As part of a partnership with Gold Coast Marathon and Queensland Athletics, our Queensland Marathon champions (male and female) are chosen each year to compete in GCM’s sister event, Kobe Marathon (in Japan). This is part of a development / mentorship program and all flights, accomodation and race entry are covered. This year Riine Ringi was the first Queenslander across the line in a fantastic PB of 2:36:51min. Benita Willis from Qrun / Queensland Athletics had an interview with Riine before she heads over.
BW: Congrats on your brilliant run (& PB) at Gold Coast Marathon earlier this year! Can you describe your feeling as you crossed the line? Were you expecting this result?
RR: When I crossed the finish line, it was a mix of joy and relief. Relief because, for years, I knew I had the ability to run that time, but it just hadn’t come together. I used to think external factors were to blame, but I realised it was more about my mindset than my physical ability. One thing that stayed with me for months leading up to the race was a quote by Wayne Dyer: “You see it when you believe it.” That became my mindset. I learned to work on my headspace and not burn out before the gun even goes. Thanks to all the mental and physical work I put in, I was expecting a PB and I believed in it so much that there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that I was going to run a great time.
BW: What did an average week look like leading up to GCM and what weekly mileage were you running?
RR: Leading up to the Gold Coast Marathon, I was logging around 150 to 160 kilometres per week. My routine looked something like this:
Monday – relaxed 14-15k to start the week easy.
Tuesday – speed focused sessions with short, sharp intervals, totaling 16-18k, followed by a gym session in the afternoon.
Wednesday – midweek long run, about 23k.
Thursday – double easy runs to help with recovery while maintaining volume.
Friday – marathon specific training, followed by an afternoon gym session to build strength.
Saturday – easy double runs, keeping it light to prepare for Sunday.
Sunday – long run day, my absolute favourite. Often, I’d include a session within the long run, starting with 90 minutes of easy running and then transitioning into marathon pace efforts. It’s the perfect way to simulate how your body and mind will feel in the final stages of a marathon.
And yes, you read that right, rest days are rare for me! I can go months without a break. It’s not for everyone, but maintaining my rhythm is what works best for me.
BW: Do you like to race much in the lead up to marathons? Why/ why not?
RR: I don’t usually race much before a marathon, but every time I start gearing up for a new block, I tell myself that I’m going to race more this time. And, well, it rarely happens! I naturally lean toward longer races, 21k and up, because as strange as it may sound, I hate missing out on a long run for a shorter race. Those long runs are just too valuable to my training. That being said, I know racing more would be beneficial for practicing race execution and getting used to the race day environment, so it’s something I aim to work on.
BW: Most memorable race to date and why?
RR: My first marathon, Gold Coast Marathon in 2014, is by far my most memorable race. It was just six months after I finally quit smoking and I decided to swap one addiction for another by diving into running. Back then, I didn’t know much about structured training. There were no sessions or plans, I just ran. I had this idea that finishing in under three hours would be a good goal, but looking back now, it’s funny how naive and ambitious I was. I had no clue that breaking three hours was actually a good time, especially for a first marathon.
The entire experience was incredible. The atmosphere, the people running beside me, the energy of the crowd cheering us on, I remember being in awe of it all. I was smiling the entire race, completely high on the joy of running. When I hit 38 kilometres, I remember thinking, “Where’s the pain? Where’s the fatigue everyone talks about?” I felt none of it. I was just so happy and when I crossed the finish line with a time of 2:57, I was hooked.
Even now, after many more marathons and with a more serious approach to my training, I still look back at that first race. I was so relaxed and euphoric and I’m always chasing that feeling. While my pace has changed and I take my training more seriously, that pure joy I felt during my first marathon is something I continue to seek with every race.
BW: Although we claim you as a Queenslander, we know you have Estonian heritage. How often do you get back to see family / friends? Do you miss them being so far away?
