The Canberra Times Marathon Festival 2025 kicked off with a display of endurance and community, as runners from across Australia and New Zealand gathered for the annual event. Myles Gough, a 38-year-old teacher from Port Kembla, claimed his second victory in the marathon, overcoming a series of injuries to finish in two hours and 30 minutes. Gough, who also won in 2021, expressed relief and joy at competing again at a high level.
Danny Soglanich, 36, finished just 12 seconds behind Gough, marking his first podium finish in a marathon. 'I had to dig deep and stick it out the end. So yeah, I'm proud of myself,' he said. The race saw a lead group of four runners until the 36-kilometre mark, when Gough and Soglanich broke away, with Gough pulling ahead in the final five kilometres.
In the women's division, Nina Rillstone, a New Zealander living in Sydney, crossed the finish line first in two hours and 51 minutes. The 49-year-old data analyst, who last ran a marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, set a goal of completing another race before her 50th birthday. 'It's nice to know you can still pull one out. Age is no excuse to stop is it?' she said, noting the challenging course and encouragement from bystanders.
Running coach Sean Hanrahan, founder of the Running 4 Happiness Project, celebrated the achievements of over 60 runners he trained for the festival. Hanrahan, who was diagnosed with ADHD three years ago and struggled with depression, credits running with transforming his life. He helps other Canberrans find their passion for running, including a client who returned after battling breast cancer and another who achieved a personal best following a back injury.
