Bondi to Manly Ultra Marathon: Entries pour in for epic 80km race between Sydney’s famous surf beaches
More than 150 runners from the northern beaches have already signed up for an 80km ‘ultra marathon’ between two of Sydney’s famous surf beaches. Are you in our gallery of the inaugural event?
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It’s back — an epic, punishing 80km running marathon between two of Sydney’s most iconic surf beaches.
In just its second year, the Bondi to Manly Ultra, described as the world’s first ultramarathon to “traverse a major global city” is attracting thousands of entries.
So far, about 600 runners have signed up to run the entire distance — around Sydney and Middle harbours — from the eastern suburbs to the northern beaches.
And another 1400 have runners have put their names down to compete in a relay option — a run which splits the 80km into four legs of 20km each.
But there are now just 50 places left to take part in the 80km part of the ultramarathon.
Runners from the northern beaches are leading the way in entry numbers for the event set down for Saturday, October 28.
Data from the organisers show that 58 runners from Manly — the highest number by postcode — have entered so far. They’ll be running along side 41 from Balgowlah, Curl Curl (34), Dee Why (33) and Brookvale 20.
The Manly-based Vipers Run Club has the second most entrants for running clubs, behind “Her Trails”, a global women's’ running and adventure platform.
Competitors will make their way along the recently created Bondi to Manly Walk, the coastal and harbourside walking track between the famous seaside suburbs.
The route snakes its way from the Bondi Pavilion, north along the coast to South Head, before turning west, through the eastern suburbs, towards the Sydney CBD.
Athletes will run past some of the city’s most scenic spots, including the Royal Botanic gardens and Sydney Opera before heading across the Harbour Bridge.
Runners will then head east, past Taronga Zoo, on to Middle head and on over the Spit Bridge.
From there the route meanders through a section of Sydney Harbour National Park, passing Reef and Forty Baskets beaches before heading into the Manly CBD.
The race then shoots up through and around North Head before ending on the beachfront at Manly.
Money raised by the not-for-profit- event, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, will go towards the upkeep of the Bondi to Manly Walk.
Organisers said that in last year’s event, one in three runners were from outside Sydney and just over a third were female. The average age of participants was 42.
This year, so far, 46 per cent of the entrants are women.
Bondi to Manly Ultra Marathon managing director, Elle Pacholski said to receive 2000 entries in just over 7 months was a “huge result for us”.
“The fact we’ve received entries from such a wide variety of runners indicates the huge appeal our Harbour offers,” Ms Pacholski said.
“We’re thrilled to have so many running clubs taking interest in this. From the Her Trails team, to the Manly Vipers, we have great micro communities coming together to support the broader running community.
“Sydney Harbour is the world’s most beautiful harbour, and now it’s again playing host to the world’s only ultra marathon to traverse a major city.”
Click here for more information on how to sign up.
WHERE YOU IN THE 2022 BONDI TO MANLY ULTRA?
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