Geelong’s Brett Coleman took out the Surf Coast Trail Marathon over the weekend as monster swells created challenging coastal conditions for a record number of runners.
“It was brutal,” Coleman said at the finish line.
“The main difference from when I first ran it was back then it was a king tide.
“This year it felt like a super king tide with massive swell. I was above my knees in water at times.”
Coleman duelled with Australia’s current 100km champion Francesco Ciancio for most of the marathon.
He was battling for his second podium title, having won in 2014 – while Ciancio was chasing his first win, having registered second and third previously.
Coleman proved faster on the day with a time of 3:04:15, while Ciancio trailed by just 59 seconds.
“I was hoping to actually sneak in under the three hour mark, but not today, the conditions were just too tough,” he said.
“Frankie and I ran together most of the time and had a great little battle, it was a fight for sure.”
Surf Coast resident Sam Maffet came third in a time of 3:09:40.
Glen Huntly based runner Nicole Paton won the women’s event in 3:52:29, with Hannah Clark and Amanda Meggison placing second and third.
Team Richterson, made up of accomplished cross-country runners Sven Richter and Oscar Robinson, won the team event in 2:56:48.
In the half marathon, past full-course champion and recent Australian trail-running representative at the World Championships in Italy Kellie Emmerson took the honours in 1:43:11.
In the men’s half marathon Geelong Cross Country Club runner Ron Thomas won in 1:33:57, just eight seconds ahead of Sho Waller.
Anglesea organiser Chris Ord said this year’s marathon had a record field of more than 700 runners.
“None of them dampened one iota by the menace of the odd king tide wave roaring in – in fact, I reckon they loved the experience all the more for it.
“After all, that’s what we’re out here for – to appreciate Mother Nature in all her wild glory.
“And perhaps push ourselves outside the comfort zone in doing so, and come out the other side our lives a little richer for it.”
Runners travelled from as far as the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and New Zealand to compete.
