GC30 Main Beach is such an amazing event. The location is perfect (The Spit, Main Beach), with water views throughout the run, trails in the middle of it all (gotta watch the foot placement as you run), and fantastic support along the course from volunteers and spectators.
I signed up for the 15km to test my pacing and have some fun, while my 9-year-old did the kids 3km race. I love that he loves running almost as much as I do and wants to participate in these fun runs. There’s definitely a competitive streak in him.
The plan for the GC30 was to work on my pacing and see how my body felt after pushing it for 15km. Given that I’ve only really rebooted my joy of running and fitness in January 2023, after years of very sporadic and inconsistent efforts, two pregnancies six-and-a-half-years apart that ended up being high risk towards the end with pre-eclampsia and emergency c-sections, I never thought I’d really run hard (for me) again. It took me two years after my youngest was born to really refocus on the importance of my health and fitness.
So to be able to average 4:59min/km over 15km, only about five months after getting my butt into gear, I’m pretty damn pleased.
Okay, so 4:59min/km may not seem like fast for many, it’s a solid effort from me. While it’s unlikely that I’ll ever reach the podium (that’s not my goal), I would like to improve on a year to year basis and running 15km at the GC30, proved to me that I can still run, there’s still room to improve, grow, have fun and set an example for my boys, and hopefully instil a love and appreciation for having an active lifestyle.
GC30 Main Beach Race Recap
Pre Race
The morning was rushed. We thought we timed the wake up, breakfast (coffee and peanut butter on toast), drive, parking and shuttle to the venue right, but we probably should have left a good fifteen to twenty minutes earlier. We just made the last shuttle bus and were still lining up at the porta-loos at two minutes before the scheduled start time. Not recommended!
Race
The start was a little bit slower but in hindsight it worked out well as it allowed me to get into a desired pace without shooting off too fast. I have to say I felt pretty good for the majority of the run and my legs weren’t sore at all, it was more my shoulders than anything else. Each time I felt tired and I shifted focus to my breathing, my posture and telling myself internally to just move forward, it didn’t matter how fast I was going, all that mattered was that I was moving forward. That seemed to work.
I only slowed at the drink stations towards the end where I took 1-2 sips of the sport drink offered (Fixx – yum), to get some salt and taste into my mouth. That seemed to work well and it didn’t slow me down. Personally, for the 15km I didn’t need much more. If I were doing double the distance it would have been a different story. Listen to your thirst to avoid under hydrating or over hydrating (neither is good).
I had two gels, one in each hand. They provided a different use – holding them stopped my hands from stiffening up. Whenever I needed to refocus I gently squeezed and unsqueezed as I ran. I didn’t actually ingest the gels until after the race.
By about half way, my aim was to slowly speed up to hopefully do a negative split. Looking at my times, I think I managed that.
The trails were great although I had to watch where I stepped more often. I think this in a way sped up the race for me and made it probably the more ‘fun’ run courses I’ve run. Variety is the spice of life and mixing up road, trail and ocean views was perfect.
I had my workout playlist playing throughout so every time a high energy song came on, my energy levels elevated too.
Post Race
My husband and son were at the finish line. As always I couldn’t do it without their support. I had my water along with the sport drink and we wandered about. Ran into a friend, grabbed a coffee, some crepes with Nutella and ice-cream for my son, then he talked me into getting him a GC30 t-shirt so he could have a ‘running shirt’ (how could say no to that?!), and then we trekked the 3km back to the car.
What didn’t work? Photos. I did not take enough photos of the gorgeous views and I didn’t take my phone out while running at all to take snaps. Next time, maybe.
The next day my legs weren’t sore, I could easily walk up and down the stairs without too much extra effort. I put that down to cross training – cycling, swimming, weights and yoga, and the hills around where I live.
I can’t wait for the next GC30 event. Next year I’m signing up for the 30km!
10 Awesome Things About Running GC30 Main Beach
- The location. The Spit, Main Beach is beautiful. Surrounded by beach and greenery. It’s the perfect spot for a Gold Coast running event. It’s part road, part trail with sea views for the majority of it.
- Fantastic organisation. It’s one of the better organised events I’ve been too.
- The volunteers. These events couldn’t be run without them. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are amazing.
- The route. Mostly flat until you get onto the trail paths where there are a few small uphills.
- There’s something for everyone. With multiple race distances, 1.5k and 3k for the kids, and 7.5k, 15k and 30k for the bigger kids. We’re all kids at heart, right?
- The medals. Yep I know, silly but hey, after that effort, the medals matter.
- The free two-month Runner’s World subscription upon entry. Yeah, it’s the little things that make all the difference.
- Race course nutrition. The sport drink was perfect. Just the right combination of sweet and salty.
- Pre-race event options. While we didn’t attend the sunset yoga session this year, if it’s on next year, it’s definitely something I want to do.
- The whole shebang. I have no complaints whatsoever.
Have you run the GC30 Main Beach? What’s your favourite ‘fun run’ event?
