Brisbane Marathon Review – Kyle Dalmau
Training had been going beautifully, backed by three years of consistent, uninterrupted mileage. My confidence was sky-high, and I was eager to test my fitness on the heavily hyped, fast, and flat Ballarat course.
Then, out of nowhere, a sniffle turned into a hacking cough, which turned into a full-blown fever.
My dream run into Ballarat was over, pulling out of the race, derailed by a nasty case of the flu that required a full two weeks of total recovery. It was incredibly frustrating after putting months of relentless work into my system—Sunday long runs, high-quality sessions, and consistent volume. I had been completely fixated on finding those perfect, blisteringly fast conditions to perform, and losing that specific opportunity stung.
Once the initial disappointment settled, the focus quickly shifted to salvaging the physical fitness built into the block, which ultimately led to the decision to tackle the Brisbane Marathon. It was the exact opposite of what I had trained for; I went from preparing for a flat terrain to facing a tactical course with triple the elevation and numerous sharp turns. This forced a massive mindset change to accept a marathon course that wasn’t the perfect race or layout—something I wouldn’t have even considered otherwise. I planned to run the course entirely on its merits, disregarding robotic splits to run strictly to feel while focusing on the positives of simply being healthy.
My pre-race decision to consciously control my effort up the hills meant pulling back on the climbs to stay under threshold, but the relentless grind of the second lap naturally took its toll as my pace slowed on the ascents compared to lap one. However, meeting my fuelling goals completely saved the day, allowing me to work through the hills and grind on without hitting the wall. The late-race slowdown wasn’t a systemic crash; the engine felt incredible, but the chassis was just limited by the brutal terrain. Gritting out a fast final 3km, I absorbed the second-lap grind to finish with a two-minute positive split for a 2:42:47— landing 14th overall with an almost 5-minute PB.
Before getting sick, I thought I was in shape to run a 2:40 at Ballarat. To run a 2:42 on a course as honest as Brisbane, off a six-week block post-illness has left me over the moon.
So, what did this experience teach me?
1. Running is a long-term body of work
A severe flu is a frustrating, temporary setback, but this result wasn’t built in the six week post viral rebuild. It’s the result of three years of consistent, uninterrupted mileage. One block doesn’t define you; the cumulative volume does.
2. To get good at the marathon, you need to experience the marathon
This was my fourth time tackling the distance, and I’m finally starting to truly learn the event—how it affects my body and how to read what I’m feeling. You can’t just simulate this in training; you need the raw experience of the race itself. You must always respect the marathon, but after executing a tough race like Brisbane, I can confidently say I no longer fear it.
3. Adaptability trumps perfection
Runners are notoriously fastidious. We obsess over training splits, adhere rigidly to programs, and want everything to be perfect. This experience forced me to adapt—both in modifying my training after a sickness and throwing out the pace percentages on a hilly course. Running can’t be governed entirely by data; it is an art of feeling.
If you hit a setback, don’t force it. You’ll only make things worse. Recover, adapt, and pivot forward. If you miss your goal race, there will always be another starting line.
A two-week flu isn’t the worst setback in the world—I certainly had far worse during my football career, complete with broken legs, multiple surgeries, and rebuilt shoulders. But it was the timing of the flu that felt cruel, striking right at the peak of months of sacrifice. That’s the heartbreak of the marathon: you pour everything into one singular day, and you can’t just backup and try again next weekend.
Ultimately, I have found this entire experience has been the perfect stepping stone in my journey. It has completely refuelled my confidence, and I’m incredibly keen to push myself to the next level as I reset my sights on the next challenge.
Fair warning to anyone coming into the clinic over the next few months: if you use running as a conversation starter, good luck changing the subject once I get started!
But in all seriousness, if you are currently navigating your own training setbacks, injuries, or hurdles, remember to look at the bigger picture, listen to your body, and remain adaptable. I’d love to hear about your own running journey—and if you ever need a hand navigating the highs and lows of training, I’m always here to help you guide the chassis to match your engine.
See you out on the roads!
Kyle Dalmau
Podiatrist & Marathoner
P.S. If you would like to have your running gait assessed and learn about your running technique, economy and what we can do to improve it, I welcome you to visit the 3D RunLab at Melbourne Foot Clinic
3D RunLab at Melbourne Foot Clinic
Whether you are a beginner, running for fitness or a seasoned veteran, running competitively, there is always room to improve. Having a 3D RunLab assessment, we can accurately record your running economy, biomechanical features and loading patterns with the statistics that contribute towards it.
The process will include
- A full podiatric screening.
- Instantaneous feedback on running form and retesting under different variables.
- A full report with test results and recommended training/treatment plan will be emailed to you following the session.
To take the next step in your running journey, you can book online or call our reception team on (03) 9890 2212.