Are you 'bourne to run?

The starting gun for the 31st edition of the Samsung Melbourne Marathon will sound off on Sunday 12 October – is this date circled in your diary?

Everyone from the elite runner to the weekend warrior is gearing up for Melbourne’s premier running event.

Last year both the marathon and half marathon were fully subscribed and in 2008, more than 20,000 entrants are expected to toe the start line.

Already, more than a third of the 3500 available entries for the marathon have been snapped up.

The Samsung Melbourne Marathon was the most popular marathon event in Australia last year.

 With four distances to choose from, there is an event to suit everyone:

·    Samsung Melbourne Marathon (42.195km)

·    Asics Melbourne Half Marathon (21.1km)

·    The Coffee Club 10km

·    Active Feet 5.5km Run/Walk

The picturesque courses will take in iconic Melbourne landmarks including Federation Square, Albert Park Lake and the Port Phillip Bay foreshore, with all participants finishing on the hallowed turf of the MCG.

The clock is ticking…early bird entries close on July 31.

Deek jumps on board

The team at the Samsung Melbourne Marathon are delighted to announce that four-time Olympian and Australian marathon record holder Robert De Castella MBE has been appointed ambassador for the 31st edition of this iconic event.

Deek is the only Australian runner to have placed in the top 10 marathon finishers at three straight Olympic Games. He dominated the world marathon scene throughout the 1980’s, and subsequently recorded his fastest time on the historic Boston course with a performance of 2:07:51 in 1986. This time still stands as the Australian record.

Winning the inaugural World Marathon Championship in 1983, setting a world’s best time at Fukuoka in 1981 and winning two Commonwealth Games gold medals in 1982 and 1986 saw de Castella firmly establish himself as an icon in Australian Sport.

In one of the most memorable and exciting marathons ever, de Castella won gold at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane after a titanic battle with Tanzanian Juma Ikaanga. De Castella’s contribution to Australian sport was recognised when he was voted Australian of the Year and honoured with an MBE in 1983.

The 51-year-old is thrilled to once again be involved in the 2008 Samsung Melbourne Marathon.

"The Samsung Melbourne Marathon is one of the oldest and most prestigious marathons on the Australian running calendar, and rightly so, with the wonderful rich tradition, great organisation, and a course that now finishing at the iconic MCG,� explained de Castella.

“It is an event that all runners dream of being part of, and as the event’s Ambassador, I am absolutely thrilled to be involved again.�

“I am looking forward to being there on the day to support and encourage all participants to achieve their dreams. See you in Melbourne!"

Visit the official website of the Melbourne marathon where we will announce the event ambassadors for the ASICS Melbourne Half Marathon (21.1km) - here’s a hint – you will catch them strutting their stuff on the Olympic stage in Beijing!

Article with thanks to Samsung Melbourne Marathon

melbournemarathon.com.au