City2Surf (Sydney)

For the similar event held in Perth, Western Australia, see City to Surf (Perth).

The Sun-Herald City2Surf

Race Details
Location:	Sydney
First run:	1971-09-05 !5 September 1971
Distance:	14 kilometres
Registration:

Competitors in the 2007 event run through Kings Cross

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.

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

1. ^ 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. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Sun Herald City2Surf History
3. ^ http://city2surf.com.au/
4. ^ History of the City 2 Surf
5. ^ ^{a b c} Sun Herald City2Surf Honour Roll
6. ^ 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. 
7. ^ 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. 
8. ^ Sun Herald City2Surf Frequently Asked Questions
9. ^ "Death Mars City To Surf Run". 16 July 2000. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-29944742.html. Retrieved 10 August 2008. 
10. ^ "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. 
11. ^ 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?