Parkinson and Lacey defend their 2024 Toowoomba marathon titles
The history making winners of the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Marathon have revealed the toughest part of the big race and it’s not what you would expect. Get an inside look at what it takes to conquer the mountain plus every race result here.
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The long steep climbs naturally appear to be the biggest challenge of the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport Marathon.
Crossing the line in 02:38:52 to defend the title he won last year, men’s marathon winner Jamie Lacey revealed a very different scenario.
“The downhill is the real challenge,” Lacey said.
“Running up the hills is tough and no doubt intimidating for a lot of runners.
“The downhill sections are the toughest the sheer force through your legs … it’s really hard on the body and you have to push yourself to stay at your pace.”
Lacey beat his 2024 time by more than two minutes despite competing on slightly tweaked course that included more hilly inclines this season.
The Toowoomba local put his improved performance down to hometown advantage and a better executed plan.
“I definitely paced it a lot a better this time around,” he said.
“I ran comfortably hard throughout and that was probably the big difference.”
Crossing the line about 11 minutes after Lacey, Kathryn Parkinson wrote her name into the marathon record books again.
Like Lacey, Parkinson defended her 2024 title and echoed his thoughts on the downhill sections.
Surround by her children as ran the ‘last straight’ the former Fairholme finished in 02:51:42 – nearly eight minutes faster than her 2024 race.
“I’m absolutely elated,” she said.
“The course, the support on and off the course from other runners and the community as a whole it makes for an amazing event.
“I’m really happy considering I had a bit of a hamstring issue and was not even sure I’d make the start.
“I paced the hills a lot easier this time knowing the challenge of the downhill sections.”
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