GC50 Half Marathon 2026 Recap: Ocean Breezes and My Own Cheer Squad
Updated: 6 days ago
At 2:45 am Queensland time, I got myself and two less-than-impressed daughters out of bed for the GC50 Half Marathon 2026 in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. Technically, it was 3:45 am where we were staying in Bogangar, New South Wales, thanks to daylight saving. That made the alarm sound slightly more respectable, but Tearri and Kirraleigh weren’t particularly interested in that argument.
They came along anyway and spent the morning chasing me around Coolangatta, taking photos and cheering me on at the GC50 Half Marathon. They were tracking my location, phoning ahead and telling me which side of the road to run on for the best photo. A proper little cheer squad, even if their working conditions included an unpopular wake-up call.
Why GC50 Instead of Chicago?
Sunday 11 October 2026 was supposed to be 👉 Chicago Marathon day for me. After everything that happened with Grundy, that trip wasn’t happening, but I still wanted to do an event that day. I’m pretty sure GC50 came up in a Facebook advertisement, and the date caught my attention.
Ethan had been supposed to run Chicago as well, so I told him he could do a half marathon too. He ran his over in Western Australia and finished in 1 hour 45 minutes. I tried convincing Tearri, but she was quite clear: she’d got out of the marathon, and she was doing nothing. She did eventually find herself on photography duty before sunrise, though.
Originally, I’d hoped to aim for a personal best at GC50, but I hadn’t been in the mental space to train properly. The consistent training just hadn’t happened, and I knew a PB wasn’t a realistic expectation. By race day, I’d taken that pressure off and decided to get out there, have a run and enjoy it.
Two Time Zones and a McMuffin
We stayed at my mother-in-law’s in Bogangar the night before, about a 40-minute drive from Coolangatta. The half marathon started at 5 am Queensland time, and I wanted to arrive with plenty of time. Staying across the border meant keeping track of two different clocks before I’d even started running.
Breakfast was McDonald’s: a sausage and egg McMuffin, which I’m fairly sure was a double because I was thinking about the protein. Nothing particularly fancy about my pre-race breakfast. Once we arrived, we parked roughly 1.5 km from the start and walked in, joining plenty of other runners doing the same.
The start area was easy to navigate, with heaps of toilets and a straightforward “line up and go” atmosphere. Compared with a 👉 40,000+ person major marathon, it felt calm and cruisy. There was no frantic scramble for me, which was a lovely way to begin the morning.
A Cheer Squad With Location Tracking
The crowds were one of my favourite things about GC50. There were heaps of signs and people cheering, and having “Chooky” on my bib meant strangers could call out, “Go, Chooky, go!” Hearing someone use your name gives those cheers a little extra lift.
Tearri and Kirraleigh took their support duties seriously once they were out there. I had my Shokz headphones on, and they were following me on Life360 so they knew when I was getting close. They’d call and tell me which side of the road they wanted me on so they could get their photos.
I also chatted with a lady who was struggling and told her how amazingly she was doing. We were both out there covering the distance, and that was something worth recognising. Between those little conversations, the girls on the sidelines and strangers cheering us on, there was a lot to enjoy about the atmosphere.
Ocean Views: Yes. Another Lap: Less Enthusiastic.
The ocean views were always going to be a plus, and the cool breezes coming off the water were magnificent. It got hot as the morning went on, so those breezes were very welcome. The course was flat too, with my recording showing 29 m of elevation gain.
What I didn’t love was doing two laps. I’ve done it, I already saw it, and I don’t need to go back and see it again. I hadn’t looked closely at the course before entering, so that discovery was entirely on me.
That’s something I’ll pay more attention to when booking future races. A lovely stretch of coastline can still be a stretch I only want to run once. If you enjoy knowing what’s coming on a second lap, you might feel differently, but I’d prefer some new scenery.
A Financial Lecture for 21.1 Kilometres
My entertainment for the race was Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover. I love Dave Ramsey, and the people who go on his show crack me up. His money messages certainly gave me something to listen to while working my way around the course.
My takeaway was fairly clear: credit cards are bad, car loans are bad, and for the love of God, do not lease a car. Save money, spend less than you earn and pay cash. Nothing like a financial lecture while running a half marathon.
