ASICS Gold Coast Marathon 2025 : Ahmad Arif Ibrahim Sets Sights on a Sub 2:30 Finish on his Marathon Debut

As Arif prepares for an ambitious debut at the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Sportplus.sg speaks with the SEA Games duathlete about his training and the motivation behind his goals

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG / HANIDA HUSSIEN

Each year, the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon serves as the first marathon for countless runners. Ahmad Arif Ibrahim will be one of those runners this year, taking on his first 42.195km along the beautiful Surfers' Paradise in July.

And as a competitive national athlete, it’s no surprise that he has set a very ambitious goal for himself in his first ever marathon.

“No secrets — I’m chasing that sub-2:30. Go big or go home,” the 31-year-old announced on an Instagram post after achieving a 5km personal best at the 85th Singapore Open Track and Field Championships last month.

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG / SYUHAINI AZLIN

Speaking to SportPlus.sg, Arif shares that though he knows just how bold it is to set his sights on a feat not many have achieved, he sees it as a way of testing his true abilities.

“I wanted to see what I’m truly capable of—physically and mentally. Initially, I didn’t have a specific target until Soh Rui Yong issued the challenge through Project Exceed, a collaboration with Live Long Long. That gave me the extra push to aim big. After studying past Singaporean marathon times, I realised sub-2:30 is no small feat,” said the endurance athlete.

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG / HANIDA HUSSIEN

“But with nothing to lose, I’m going all in. It’s a goal that demands everything I’ve got and more.”

With the Gold Coast Marathon set to take place on 6th July, the race serves as a mid-year peak for Arif to train towards, before shifting his focus back to racing the duathlon in Rayong, Thailand for the SEA Games in December.

PHOTO: DYLAN TJHIA / SPORT SINGAPORE

Having competed in numerous regional and local multi-sport events, the SEA Games silver medalist and three-time National Duathlon Champion has always loved the running leg. With his energy typically divided between cycling and running during races, he began to envision what he could achieve by dedicating his focus entirely to his favourite discipline.

Renowned for its flat course and stunning scenery, the Gold Coast Marathon is considered one of the fastest marathons—an ideal choice for runners aiming for a personal best or tackling their first 42.2 km. This was a key factor in Arif’s decision to choose it as his debut marathon.

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG / SYUHAINI AZLIN

“Compared to humid local races, Gold Coast offers cooler, drier weather, which is ideal for marathon running and removes one more variable on race day. It’s also a popular event in the Singapore endurance scene, so I’ll be racing alongside familiar faces,” shared Arif.

“The flat course makes pacing more predictable. I can lock into my goal pace early and hold it without having to adjust constantly for hills. That consistency helps reduce both physical fatigue and mental strain on race day. No surprises — just me versus the clock.”

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG / HANIDA HUSSIEN

Having been a competitive athlete for most of his life, Arif knows all too well the possible challenges he could face, and has been up in arms to brace and prepare to face them head on.

The biggest hurdle? Coming face to face with the infamous “wall”.

“Bonking late in the race could derail the entire sub-2:30 attempt. To prevent that, I’ve been practicing marathon fueling on my long runs — aiming for around 90g of carbs per hour, with a gel every 20 minutes,” he explained.

“Preparations have been going really well. I’ve ramped up my weekly mileage from my usual 70 km to between 120–160 km. I’ve also cleaned up my diet, dropped some weight, and focused more on recovery. In the process, I even set a new 5K PB — something I wasn’t expecting during a marathon block. I’m excited to see how much further and faster I can go.”

PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG / HANIDA HUSSIEN

Though plenty of runners will be deservedly looking to celebrate their marathon achievements by exploring the many sights of Gold Coast and Surfer’s Paradise, Arif will be flying in and out due to work commitments—making the marathon his one and only focus.

“From the buzz at the start line to the ocean breeze along the flat course, I want to be fully present — to enjoy the crowds, the views, and the privilege of racing alongside thousands of others. This race is my Gold Coast experience, and I plan to make every kilometre count.”

Though the full and half marathons have sold out, slots for the 5KM and 10KM race are still available. If you wish to experience the magic of running the white beaches of Gold Coast, sign up here.

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