ECKSTEIN AND MARRIOTT HEADLINE COOLANGATTA GOLD'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY RACE

October 15: Defending champions Caine Eckstein and Alicia Marriott will again headline this year's 10th race anniversary of Australia's toughest endurance Ironman race - the iconic Coolangatta Gold, on November 7.

Born within the movie of the same name in 1984, the Coolangatta Gold is now firmly entrenched on the Surf Life Saving Australia and Queensland Events sporting calendar.

After it's debut years in 1984 and 1985 the race returned in 1991 and 1992 before it made yet another return in 2005, this time adding the first women's race won by Hayley Bateup.

The event for men over 46.65km and 30.5km for the women also features under 19s, Masters and Teams events which has continued to grow, this year attracting over 500 competitors.

Last year saw Eckstein win a record-breaking third Coolangatta Gold (2005, 2008 and 2009) eclipsing the original two-time winner Guy Leech (1984 and 1985).

To win a fourth Coolangatta Gold will certainly etch his name indelibly into the annals of a race that has continued to capture the imagination of Australians since Grant Kenny starred alongside Colin Friels and Josh McWilliam in Michael Edgley's movie.

And Eckstein admits he will be better prepared than last year, when she ser a new race record time of 4 hours and 15 seconds.

"Last year was a third in a row for me. It was quite a big thing for me to back up three times in a row," admitted Eckstein, who joined the who's who of Ironman racing at today's Coolangatta launch at Q1 on the Gold Coast.,

"I definitely feel a lot better than last year, hopefully feeling 20 percent or so better and hopefully it will show on the day."

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The men's race will also feature Ironman legend Dean Mercer (Northcliffe), Josh Minogue and Jack Hansen (Mooloolaba), Mark Simpson (Cronulla) and Cory Hill (Northcliffe).

Mercer, who will be lining up in his eighth Coolangatta Gold, looked back at his Gold debut in 1991.

"It was a bit of a shock coming from Wollongong, even through we did compete on the Gold Coast, we were not really familiar with the race format and how it was all layed out," Mercer said.

"I suppose we were all very understaffed as far as our handlers were concerned.

"It was a real experience when everybody goes through that first race, not knowing what to do or what to expect, a real eye-opener and we were still very much in the primary (school) stages of knowing what to do, nutritional wise and training wise to prepare for that race.

"But we have come a long way. I suppose I'm pretty experienced now being my eighth one. I don't know whether you get wiser or smarter, I don't know what it is; I am certainly more familiar with the course at least anyway."

Last year also saw Alicia Marriott take her second women's Gold crown (2007 and 2009) and a third victory in 2010 will see her join Bateup (2005, 2006, 2008) as a three-time winner.

Bateup will miss this year's race after undergoing shoulder reconstruction.

But Marriott can expect some stiff opposition from Northcliffe sister combination Courtney and Bonnie Hancock and team mate Elizabeth Pluimers, who is returning after collapsing just before the finishing line last year.

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Meanwhile the popular teams events have added a real enthusiasm to many clubs from around Australia with Olympians, champion runners and triathletes joining in the Coolangatta Gold festival of sport.

The Dee Why women's team will be spearheaded by Beijing Olympic canoeing silver medallist Jacqueline Lawrence while the defending Freshwater men's team will see Ironman Triathlete Pete Jacobs join ski-paddling brother Tim.

This year's race categories are:

Open Men, Masters, Men and Mixed Teams (46.65km):

      Ski (Kurrawa to Greenmount via Northcliffe) 23km;

      Run (Greenmount to Coolangatta Gold) 0.65km;

      Swim (Coolangatta to Bilinga) 3.5km;

      Run (Bilinga to Currumbin) 4km;

      Board (Currumbin to Burleigh Heads) 5.5km;

      Run (Burleigh Heads to Kurrawa via Northcliffe) 10km.

Open Women, Masters, Teams, Under 19 men (30.5km):

      Ski (Kurrawa to Currumbin SLSC via Northcliffe) 15km;

      Run (Currumbin SLSC to Currumbin Creek) 1km;

      Board (Currumbin Creek to Burleigh Heads SLSC) 4.5km;

      Swim (Burleigh Heads SLSC to North Burleigh) 2.5km;

      Run (North Burleigh to Kurrawa via Northcliffe) 7.5km