City to Surf fun run, Sydney
Sunday 13th August 2006

Short Details
14km - 48:39mins, 72nd
Australia's biggest fun run / circus. Damn tough course. Struggled a fair bit. Beat Superman but Spiderman pipped me...

Long Details
Think circuses and names like Silver's Circus, Circus Oz and Cirque de Soleil come to mind...but not usually the City to Surf (C2S) fun run. Well, perhaps it should...and not just because it's held in Sydney...where everything is a bit of a circus (and its residents are the performers)!!! The C2S is a huge event and as evidenced by the remarkable fact that more chicks than chucks (girls than guys) did it this year, it's something that extends beyond being simply a purist sporting event for sweaty jocks. And now I can say I've done the C2S...just 1 of over 63,000 people this year. That's a big circus!!

The C2S is Australia's biggest fun run and has a history going back to 1971. During that time it's established itself as a time tested event with Australia's best ever runners slogging it out over the course. (Monna holds the course record...and don't say "Monna who?".) As the name implies it goes from the edge of the CBD, along, up, down, through, up, down, around, up, down, before finishing at Bondi beach. Did I mention there's a few hills? It's actually quite a spectacular course...but I reckon not as tough as our own Puffing Billy fun run.

During those 35 years the C2S has become an institution, not just for the hard core runners but for so many people who just want to participate in the whole event occasion, probably beginning the night before, then the race morning, afternoon, evening, night and probably the remnants of C2S participation - and aftermath - the following day. Yep, C2S is to running what the Melbourne Cup is to horse racing...you have to see it to believe the scale of it.

For me Sydney has very little appeal except as a transit stop on the way to other big events...like Hawaii :-) ...and to visit good friends Kim & Dean. So combining a social visit with the C2S is a perfect combination. I had quite low expectations since the Gold Coast marathon 6 weeks before, using that time to reacquaint myself with my bicycle, riding over 2500km during those 6 weeks. My running legs have had a very easy time and the C2S was going to be a real shock...my running form was pretty low. But with 6 weeks between races the withdrawal symptoms were getting quite strong so it was time to get back in the race groove. And so I headed north.

Emphasising the place C2S has in the culture of sporting and non-sporting people alike, a Saturday night gathering (aka carbo load) was full of bravado from previous years races, stories of heroism and woe, predictions and analysis. One member of the group Kim, Dean & I joined recounted his experience from last year of way, way over indulging the night before on a mix of Krispy Kreme donuts, alcohol, and Midnight Oil karaoke. (Unfortunately for him some video footage still exists!!) And he still did the event and was back for the 19th C2S in a row.

Then finally race day dawned. From Bondi Junction Kim & Dean caught the train in while I ran into town along Oxford St. Along the way were other runners also heading towards the Hyde Park starting area on buses, in taxis, cars and walking. But patrons at one 24hr hotel along the way clearly had no intentions of doing the C2S...

My first task once there was to pick up my race nbr. I was lucky to get a preferred runner start which put me pretty much right at the front of the field. May not seem significant but when you consider there were 3 separate starts each with 20,000+ people extending up 3 different streets, and that the people at the front of each of those groups were queueing for about 1.5 hrs, a preferred start really does make a difference. A nice little 'touch' is that preferred and seeded runners had their name printed on the bottom of their number bib.

The crowds were huge. The sponsor was handing out thousands and thousands of red caps creating a sea of red (and a bad clash with my blue Zoot race gear!!) There was music, DJs, announcements, people talking, sitting, walking, jogging and assembling themselves for one the three starts still an hour or more away. So many people and all shapes and sizes. And lots of colour. From regular running gear to more casual walking clothes, work sponsored outfits, themes and the obligatory gorilla and superhero outfits...just like the Melbourne Cup!! I felt very small and skinny in this crowd.

Then after a warm-up we lined up...preferred runners with the seeded (aka v good) runners in front of us. And guess who was there....Mr. Abdelhay "I'm a cheating Moroccan" Battal!!! (See note below). I started following him thinking I might stop him and poke my finger into his chest while telling him what a goddam cheat he is. But there was a race to run and hopefully I'd get a chance to trip him up, anyway!!

## Note - Mr Battal ran the Gold Coast marathon crossing the finish line 1 spot in front of me. However he cut 2nd half of the course short. I protested. It was investigated, upheld, he was disqualified and moved into 13th place. Yay for me!! And this was after a previous dodgy encounter with him in the Great Ocean Rd marathon in May. He know no bounds.

