Runners and walkers take on biggest ever Darwin City2Surf

Personal bests and records were broken as thousands came down for the biggest City2Surf ever. SEE ALL THE RESULTS HERE.

RUNNERS pounded the pavement along the Darwin Esplanade for the main event as they took part in the popular City2Surf fun run on Sunday morning.

Nearly 700 of the 789 entrants finished the traditional City2Surf run at Nightcliff swimming pool with runners completing the 12km course at an average time of one hour and 12 minutes.

Tim Hewitt was the first over the line in a time of 40 minutes and 26 seconds, closely followed by Russell Dessaix-Chin.

The first female across the line was Tarra Brain in 10th place, running the distance in 47 minutes and four seconds.

Born and bred Territorian, Kristina Mu, 23, only started training a week ago for the long distance event.

“I’m feeling really relieved, I started training intensively for it in the last week,” she said.

“I signed up pretty last minute.

“I’ve been training for the 5km but not for the longer distance.”

Ms Mu retired her runners and enjoyed brunch after completing the event.

“I went to a cafe to eat, which was nice, you know, sort of a celebratory feast,” she said.

The start of the kids mini marathon as Darwins fitness crowd turns out for the Santos City to Surf. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“It was my first time doing City2Surf, or any race, so I was feeling really nervous today but I got through.”

Eric Emmett, 62, flew up from Perth to hit the pavement in Darwin’s City2Surf 12km event this year.

“I throughly enjoyed the run,” he said.

“Myself and two mates came up from Perth to do it and it's a little excuse because Perth hasn’t got a City2Surf this year due to Covid.

“(The event) has been cancelled three years in a row now.

“(It was) a good excuse to come up to the Northern Territory to do a run and go to Kakadu yesterday.”

Mr Emmett said his glory days were over but said his mate was the real star.

“My mate came first in the 4km race,” he said.

“He only flew up yesterday, ran today and came first in the 4km.”

Darwin City2Surf takes to the Esplanade for day one

A POPULAR part of the City2Surf Marathon has been held for the first time in four years, on a new street in Darwin’s CBD.

Ahead of the main event on Sunday, which is expected to attract 1600 people, a smaller racing event was held along a mile-long stretch of the Esplanade.

The afternoon featured both marathon runs and cycling events.

A predecessor event was previously held in 2018 along Mitchell St, according to Athletics NT chief executive Leanne Chin.

Ms Chin said she was glad to have received funding from the NT government to restore the event, albeit on a new street.

“It was very expensive to close an entire strip (of Mitchell St),” Ms Chin said.

But she said the new Esplanade digs also had its advantages. “We’re taking advantage of the ocean views. We have live entertainment from local acts,” she said.

Sunday’s City2Surf event will hold 1km, 4km and 12km races to cater for people of all ages and abilities.

Ms Chin said the weekend was a way to showcase getting fit and healthy. “We truly are trying to promote healthy lifestyles throughout the entire length of your life, starting with marathon for kids,” she said. “It’s also an event which is accessible for people of all ability. There’s a distance for everybody.”

Originally published as Runners and walkers take on biggest ever Darwin City2Surf