The 2022 Gold Coast Marathon has been years in the making, with the event going ahead for the first time since 2019.
The two-day running festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Last year, a lockdown also forced organisers to call off the event just three days before race day.
"Last year was devastating, particularly for all the runners that had trained so hard, to have that pulled out three days before," Tony Mullen from Events Management Queensland said.
Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O'Callaghan said it was not just devastating for the athletes, but also the hospitality and tourism operators that missed out on the business of thousands of visitors.
"For the city as a whole, it was really quite heartbreaking at the time," Ms O'Callaghan said.
$30 million boost
About 20,000 people are registered in events this weekend, with half the competitors travelling from interstate.
The half marathon, 5km fun run and junior events took place on Saturday, with the marathon, 10km run and wheelchair events scheduled for Sunday.
"It just means so much to businesses here from an industry point of view," Ms O'Callaghan said.
Average occupancy across the city is sitting at 90 per cent for the weekend.
"This event traditionally puts over $30 million into our local economy over the weekend," Ms O'Callaghan said.
Ms O'Callaghan said people were arriving earlier and staying longer, as the event coincided with the school holidays.
"From a tourism point of view, it's giving people a reason to come. But they're staying for other reasons," she said.
Destination event
The marathon has become a destination event, not just for the scenic location, but for the fast, flat course.
Usually, about 60 per cent of competitors set personal best times at the Gold Coast Marathon.
The line-up ranges from elite athletes having a hit-out ahead of the Commonwealth Games, to recreational runners competing in their first race.
Among those first-time competitors, Grace and Matt Holland travelled from Newcastle for the half marathon.
"We've registered several years in a row ... we've been trying for a few years but we haven't done it before," Mr Holland said.
Grey skies not dampening spirits
Brett Robinson, male winner of the half marathon event, said the rain made for "nice" running conditions on Saturday.
"My intention today was to just come and get the win.
"I was here last year, ready for the race, then it was cancelled a few days before, which was devastating, especially for all the recreational runners, this is their big race of the year."