Between Dave in my ears and the girls phoning with photography instructions, I had plenty going on. It wasn’t a morning spent concentrating on every split or chasing a particular time. I was there to enjoy the event, even if my foot had other ideas.
The Foot Was the Difficult Part
I can’t pinpoint when my foot started hurting because I’ve become so used to it happening. What I do know is that around halfway, the pain became bad enough that I had to stop. I recorded a short video at the time explaining what was happening, and the pain stayed with me for the rest of the race.
I mostly continued running, but it definitely slowed me down. There were a few occasions when it hurt too much and I walked instead. That was the hardest part of the day, and it’s something I’m now getting investigated.
Since the race, I’ve seen my GP and had X-rays, with an ultrasound booked for next week. Several people suggested Morton’s neuroma, and my doctor suspects that too, but I don’t have a confirmed diagnosis yet. He discussed cortisone injections as a possible next step once the diagnosis is established, so for now I’m waiting for answers.
Tired, Hot and Happy to Be There
The foot wasn’t the only reason the race felt hard. I was still running a half marathon, and I was tired, out of breath and feeling the heat of the morning. But alongside all of that, I was happy to be out there accomplishing a goal I’d set.
My fitness isn’t where it was a year and a half ago, but I can feel it coming back. I could recognise that progress even while the run was tiring. I didn’t need an all-time PB to feel pleased about what I was doing.
During the race, I had three gels and a few lolly snakes from the water stations. There were heaps of aid stations offering water and electrolytes, and I chose water each time. I couldn’t complain about the number of stations or the availability of drinks along the way.
My GC50 Half Marathon 2026 Results
I sped up towards the end and sprinted the finish, smiling as I came through. My recording shows kilometre 20 at 7:02, kilometre 21 at 7:19, then a pace of 5:56/km for the final recorded 400 metres. There was still a bit left for that last push, and I really enjoyed it.
I didn’t see Tearri taking photos as I finished, but I heard Kirraleigh after crossing the line and then Tearri as well. Although I’d been tired during the race, I didn’t finish feeling completely wrecked. I was happy, I’d enjoyed myself, and I’d completed what I came to do.
My official results, using athlete time, were:
Finish time: 2:40:58
Overall placing: 3,719th out of 4,104
Female placing: 1,746th out of 2,013
Age category, 40–49: 279th out of 313
It was my 👉 second half marathon of 2026 and my fastest for the year. There was no all-time PB, but I was happy with the result. I keep saying I’m not a runner, which does sound a little questionable after voluntarily spending a Sunday morning running a half marathon.
A Medal, a Border Photo and a Failed Food Stop
After collecting my medal, we walked back towards the car and stopped to pose at the NSW–Queensland border. The girls had spent the morning taking photos of me, so we added a medal shot at the border to the collection. Then we headed home, with food becoming an increasingly important priority.
We called into GYG at Chermside, only to be told they were serving the breakfast menu until 10:30. That was not what I wanted, so we drove home disappointed. I ate at home instead, and by then I was absolutely starving.
Would I Do GC50 Again?
Yes, I’d return to the GC50 Run Festival, but I wouldn’t choose the half marathon again. The crowd support was amazing, the start was easy, and there were plenty of toilets and aid stations. Add the ocean views and those magnificent breezes, and there’s a lot I’d recommend about the event.
The 50 km ultra interests me, although I’ll be checking the course map very carefully before making any decisions. I really do not like laps, and I’d rather establish how many I’m signing up for before paying the entry fee. That’s one practical lesson coming home with the medal.
For this year, I got what I wanted: an event I enjoyed, a goal accomplished and another sign that my fitness is coming back. I also had Tearri and Kirraleigh out there cheering me on and documenting the morning. They weren’t happy about the alarm, but they were a brilliant little cheer squad for their mum.
Staying For GC50?
Compare places to stay around Coolangatta:
Want stories like this in your inbox? 👉 Join the Sunday Catch-Up and grab my free travel planner while you’re there.
Looking for women to run, hike and chase adventures with? Come and say hi in 👉 Chasing Company on Facebook.
Keep Chasing Life 🧡
Chooky xx
Embracing the slow. Chasing the now.
Comments