- City2Surf (Sydney)
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The Sun-Herald City2Surf Race Details Location: Sydney First run: 5 September 1971 Distance: 14 kilometres Registration: City2Surf (or City to Surf) is a popular road running event held annually in Sydney, Australia covering a 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) course. The event is a "fun run" as well as a race, attracting both serious runners and community participants who can choose to run or to walk. The largest timed running race in the world,[1] the event attracts more than 80,000 entrants who start in staggered groups based on previous running times and early entry.
Contents
History
The Sydney City2Surf has been held as an annual event since the first run on 5 September 1971. It was conceived by the staff of The Sun and inspired by the Bay to Breakers event in San Francisco. The first event was jointly organised by the Amateur Athletic Association of NSW and the NSW Women's Amateur Athletic Association and attracted just over 2,000 competitors, most of whom were registered athletes belonging to the many Registered Athletic Clubs that were part of these two bodies.
Since 1973 it has been held on the second Sunday in August, except for the race held in 2000, moved to July due to the Sydney Olympics in August.[2]
When The Sun ceased publication in 1988, the sponsorship of the event passed to the new Sunday tabloid The Sun-Herald.
In recent years, over 60,000 people have entered. In 2010, on the event's 40th anniversary, a record 80,000 participants ran, making it the largest run of its kind in the world.[3] It is still primarily sponsored and organised by The Sun-Herald.[4]
The course record is 40:03, set by Steve Moneghetti in 1991. The women's record is 45:08 minutes, set by Susie Power in 2001.[5] Non-Australian athletes have typically won the race in recent years, including repeat winners Laban Chege (1999–2000), Patrick Nyangelo Lusato (2003–2005), and Dickson Marwa (2006–2007).[2] In 2008, Martin Dent became the first Australian winner since Lee Troop in 1997.[6] Marwa was competing in the 2008 Olympics.[7]
As of 2010[update], the course starts in several groups in order to give preference to faster runners. There are invitation-only seeded and preferred runner groups, followed by runners with previous race times under 75 minutes, runners with previous race times under 100 minutes, an open entry running group, an open entry jogging group, and finally an open entry "Back of the Pack" group for walking, using a wheelchair or pushing child strollers. Entry to all groups is limited to a certain number of competitors and, except for the invitation-only groups, allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Route
The 14 km route taken by the participants passes through the suburbs of Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, Rose Bay, Vaucluse, Dover Heights and Bondi Beach. The most difficult part of the course is "Heartbreak Hill" at the halfway mark, a 2 km long steep ascent from Rose Bay to Vaucluse along New South Head Road.[8]
Features en-route include many amateur bands performing along the suburban roads, and many City2Surf participants dressed in novelty themed costumes.
Winners
Male
Year Name[5] Country Time 2011 Liam Adams Australia
41' 11" 2010 Ben St Lawrence Australia
41' 05" 2009 Michael Shelley Australia
41' 02" 2008 Martin Dent Australia
41' 12" 2007 Dickson Marwa Tanzania
41' 10" 2006 Dickson Marwa Tanzania
40' 49" 2005 Patrick Nyangelo Lusato Tanzania
41' 12" 2004 Patrick Nyangelo Lusato Tanzania
41' 04" 2003 Patrick Nyangelo Lusato Tanzania
41' 55" 2002 Jussi Utriainen Finland
41' 37" 2001 John Msuri Tanzania
40' 24" 2000 Laban Chege Kenya
40' 25" 1999 Laban Chege Kenya
40' 27" 1998 Daniel Browne United States
41' 35" 1997 Lee Troop Australia
40' 55" 1996 John Morepedi South Africa
40' 19" 1995 John Morepedi South Africa
41' 05" Female
Year Name[5] Country Time 2011 Jessica Trengove Australia
47' 29" 2010 Lara Tamsett Australia
46' 54" 2009 Melinda Vernon Australia
47' 46" 2008 Rebecca Lowe Australia
47' 18" 2007 Jessica Ruthe New Zealand
46' 33" 2006 Anna Thompson Australia
47' 15" 2005 Kerryn McCann Australia
46' 27" 2004 Hayley McGregor Australia
46' 22" 2003 Hayley McGregor Australia
47' 28" 2002 Susie Power Australia
45' 50" 2001 Susie Power Australia
45' 08" 2000 Susan Hobson Australia
48' 24" 1999 Kylie Risk Australia
46' 25" 1998 Kerryn McCann Australia
48' 10" 1997 Elizabeth Miller Australia
47' 30" 1996 Heather Turland Australia
46' 43" 1995 Elizabeth Wilson United States
47' 05" Notable events
Deaths during the race have occurred several times. In both 2000 and 2008 a competitor died of a heart attack close to the finish line of the race.[9][10] After the 2008 death, medical academic Michael O'Rourke noted that a runner developing arrhythmia and cardiac arrest happens most years but that the sufferer is usually revived.[11]
References
- ^ Merhab, Belinda (7 August 2009). "City 2 Surf is 'world's largest race'". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/city-2-surf-is-worlds-largest-race-20090807-eckf.html. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
- ^ a b Sun Herald City2Surf History
- ^ http://city2surf.com.au/
- ^ History of the City 2 Surf
- ^ a b c Sun Herald City2Surf Honour Roll
- ^ AAP (10 August 2008). "Martin Dent wins City2Surf". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/martin-dent-wins-city2surf/2008/08/10/1218306625295.html. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ Welch, Dylan (11 August 2008). "New and old heroes gather to walk, run, fly". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/heroes-gather-to-run-fly/2008/08/10/1218306665720.html. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
- ^ Sun Herald City2Surf Frequently Asked Questions
- ^ "Death Mars City To Surf Run". 16 July 2000. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-29944742.html. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ "Man dies during City2Surf". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 10 August 2008. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/man-dies-during-city2surf/2008/08/10/1218306642933.html. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ Ramachandran, Arjun (11 August 2008). "City2Surf tragedy: young runner unregistered". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/run-victim-unregistered/2008/08/11/1218306703123.html. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
External links
- Official website
- City swell carries African to his hat-trick
- City to Surf - Blue Mountains Family History
- What does it take to be a City2Surf Legend?
Note: this includes events held in the Sydney CBD and its fringe areas, not the Greater Sydney metropolitan area Summer December: Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race • Carols in the Domain • Sydney New Year's Eve
January: Australia Day • Flickerfest • Sydney Festival • Jazz in the Domain • Opera in The Domain
February: Tropfest • Trop JrAutumn March: Mardi Gras Film Festival • Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras • Chinese New Year Festival • Greek Festival of Sydney • ARTEXPRESS
April: ANZAC Day Parade • The Sydney Comedy Festival • Surry Hills Festival • Hoopla Festival
May: Sydney Writers' Festival • Vivid SydneyWinter All: Biennale of Sydney (every even numbered year)
June: Newtown Flicks Short Film Festival • Sydney Film Festival • Sydney Eisteddfod • Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival
July: Good Food & Wine Show • The Rocks Aroma Festival • Sydney International Boat Show
August: City to SurfSpring September: Ignite Film Festival • Sydney Underground Film Festival • Sydney Fringe Festival • Festival of the Winds
October: Sydney International Food Festival • World's Funniest Island • Darling Harbour Fiesta • Australian International Motor Show
November: Bondi Short Film Festival • Popcorn Taxi • Balmain Art & Craft Show • Sculpture by the SeaSee also: Landmarks in the Sydney City Centre · Theatres in the Sydney City Centre Categories:- Sport in Sydney
- Long-distance races
- Athletics in Australia
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