Running craze rocks eastern suburbs as run clubs prepare for sold out Sydney Marathon

It’s full steam ahead in the eastern suburbs with more people joining running clubs in preparation for the sold-out Sydney Marathon, which is gunning to become part of a world series.

The running craze has rocked Sydney’s eastern suburbs like never before, with more people joining run clubs to socialise or to train.

With 25,000 participants setting off in this year’s TCS Sydney Marathon, the runners will begin in North Sydney before crossing over the Harbour Bridge, heading into the eastern suburbs at Centennial Park before making their way down Oxford St and ultimately ending up at the famous Opera House.

Tribal Run Club founder and Irish expat Ryan Guilfoyle has seen the recent uptick in runners first hand.

Having only moved to Sydney last year, and admitting that running was a “lonely sport”, he realised making friends as an adult in a new place can be “incredibly difficult” and run clubs were a great way to socialise.

“I wanted to create a safe environment where people could come and meet friends … and just surround themselves with like-minded people trying to make a better life for themselves,” Mr Guilfoyle said.

“I wanted (it) to become a place whereby it might not be the reason you have moved to Sydney but the reason you could call it home.”

With roughly 70 run club members signed up to the Sydney Marathon this year, Mr Guilfoyle has organised two runs per week, including track sessions in Moore Park, varying short and longer distances.

Similarly, Ben Lucas, a Sydney Marathon ambassador and the owner of Paddington gym Flow Athletic, has also seen a boost in runners in the community.

“This year in the gym we have the highest number of runners doing the full marathon, most first-timers and most females,” he said.

This is also evidenced overall, with female athletes making up 31 per cent of the total field in a jump from 28 per cent last year.

Ben Lucas, a Sydney Marathon ambassador and the owner of Flow Athletic Gym in Paddington.

Ryan Guilfoyle, founder of eastern suburbs' Tribal Run Club.

He told the Wentworth Courier there were a few reasons for the “huge” spike in numbers.

According to Mr Lucas, people started running during Covid lockdowns and haven’t stopped since.

Along with that, people have caught on to the running craze on social media and wanted to check it out while others started running with friends or a way to address their mental and physical health.

“Running has never been bigger and more inclusive all over Sydney,” Mr Lucas said.

“It is so good to see the community coming together for the biggest ever marathon in the southern hemisphere on our journey to help make Sydney an Abbott World Marathon Major.”

Before runners cross the finish line at the Opera House and flock to pubs across the city, supporters will line the streets cheering on their best friends as they gruel it out to the end.

The run includes five spectator live sites at The Rocks, Surry Hills, Randwick, Centennial Park and UNSW with a $250 ASICS voucher given to the best supporters at each place.

For Mr Guilfoyle and his run club the weeks of endless training will be celebrated at the Bondi Bowlo with live music and food.