THE IDEA of running 42km on a midweek morning would seem like madness to most, but for Nick Carling, it does not even present a challenge.

Especially not in Port Douglas, where he has been training six months to get his body in shape for a run at next year's Ironman 70.3km World Championships in Las Vegas.

Although he wants to push himself to victory in front of what is expected to be a bumper home crowd, Carling will be holding back in tomorrow's Solar Eclipse Marathon at Port Douglas.

"I would love to go all out, but my coach has had his say and he wants me to make sure I don't go too hard," Carling said yesterday.

"I'll be going hard the last 10km, so hopefully I'll get a good time, but the priority is making sure I'm all right for Phuket."

"Phuket" is the Laguna Phuket Ironman 70.3 in Thailand on December 2.

If Carling performs well there, he will qualify for the world champs in Las Vegas.

"There are a couple of other qualifiers coming up next year, so I'm very confident I can get there," he said. "It's just a matter of when I qualify." Last week he set a personal best taking out the Northern Beaches 10km beach sprint at Kewarra Beach.

The next step takes place tomorrow when the moon passes in front of the sun, marking the start of the Solar Eclipse Marathon.

Although the field is an unknown quantity, ultra-runner Mike Le Roux and retired Australian marathon champion Steve Moneghetti will be among the starters.

For most of the serious runners the distance is more of a tune-up than a serious challenge and Carling believes the emphasis will be on performance over placings.

The run starts on Four Mile Beach, heads towards the Mowbray River, up the Bump Track, through cane fields, back on to the beach and finishes in the centre of town, where streets have been partially closed for the race.

 

NEW CAIRNS.COM.AU COMMENT POLICY
We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Comments submitted without a full name and suburb/location will not be considered for publication. Please read our full comment policy and publication guidelines.

Share this article