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The pair, who work together at Raine and Horne and are both approaching the big 40 mark; have set themselves the challenge to complete a half-marathon.

Neither have run in a marathon event in the past, but they are well prepared.

Porteous and Shepheard have been training solidly for the past four months, starting off with six-kilometre runs three times a week and building up to the 21km stretch.

“It’s one of those things you’ve got to tick off the bucket list,” 37-year-old Porteous said.

Shepheard, 38, said they had been working off a training program provided by the event organisers, on the event website.

“It should take us two hours,” she said.

“Our initial expectation was two-and-a-half hours.”

The 2009 Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on Sunday with more than 21,000 people of all ages and abilities expected to participate.

There will be a marathon, half-marathon, 10km run, a new 5km run/walk and junior dash races for the kids over 4km and 2.25km.

Shepheard said she has already locked herself in to run the half-marathon again next year, with the aim of beating whatever time she gets this year.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is officially accredited by Athletics Australia and the International Association of Athletics Federations and is a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. It annually assembles a quality field of elite runners pursuing a slice of the large prizemoney pool and the various championships on offer.