In the year of its 50th race, City2Surf steps it up a notch

When the first City2Surf starting gun went off 52 years ago, runners had a strong incentive to record a good time: they had 100 minutes before police reopened the roads. Police cleared streets just 10 minutes ahead of the first racers, shutting a single direction of traffic for the famous CBD to Bondi track. Most cars, unaware of the event, pulled over and kept their lead-filled engines running, causing some coughing runners to vow never to return.

In all, 1576 people started. 1509 people finished. And 14 people crossed the finish line without officially starting.

A lot has changed: this year around 60,000 people are expected to take part in the race, and unlike in 1971, the Opera House and the Kings Cross Tunnel are fully built.

Runners make their way along William Street during the 2019 City2Surf.Credit: Brook Mitchell

But as the 50th race takes place early on Sunday morning (the City2Surf only took place virtually for the past two years, due to the pandemic), it appears one thing has remained the same: it’s always sunny at the City2Surf.

Runners can expect the lightest of showers in the morning (less than a millimetre) with a top of 17° throughout the day. The race, held on the second Sunday of August each year, quickly gained a reputation in Sydney for having superb weather. Couples trying to find a date for their wedding used to call up the offices of the now-defunct The Sun newspaper, which used to manage the event, to ask when the rain-free race would occur.

Waiting for the starter’s gun at the first City2Surf in 1971.

Chris Edwards, part of a shrinking group of “City2Surf Legends” who have participated in every race since 1971, has written a book about the event’s history. He said the event’s legacy is in its innovation.

“It had the first-ever computerised race result in the world,” he said. “Most computerised results didn’t happen until about a decade later.

“They used the mainframe of The Sun newspaper. All the results got put into there and tallied up, and all the data was printed out on a dot matrix printer.”

Edwards said the race “became bigger and more colourful and interesting as the years went on”.

Among the “colour” came the runner-led fundraising, which hit a new high in 2012 when more than $4 million was raised for charities of runners’ choice.

Dr James Henshaw, a junior doctor at the Royal Hospital for Women, will join others from the Randwick hospital in the Royal Runners team, which will raise money for equipment and resources via the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation.

“Everyone’s really excited about it. Every Saturday we get up bright and early and go for a run around Centennial Park as a group,” he said of the team’s training efforts. The foundation raises money for essential hospital equipment, including incubators at the neonatal intensive care unit, and psychological support.

After exceeding their initial target of $1000, the Royal Runners will aim to raise $5000. And after two years of running in neighbourhoods, every dollar will motivate the runners as they attempt Heartbreak Hill.

CITY2SURF BY NUMBERS

0 – Youngest runner – two children born on May 15 will be taking part with their parents

1 – One former winner in the field: Australia’s fastest electrician, Liam Adams

14 – Kilometres runners will travel between the CBD and Bondi Beach

17 – Bands on course entertaining runners throughout the day

20 – City2Surf Legends who will be taking to the streets of Sydney for the 50th time

28 – Countries represented

37 – Average runner’s age

51 – Million dollars raised for charities since 2008

98 – Oldest runner

305 – Charities supported by City2Surf fundraisers in 2022

1800 – Volunteers helping to run the event

2026 – Most represented postcode – Bondi

60,000+ – Runners taking part

840,000 – Total kilometres that 60,000 runners will cover during the City2Surf on Sunday

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