Fast, flat, picturesque and FREE – the newly announced Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) marathon course is set to be a crowd pleaser.

Starting and finishing at the Southport Broadwater Parklands, the course will take runners and wheelchair athletes on a flat and scenic route.

Familiar with the Gold Coast roads is champion marathon runner and GC2018 Chef de Mission, Steve Moneghetti who gave praise for the event location.

“It will be a spectacular event having run these roads myself many times,” Moneghetti said.

“Fast and beautiful at the same time.”

The 42-kilometre road event has a stirring past at the Commonwealth Games, dating back several decades.

Brisbane 1982 –  The people of Brisbane city lined the streets in their tens of thousands to watch Australia’s Robert De Castella rein in Juma Ikangaa from Tanzania.

Victoria (Canada) 1994 – Steve Moneghetti clutched his first gold medal, after he ran over the finish line three minutes ahead of the field, into the arms of his wife.

Melbourne 2006 – A deafening roar from the home crowd cheered Kerryn McCann into a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground as she battled Kenyan Hellen Cherono Koskei. The lead changed six times before McCann made a break in the final 200 metres to win gold.

“There is a wonderful history for Comm Games marathon events, especially for Australia,” Moneghetti said.

“I have no doubt this course will add its own exciting chapter to that Marathon book.”

As one of the free events on the GC2018 program, fans will be able to line the course and create a memorable atmosphere for the athletes on the final day of competition.

For more information on the GC2018 Marathon, visit gc2018.com/venue/southport-broadwater-parklands