INSTEAD of beaches, a group of marathon runners had the Hume Highway to look over as they completed 42.195 kilometres on Sunday.
They were part of a contingent of 35 from Albury-Wodonga that had been set to compete in Gold Coast marathon weekend events before last week's COVID lockdown saw them cancelled.
Rather than squander their prep, they set up a circuit around Albury from Noreuil Park to the bike path parallel to the Hume Highway, along North Street and then Bungambrawatha Creek.
Wearing official race numbers, they timed themselves and will submit those to receive a medal and shirt from Gold Coast event organisers.
"We all just signed up six months ago and put so much work into it we didn't want to waste it," marathoner Tony Wilkerson said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"We had tables set up with lollies and gels and water and loud music going."
A refreshment station was near the JC King netball park and the path was marked.
However, it was impossible to match the weather with it being 7.3 degrees in Albury compared to 18 on the Gold Coast when they finished on Sunday morning.
The Glitter Strip marathon course extends from Runaway Bay to Burleigh Heads alongside the beach with the finish at the Broadwater.
