It seems some people are gluttons for punishment. Within days of the running of the Solar Eclipse Marathon on 14 November, several athletes were expressing strong interest in next year's CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon.

Port Douglas Event Management Business Manager, Bruno Bennett, has advised The Newsport that entry registrations have already started coming in for 2013.

"It is amazing. This is undoubtedly a direct result of the promotion that the CANEGROWERS Solar Eclipse Marathon generated around the world," Mr Bennett said.  

"Word has gone out that the Eclipse marathon course, which will feature some of the same highlights for next year's CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon is one of the most challenging adventure marathon courses anywhere in the world and represents the ultimate personal challenge.

Mr Bennett said there was much work to do in preparation for the next year's event, and was hopeful it would be the biggest field yet with applications for government funding to be submitted.

"We still have many decisions and processes to get through before we can finalise all details of the Great Barrier Reef Marathon 2013 but this early response is fantastic.  

"We have had wonderful response from the business community with CANEGROWERS coming in as a major sponsor, but we missed out on funding from Events Queensland for the recent early round of funding and that was disappointing," Mr Bennett said.

"We do remain confident that our next submission for the new round of grant applications will receive a more positive review.  

"This potential funding, plus our forthcoming local government funding application will confirm whether this well-received festival of running and important piece of the event tourism jigsaw can be put into place to assist the usually quiet shoulder period in November each year."

With around 600 local, national, and international runners participating in the 2011 and 2012 events, Mr Bennett said the word is getting out there.

"We are hopeful that an annual event positioned at this time of the year will grow to rival many of the other huge marathon festivals in the big cities around Australia. And with the backing of the business community and government funding organisations, the international promotion essential to consolidate this event looks like it’s a real possibility now."

According to Mr Bennett, the 2013 CANEGROWERS Great Barrier Reef Marathon is planned to be the first of an annual marathon festival which will include the marathon, half marathon, ultra Marathon, 10km and Fundy 5000 metre events.  

Accommodation packages will be available for those who need them but race-only entries will be the main focus from now on which Mr Bennett is convinced will see the entry numbers rise into the thousands.

For more details or to book your place in 2013 visit the Great Barrier Reef Marathon website.