Not for the two winners of the Orange Running Festival marathon, who are both set of harder and harsher things in the coming weeks. 

Matilda Perrin won the women's event - her first event in Orange - in 3 hours, 08 minutes and 31 seconds ahead of Sarah Carpenter (3:27.46) and Andrea Bennett (3:28.07). 

The Central Coast racer doesn't take part in a club, and used the event as her "last bit of fun" before she gears up her training for an ultra-marathon in three weeks. 

Being conscious of the upcoming 100-mile event, Perrin said she "didn't go too hard" at the Bloomfield course, but still caught herself running faster than she intended. 

"I always intend to be a bit slower at the start but I got a bit silly and chased the boys," she said. 

"I probably had four men in front of me and tried to hold on to them as much as I could, it was solo and lonely so I tried to enjoy it for what it was. 

"I actually didn't know where I was in the field all day, I was making sure I wasn't going to hard to blow up in a few weeks but it was about being comfortable, running comfortably hard."

The three hour and eight minute run was a personal best by 10 minutes, which she was "absolutely stoked" about.

She also heaped praise on the course.  

"It was fantastic, rolling through the countryside and the hills," she said of the run out to Spring Hill. 

"At about 25km there were two little girls sitting on their farmgate yelling out at everyone and that was really, really motivating, and then there was a camel at about 30km."

Meanwhile in the men's even Barry Keem reclaimed the title he won in 2016 as he finished in 2:40.14, ahead of Jonathan Nesher (2:49.29) and Rob Wilson (2:49.51). 

He said it was good to take the win after coming second in 2018 and 2017. 

"I was a little bit disappointed last year but it was good to come back … It's a great event, turning up yesterday everyone's so friendly, even out on the course we're all so friendly, I don't think there was one runner who didn't say "go!" to the other so it's a really good feeling," he said. 

He nearly didn't run in the event after taking a tumble in a trail race in the lead-up to the marathon. 

"I wasn't sure if I'd get here and run but they've settled down enough and felt good during the run," he said. 

"I was just trying to establish a lead early and see how I was going at halfway and I was going well so going back and seeing other runners was really enjoyable, get to cheer them on and they cheer us on."