This Sunday 17th November, Queensland marathon champions Tim Vincent and Ella McCartney will race in the
Kobe Marathon in Japan. Kobe Marathon is the “sister marathon” to our own Gold Coast Marathon and each
year, Queensland Athletics and GCM offer an all-expenses paid trip for Queensland marathon champions (at
GCM) to run in Kobe. This is a fantastic opportunity for Queenslanders as it’s a big international race on a fast
course in cool weather. Plus a great way to recognise Queensland’s best!

Benita Willis, Qrun manager and four-time Olympian, has interviewed both Ella and Tim ahead of Sunday. On
behalf of QA and GCM, we’d like to wish you both all the very best for Sunday! 

**Please note Ella placed 2 nd in the Qld marathon championship but 1 st place getter Gen Gregson, had another
opportunity to race a marathon around the same time so this race entry was given to Ella. We want to also wish
Gen all the very best in her upcoming marathon in Valencia!

BW: Congrats on your brilliant run (& PB) at Gold Coast Marathon earlier this
year! Can you describe your feeling as you crossed the line? Were you
expecting this result?
 
EM: Crossing the Gold Coast Marathon finish line was such an incredible
feeling. I was so happy to finish in the goal time I had planned. I aimed for sub
2:40 but wanted 2:36-2:38 so was absolutely wrapped to have the race go to
plan. 
 
BW: What did an average week look like leading up to GCM and what weekly
mileage were you running?
 
EM: My weeks were very similar each week with intervals Tuesday, a
midweek longer run Wednesday, another interval session Thursday or Friday,
a few easy runs and double days during the week and then Sundays were the
main marathon session which was between 30-38km with lots of longer
intervals chucked in the middle. Most weeks I would get between 120/150km
total.
 
BW: Do you like to race much in the lead up to marathons? Why/ why not?
 
EM: I prefer training over racing but I do try to do a few races in the lead up to
get an idea of how I’m tracking. 
 
BW: Most memorable race to date and why?
 
EM: Gold Coast Marathon. I’d train for this marathon for 3yrs. Covid cancelled
it the first year, the next year I got covid 1 week before the race so this year I
was so excited to just make the start line. The atmosphere on the course
made the race so fun and not as hard as it sounds to run 2:38. The crowd
really pushes you along. 
 
BW: I know you recently took some time out from running and went on a
holiday to Bali. How important is it to have some time away from running to
rest/ relax etc?
 
EM: I think it’s really important to get away and not always think about running
but in saying that I love running when I’m away and exploring new places. It’s
mostly easy k’s when I’m on holidays and it’s just for my own mental health,
not to get faster. You always feel better after a run. 
 
BW: Fav running surface i.e. road/ track/ trails/ grass?
 
EM: I love road running the most but I do love running trails with friends, I’m
just not good at running trails fast. Im too scared. Iv recently started training at
a track and that’s fun as well. So let’s say I love it all.

 
BW: How has your preparation been going for Kobe marathon?
 
EM: My preparation hasn’t been ideal at all. Iv had Bali belly, a sinus infection
and I’m currently 1 week out from the race and recovering from the flu which I
caught from my son. This last week I got 140km still but it’s all been very
easy. 
 
BW: What are you most looking forward to about racing in Japan?
 
EM: Iv heard such amazing things about Japan and racing over there and just
how well they look after all the athletes . I’m so excited to experience all the
amazing things that iv heard. The vibe and the Japanese people sujounds so
lovely. 
 
BW: I know you run with Sole Sisters and have a few other training partners
up on the Sunny Coast like the famous Beth McKenzie – how important to you
are training partners and being part of a great running community?
 
EM: For me it’s been really important to be surrounded by such an amazing
group of like minded runners. I’m very lucky to have Beth. We’ve trained for
Marathons together and I don’t think I could get through those hard session on
my own. It makes the hard runs fun and the easy runs we don’t stop talking.
We call it run therapy. My other girlfriend Renee runs Sole Sisters and is doing
such amazing things for this group of women. 
 
BW: Thanks so much for your time. Good luck in Kobe!