Moneghetti, who won gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, was ambassador for the Pichi Richi Marathon at Port Augusta on Sunday, June 26, for the first time and relished his experiences in the area.

He called into Port Pirie, on his way to Port Augusta on SA's east coast of the Spencer Gulf, to meet locals including Bill Fletcher, who staged a mock race start with the visitor as well as offered to cut his lawns.

Moneghetti, of Ballarat, in Victoria's Central Highlands, shared some thoughts about the "mind games" of marathon running.

"There is a lot happening in the race. The time goes really quickly. We are sort of sprinting for two hours at 20kmh," he said.

"You are concentrating on breathing, how you legs are, where the other runners are in the back and where the next drink station is.

"You are sort of playing mind games.

He said running a marathon was something anyone could do - with the right training.

"You can go to the gym and do weights or jump in the pool and do laps, but none of that will help you," he said.

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He still runs about 80 kilometres weekly, but that is down from the 200km a week that he covered when he was travelling the world as a runner.

Moneghetti said he was thrilled to be involved in the 40^th anniversary of the marathon.

He said few marathons had such a history on the same course.

He took part in the half-marathon starting midway between Port Augusta and Quorn.

When the marathon itself kicks off at Port Augusta, Moneghetti will fire the starter's gun for the competitors heading to Quorn.

He was accompanied on his trip to Port Augusta by Michael Slagter, of Adelaide, who is a five-time winner of the marathon and was taking part in his 24^th event.