RR: Yes, I was born and raised in Estonia and I moved to Australia 12 years ago. Sometimes I wonder why I chose to move so far away, why not somewhere closer? The distance definitely makes visiting family and friends more complicated. It’s not as simple as deciding to go home and being there the next day. It always takes time and planning.
I try to go back at least once a year, especially because of my two nieces. I don’t want to miss out on their childhood and I want to be as involved as I can as their aunt, even from a distance. My friends back home are also incredibly important to me. Every time I see them, it feels like no time has passed. Our bond stays just as strong and I really miss that closeness.
But despite missing them, I wouldn’t change my life here. I love the Gold Coast, I love Queensland and I’m really happy with the life I’ve built. That said, I do feel like I have two sides to myself. Estonia and Australia are so different that when I go back, I feel like a different version of myself and when I return here, I shift back. It’s a funny feeling, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
BW: Fav running surface i.e. road/ track/ trails/ grass?
RR: My favorite running surface is definitely road. I love everything about it, the smell of the pavement after the rain, the rhythmic sound of my shoes hitting the ground and the smooth flow of road running. There’s nothing quite like running on freshly laid, good-quality asphalt, it feels amazing. The road is where I’m most comfortable. I know my paces well and can easily switch off mentally, just letting the run happen without thinking too much.
I don’t mind trails either, but it’s hard to find good ones on the Gold Coast. Nerang, for example, is too rocky for me—it’s more of an ankle breaker than a trail I enjoy. I’ve tried it a few times, so I know what it’s like. If there were more accessible and enjoyable trails like those in the Spit area, I’d spend more time on them. But for now, the road is where I feel most at home.
BW: Congrats on winning your free trip to Kobe Marathon (coming up on 17th November) thanks to GCM + QA’s mentorship program. How has your preparation been going?
RR: I’d like to thank Gold Coast Marathon and Queensland Athletics for giving me this incredible opportunity to run the Kobe Marathon. I’m really looking forward to race day.
My preparation has been going really well. I’ve increased my weekly mileage a little more what I did for Gold Coast Marathon and I’ve realised that higher mileage really suits me. The more I run, the better I feel, especially when it comes to those challenging final kilometers in a marathon.
Strength training has also been a key focus in this block. My sessions have been excellent and I think that’s why I’ve had so few niggles or sore spots. This has been one of my smoothest training blocks in terms of staying almost completely niggle-free.
I’ve also taken the time to clean up my diet. While I’m plant-based, it’s still easy to rely on processed foods. This time, I’ve focused on eating as clean, raw and fresh as possible and I’ve really noticed the difference in my energy levels.
BW: What are you most looking forward to about racing in Japan?
RR: I’ve never been to Japan, but I’ve only heard amazing things about it. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the culture, the food and the overall atmosphere. Tennille and Ella, who have both done the Kobe Marathon through the same opportunity, have told me how incredible it is. They said the people are so welcoming and really take great care of you, which I’m excited to experience. After all my training in Queensland’s heat and humidity, I can’t wait for those cool, crisp conditions, no humidity and hopefully some nice, cool air to run in!
BW: How important is it to you to have great training partners and be part of a really strong running community (on the Gold Coast)?
RR: Having strong training partners and a supportive running community is incredibly important to me. Running might seem like a solo activity, but when you have a group of people to train with, it changes everything. My group is always there to push me, challenge me and yes joke around—there’s a lot of fun mixed in with the hard work. On days when I’m not feeling 100%, it’s knowing they’re out there waiting for me that keeps me going. That sense of accountability makes all the difference and it’s great to have people who understand the journey and push me to stay consistent. Even when I’d rather hit snooze, I get up and show up because they’re doing the same for me.
The Gold Coast running community is growing stronger each year, which is amazing. I’ve met so many people from different walks of life and it just proves that running is something that connects us, no matter what else we do.
BW: Thanks so much for your time. Good luck in Kobe! Photo credit @thesundaylongrun
