’t normally accept unsolicited drugs on the streets of the Gold Coast, but in this instance I made an exception. Sure enough, after thirty seconds the cramps     reduced. After one minute the cramps were gone. Unfortunately my legs were still trashed, but I could shuffle again. I finished the Marathon in 3:39.11 - a personal     best time by almost three minutes and I smashed the 3:40 “hurdle”. In hind sight, I should have asked Cramp Stop Spray Dude if he had anything else in his stash. I     could not find Cramp Stop Spray Dude at the end of the race. If you’re out there and reading this. First of all, in answer to your question, it worked! And second,     thanks heaps for your help. I found the miracle substance on the internet. It is called “Cramp Stop Spray”. Check out http://users.bigpond.net.au/fastgear/price_hchformula.htm. When I saw the picture of the bottle it looked vaguely familiar. It was as if I had seen it before, while in a     semi-coma like state, during the final stages of a marathon.

    Thanks to everyone who encouraged and cheered me on especially over the last kilometre of the race. The BIG cheer from the Redman team was inspirational. I     can’t say I achieved my objective to finish a marathon with dignity. But to finished any marathon is achievement enough. My single regret is that I have to wait     another year before I can do it all again.                                     

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