BEACH to Brother organiser Michael Maher has set the bar high for those participating in Sunday’s full marathon.
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About 80 competitors will start at Town Beach from 6am and aim to finish at the top of North Brother Mountain just after 9am.
But Maher doesn’t believe it can be done in such a short time – especially in the inaugural year.
“We have had a few people contact us asking us what the lead time is likely to be and they suggested around three hours,” he said.
“But I told them that if anyone can complete the marathon in under three hours I will give them their money back.
“There’s definitely an incentive to go hard, but I think it’s a mission impossible and don’t think it can be done in the first year.”
Up to 25 teams have registered for the team relay while more than 130 people have registered for the half marathon and the 10 kilometre fun run has gathered about 70 entrants.
Maher said it was important for competitors to be wary of their nutrition and said humid conditions expected on Sunday would raise the chances of exhaustion.
“At the moment the weather report is looking like 25 degrees and sunny so more than anything we’re encouraging people to focus on their nutrition leading into the event,” Maher said.
“Make sure they’re focussed on keeping well hydrated and carrying the fluids on the course.”
It is compulsory for competitors to carry 500mls.
Maher said the course was more arduous than a typical marathon because of the type of terrain runners would have to overcome.
“You’re continuously running on the beach, then through the trails and tracks, then onto the pavement for a while,” he said.
“Then up the mountain so we’ve got to remember we’re living in quite a humid region so although people might not think they’re dehydrated they can dehydrate very quickly.
“It is important to focus on getting your hydration levels up before the event and maintaining them through the event.”
Runners are expected to come from as far afield as Far North Queensland, Victoria and Canberra along with those from Grafton, Inverell and local entrants.
“They’re coming from everywhere and anywhere, but none from overseas yet,” Maher said.
