Denver Mottau

CITY2SURF 2018 : SYDNEY CELEBRATES ANOTHER GREAT FUN RUN

Sydney celebrated its annual 14 km road-running event last Sunday with close to 80,000 entrants participating in what was regarded by many as the world’s largest fun-run.

It was a big day out for Sydneysiders who either joined the serious competitors in testing their endurance, or choose to walk the distance pushing prams or revelling in fancy dress.

This is one community event where the spectators offer every encouragement to participants both young and old, cheering-them-on and making it a very special outdoor activity to be enjoyed by all. Truly, a genuine sense of community was felt all-around.

Long distance runner Ben St Lawrence clinched his second City2Surf victory finishing with a time of 41.42 minutes while Ellie Pashley from Victoria won the women’s title for the first time in 46.21 minutes.

Steve Moneghetti still holds the City2Surf record at 40.03 set in 1991. Susie Power holds the women’s title with a record time of 45.08 in 2001.

Among the elite wheelchair veterans, Sam Rizzo won the men’s title and Madison de Rozario became the female champion for 2018.

City2Surf is an iconic run that brings together people from all walks of life including elite athletes, fun runners, families, fund-raisers as well as the thousands of spectators that line the streets of this gruelling 14 km course.

The organisers do an excellent job in controlling the activity – colour coding the entrants who start at staggered times. The race kicks off with the elite wheel driven athletes followed by the seeded fast runners, and runners with a previous race time under 70 minutes, and under 90 minutes respectively. The back of the pack are the walkers who really revel in the event.

The route starts in Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD, passing through East Sydney, Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay and Rose Bay, along New South Head Road (Sydney’s eastern suburbs)- up the infamous Heartbreak Hill and through to the finish line in Bondi Beach.

The atmosphere right along the route had a unique sense of community with everybody assisting the runners with water and snacks. Competing seriously, or experiencing the 14 km hike at your leisure, the journey to Bondi Beach has to be a memorable one.

All pics by Denver Mottau.

Published by Denver Mottau

Denver’s passion for music, cinema and the arts began at an early age when accompanying his grandmother in her rounds of the entertainment circuits - gaining exposure to Hollywood’s Broadway musicals. This education continued throughout his childhood as the heart-felt melodies of yester-year, and the fantasy of the Golden Years of Hollywood embraced our lives. Choosing a pathway that incorporated all aspects of Sydney lifestyle, Denver was able to make inroads with a variety of independent newspapers and publications to write about subjects of community interest. Over time, he had published a good many front-page stories, helping to overturn political decisions and make an impact on the local scene. What he has enjoyed most is researching areas of health and fitness, music, food and fashion to try and understand what excites the average Sydneysider in their lifestyle and interests. It becomes an on-going avenue of discovery, one that provides great ammunition for stories. Meanwhile, life goes on and the stage is set for reviewing the creativity in visual and performing arts. The challenge is ever present and the results most fulfilling!