Australia – EVA Sunshine Coast Marathon

Huge thanks to Atlas event organizers first of all. I asked so many questions prior to booking this event (last min) that I thought they might exclude me from it! Cheers for your help Millie 🙂

After spending several days in Auckland Hospital (Te WhatuOra) for an inflamed bowel, this was never going to eb an ideal event. I only found out I needed to get a qualifying time for Boston Marathon when looking at emails in hospital. As I didn’t get a qualifying time from Tokyo Marathon (March this year), my application for Boston (in April 2027) needed to be in Sept 2026 and have a complete qualifying time… So laying on my hospital bed, I found this EVA Sunshine Coast Marathon, registered, sorted accommodation and flights, then tried resting.

My coach Dave Mac knew of an old friend (& his family) on Sunshine Coast and I might be able to stay with them for the event. Saved my pocket several hundred dollars! Big thanks to the Meehl family, they let me stay and really took care of me. Thanks so much.

However, the event itself was another one for the history books, and not in a good way. It was beautiful weather few days before race day, yet Sunday morning it sooo wet. It had been raining most of the night, and was pouring down as I got out of Zeke’s ute, to get ready for the start. Again, the volunteers and organizers were great, getting me to a tent, getting set up and ready for the start. They can’t control the weather, I did ask them. Haha.

I was aiming for a solid 2hours 30min, which was achievable, in dry weather and if I was healthy. Yet, spending nearly a week in hospital a couple weeks from the event, and barely any training two weeks out did put my abilities to the test… I was slipping and sliding everywhere, one of the three push rim participants in the marathon even had to pull out. My body was not enjoying being pushed this hard, so soon after a medical event. I did what I could, even knowing 10mins into it, I would definitely not be getting close to my goal. In my head, it was Tokyo Marathon all over again. Yet, I pushed on.

Blood on my hands, from my nose, gloves finding no purchase and muscles that wanted to stop hours ago, I finally came over the finish line 3hours and 21min. Not knowing where to go to find my day chair, I was helped to a medical tent to wait for assistance. nearly 40min later my body was starting to shut down. I was shaking and having all kinds of issues… needless to say, it was not a good day at the office. After a while, the medial team got an ambulance and sent me to Queensland Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

The ambulance service was impeccable, the service team at the hospital were great, everything I experienced was superb. They all did a fine job and should be proud of themselves. I however was not. I was so upset with myself. Another achievement left empty and with nothing in the tank, I know I gave it my all. It didn’t take long for me to get over myself and move on, in fact, I was still on the hospital bed as I processed this. It was an experience, mostly one I would not like to relive (apart from the wonderful Meehl family, they were all awesome).

So, all in all, I set out to achieve something that most said wouldn’t work, and it didn’t. You honestly never really know until you try. Action helps the plan move forwards. Next in line, application for a charity slot to Boston (ouch, it’s like $17,000nzd, it is what it is) and next Marathon World Major is Chicago 🙂 Bring it on.