Local marketing consultancy The 20/20 Group has claimed race favourite status for next month's Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival 10km corporate teams challenge in Port Douglas.

The 20/20 Group director, Gaye Scott, said her team's race conditioning and experience had figured heavily in the claim.

“Race favourite is a strong claim, but one that I think we've earned,” Gaye said. “One team member is a former primary school cross country runner-up, and I once ran 10km and only stopped three times.

“We encourage other Cairns businesses to sign up now. Don't be intimidated, although we will probably run the whole 10km with only one or two rest pauses,” she said.

The 10km corporate teams challenge is one of several events comprising The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival on 12 November. Corporate teams may nominate for the 10km or half marathon distance, with winners determined by the best team average across all four competitors.

The Festival also features a 74km ultra marathon, Steve Moneghetti Open Invitational Half Marathon and the 5km “Fundy 5000” charity event.

Port Douglas Event Management business development manager, Bruno Bennett, said registrations for the team events are steadily coming in.

“We've received more than 200 nominations across the race categories, and expect more in the weeks leading into the event,” he said.

“We encourage local businesses to sign up and take their rivalries on to the race course.”

Businesses may register at the Great Barrier Reef Marathon website or call 4099 4540. 

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