GCM 18 🏃🏻♂️ 💨 🇦🇺 RACE REVIEW . _ HARD WORK PAYS OFF 💯 _ Having done the Gold Coast race before, I sort of knew what to expect of the course. The main challenge of this course was the camber and slight rolling terrain for the first 30km, followed by 2 short hills, with the remaining 10km being relatively flat and straightforward. Marathon flagged off at 0720 LT, 13-16 degree cold with a strong wind. _ I ran my first GC in 4:49, without any training plan, just based on my fitness from other sports, mainly badminton. I managed to cut 15 minutes the following year; also coming without any preparation, just regularly participated in 10/21k race. _ This year I ran the first 30k stretch with a Japanese runner, who I found out was holding the pace 4:19-4:30 in a rather comfortable shape. I know he’s got plenty in the tank, so I decided to just follow him. Surprisingly, he slowed down after 30km, and at this time I am running all alone until the FL. ...