And so we were ready to start. Monna fired the gun to send us away...straight into a 300-400m downhill. My god people can run fast. And with 20,000+ people in the first wave the last thing to do is stop...or run into the barrier in the middle of the road!! But we were away and it then became a running race albeit surrounded by hundreds of people, including Spiderman.

"Spidey" was a seeded runner...not sure if because he's a superhero or just a good runner (superman wasn't seeded...figure that out!!). But today he was a good runner even if he was sweating a bit in his outfit. And he was just good enough that I couldn't get within less than a couple of metres behind him. But the lead woman managed to cruise past dragging a bunch of guys. Wonder woman, maybe?? Hmmm.

And at about the 2km mark who should I step off the side of the road onto the footpath to stop....Mr. Abdelhay "I'm also spineless" Battal. Didn't see him for the rest of the day...lucky for him!!

I was freeling pretty crap. My legs were pretty dead and I was working really hard and not feeling comfortable at all. Just not in racing shape. For this 14km race I was thinking about 48-49mins...probably more likely just sub-50 mins if I was lucky. I missed any km markers so had no idea how I was travelling. But the crowds all the way along were great. Plus several small jazz bands and more. The aid stations for 60,000 people went forever and were stacked 4 or 5 cups high, ie, layer of cups, cardboard, layer of cups, etc. Just waiting for someone to knock it all over...

Spidey got so many cheers...superhero after all, as did the 2nd woman as I ran with her for a little way. But the course was tough...not many flat spots. And then there's "heartbreak hill"...very well named. At the top the said 2nd woman, a kiwi, said "Shut!! Dudn't know ut would be thus hard." Me either. C2S virgins, both of us. But we plugged on.

Then there was a change in the women's placings...another woman came past into 2nd. I should say girl since she seriously looked no more than 12-13 years old (later learned she's 20...very seriously stunted growth). I couldn't believe it, she was tiny. And running away from me!! Me thinking I was about 2-3 times her age and about twice her weight (and me at 67kg isn't much)...feeling a bit sluggish. She started getting more cheers than Spidey!! This was all at about the highest point of the course so pretty much all downhill from here. And I passed 10km in 35:15min...surprisingly good time given how my legs felt and the hills we'd come up.

The last few kms were great. There was a magnificent view along the coast and down onto Bondi beach, complete with huge marquees on the sand, more tents, flags, banners, etc, and thousands of spectators. Quite appropriately (I thought) we ran down Campbell Parade into Bondi before turning into the carpark finish area. The tiny girl was about 50m ahead and got a huge wind-up by the MC/announcer at the finish line. I think Spidey was about level with her - both damn good runs. I was really working hard...and still feeling crap...but finished in 48:39min...quite pleasing and at the faster end of the range I though I might finish in. But geez it was hard. Superman came in a couple of minutes later.

Being early to finish it was pretty clear but people kept streaming in over the finish and into the park area around Bondi beach. So very quickly it became very crowded. Very, very crowded. Most people still wearing their red caps. And people kept on coming for hours. I mean 3hrs plus...a constant stream. That's such a long time to do 14km in... Unfortunatelty Dean pulled out with a strained calf but Kim ran well to finish just under an hour. Tribal was out in some force and put in some good performances (we should have entered a team...).

But for those who had finished it was time to take over Bondi. The pub, corporate marquees, the pub, smaller BBQs, the pub, picnics, the pub, food / coffee shops and the pub. All full of bravado, stories of heroism and woe, analysis and predictions for next year. Tall stories got taller as the day got longer. But that's the C2S. An amazing experience.

Next up is still a lot more training - including a few other races - before Hawaii (on 21st Oct). Then it's a summer of fun with all kinds of races, epic mountain run and ride events, and more. Beats the hell out of training in winter. And of course our Hobsons Bay Relay For Life (fundraising for Cancer Council Victoria) is on 11/12 November - please get involved!! www.hobsonsbayrelay.com

Thanks to Kim & Dean for having me to stay. Thanks also to Scott Leydin for my favourite blue Zoot gear (and other things), Bill & Julie at Ascot Vale Bakers Delight, Bill at Fitzroy Cycles, Keen hybrid footwear and especially to Andy & all the Tribal folk - top group of people.