Supporters urged to line streets for 2024 Sydney Marathon

Sydneysiders are being urged to play their part in the city’s bid to join an exclusive club, with the TCS Sydney Marathon on the verge of joining the likes of New York and Tokyo as a world major.

Sydneysiders have been urged to play their part in the city’s final push to join an exclusive club, with the TCS Sydney Marathon on the verge of joining the likes of New York, Tokyo and Berlin as a world major.

More than 150,000 supporters are expected to line Sydney’s streets, up 50 per cent from last year, with five designated spectator live sites scattered across the city at The Rocks, Surry Hills, Randwick, Centennial Park and UNSW.

While they cheer on their mates, those watching will be entertained by food trucks, DJs and drag queen performances.

Abbott World Marathon Major chief executive Dawna Stone said the Sydney Marathon had come a long way from its first year and it was in the event’s hands to pass the test for inclusion.

Other major marathons boast up to 50,000 participants each year, and Ms Stone said Sydney could follow suit over the years.

The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed the Sydney Marathon could inject $300m into the economy if elevated to major status.

Race director Wayne Larden said he believed those numbers were somewhat conservative and, as the field of athletes grows, Sydney could emulate the likes of London and New York, each of which has more than one million supporters lining the course.

Rebecca Bridgemohan, who is taking part in the Sydney Marathon, with Sydney-based runner and nutritionist Mick Chapman at Paine Reserve in Randwick. Picture: Jonathan Ng

With just hours until 25,000 runners set off from the new start line at North Sydney on Sunday morning, nutritionist Mick Chapman told The Daily Telegraph about the importance of race preparation.

“In the lead-up … carb-loading … is beneficial because it maximises our glycogen stores in our body,” he said.

“(Carbohydrates are) our primary food source.”

Mick Chapman and Rebecca Bridgemohan. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Mr Chapman said it was important to fuel throughout the race every “half an hour to 45 minutes” with runners told to take in 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour.

He advised runners to eat something small in the first half-hour after the race, before having a heavier meal in the following two hours, describing this as a significant step in recovery.

“I know that YoPRO will be there at the finish line … (with) a new high-protein yoghurt,” Mr Chapman said.

“It ticks a lot of the boxes, it’s got carbohydrates (as well).”