One Down, Two to Go: The Great Ocean Road Marathon

The first marathon in my slightly unhinged “three marathons in under six months” challenge is officially complete. The Great Ocean Road Marathon delivered everything it promised: sweeping ocean views, leg-destroying hills, a mild Antarctic breeze fresh off the Bass Strait, and an almost meditative stretch of road that occasionally whispered, "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

The day started with rain... because of course it did. Standing at the start line soaked and shivering, I briefly considered whether a hot chocolate and a nap would be a more sensible use of my morning. Instead I opted ofor a large long black and a bit of hiding under awnings. But once the gun went off, the rain stopped like someone upstairs felt guilty, and the course dried out into something surprisingly pleasant. The sun even made a few cameo appearances.

The run itself was steady. There were some challenging hills but Narrowneck had me amply trained for this run. Maybe I went a bit too steady though. I was hoping for a faster time, but the combo of rolling hills, headwinds, and the sneaky elevation gain made sure I earned every step. I ran within myself, didn't crash, didn’t break, didn’t bonk... also didn’t fly. Still, for a coastal road that feels like it’s trying to roll itself back into the Southern Ocean, I’ll take it.

Crowd support was excellent. Scattered and enthusiastic, like cheerleaders dropped from a helicopter at irregular intervals. The locals at each town were great, they braved the chill to shout encouragement and bang cowbells. The unsung heroes of race day.

Final verdict: Epic scenery, punishing course, perfect vibe. Worth running? Definitely. Worth driving 2000km for? Let’s say… once.

One marathon down. Two to go. Legs willing, sanity optional.