Gold Coast Airport Marathon entrants settle in for massages and holiday time

GOLD COAST marathoners have swapped pain and sweat for massages and holiday time.

Picture in Surfers Paradise at the Qt Hotels spaQ staff members and Marathon entrents recovering in style , Jolanda Cook getting a foot Massage from Kobi Facto . Picture Mike Batterham

GOLD COAST marathoners were worlds away from their gruelling runs yesterday, spending the day having foot massages, at spas and enjoying an extended holiday.

The spaQ at Surfers Paradise was booked out yesterday and today while the Golden Door Spa & Health Club in Main Beach was also full.

After completing her first 21km half marathon, Jolanda Cook treated herself to a foot massage and pedicure as a reward for her achievement.

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“After your feet have been in hot shoes for a couple of hours it’s nice to give them some care,” Ms Cook said.

“I don’t think I could just get out and run again but now I feel revived.”

Ripple Massage also experienced a busy day with up to 30 bookings and manager Ali Shaw said a massage was a great way to replenish the body. “It is fantastic for the muscles — it’s relaxing and gets rid of the lactic acid,” she said. “It is becoming more and more common, especially on the Gold Coast.”

FINAL STRETCH: Qt Hotels spaQ’s Kobi Facto treats the feet of Gold Coast Airport Marathon runner Jolanda Cook. Picture: Mike Batterham

Events Management Queensland CEO Cameron Hart said the marathon weekend had been a huge success.

“The growth we’ve had this year will certainly continue, the Asian market, particularly China is going to be our biggest potential growth market and we’re confident we can double those international numbers in a couple of years,” he said.