Sun Herald City2Surf, 2005

Spontaneous = Lack of organisation = FUN!

After a spontaneous (random) thought and little to no organisation except for a completed registration form (Internet or newspaper), my friend Laura and I found ourselves swimming in a crowd of approximately 60,000 people from all walks of life. It has been dubbed the “biggest Fun Run in the world” and if you were a Sydneysider, the place to be on Sunday, 14 August 2005 was the Sun-Herald’s City2Surf! And how great it was?!!

Well I can’t really comment on what it was like to hear the starting beep because I was on the train getting there, but for those serious competitors (and they do exist!) I guess it was pretty loud?!! By the time we got to Hyde Park at 9.45ish there were still plenty of enthusiastic beings wandering around collecting their bibs, stretching, cheering and lining up with the many other hundreds of energetic people.

It was fascinating to eyeball a uni skiing club (bright overalls and sticks), families with young and bewildered children, Ronald McDonald and company teams, who were taking the opportunity to promote their business in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Some companies thought it so important to support and encourage an event where fitness is the main priority that their employed staff had been ‘in training’ for several weeks in the countdown to the actual race.

There were also other people, some of whom were studying students like Laura and I, out for a walk. Having not exercised for a while, we were wrapped at the thought of working our muscles and getting them warm—a long overdue feeling that we both agreed we really missed!! In meeting each other for a walk in the City2Surf, we were indirectly encouraging positive spirit amongst competitors and the wider community. With the knowledge that a smile is often contagious, it was a fantastic feeling to be somewhere that I knew would create so many happy faces and which would (hopefully) then be spread around to brighten many other people’s day!

Eventually, after crossing the starting line among thousands of ‘back of the pack’ entrants almost 35 minutes after the race had officially started, we embarked on the 14km run, or in our case, walk, occasional run for about 100m and then an extended rest! We used walking ‘icons’ such as mothers with prams, distinguishable groups, or our favourites—the ‘Greek Athenians’—who were dressed in bed-sheets with a chariot full of lollies, to mark our ‘place’ in the moving crowd. We began pretty much at the very back, and finished a few thousand spots ahead of where we started. It felt so rewarding to still see people finishing the race almost an hour after we had crossed the line!

The vibe and enthusiasm of the crowd was contagious for all participants. Everyone was smiling, especially when the sun reared its face for all to see. Along the way, many of those who were lucky enough to have houses along the course were having BBQs and waving to the crowds. It was this whole sense of being a ‘special and valued competitor’ for a day that I think most people appreciated. You couldn’t have received more crowd encouragement, or better service from all of the volunteers (Girl Guides and Scouts), than we got on our mammoth ‘race’. When the drinks were handed to us, for the first and last time in my life, after finishing the cup, I could freely throw it to the side of the road, knowing that it would be cleared away later in the day.

Upon sprinting across the finishing line and ‘officially’ concluding our race, Laura and I headed down onto the beautiful sand of Bondi Beach for the free sausage sizzle for all entrants. What a feast! The sand was warm and the setting spectacular. Luckily, we took heaps of pictures to remember the day and the stories, which match our experiences.

Afterwards, being thoroughly entitled to a hearty dessert, we tucked into some chocolate ice cream as we browsed the stalls at the Bondi Markets for presents and the like. We both scored a new pair of shoes and felt happily satisfied all the way home, and for the rest of the week, with our great experience still fresh and in the forefront of our minds!

The City2Surf is conducted on a break-even basis. The entrance fee does not fully cover the cost of running the race, so we didn’t feel any negativity about paying to participate. It would have been different if the Sun-Herald was making a direct profit from our entry fee. All of the ‘sponsorship’ that the race receives is not paid in cash—it is the actual broadcasting of the event, which constitutes their donation. They believe, as do Laura and I, that it is a quality event to encourage and promote health and exercise in the community, which are important issues to take action on. It also serves as a powerful ‘vehicle’ in which the Sun-Herald is advertised.

We were both chuffed (excited) to discover our final finishing place—45,700ish! Not bad for a cheap (relatively—$20 under 18, $30 above), efficiently managed, TV-broadcasted and thoroughly fantastic race!! Get some friends to come along (school, uni, TAFE, work), create your own story, plant a smile on your face and I’ll see you all there next year, or in the equivalent race of your state!! And remember, fitness doesn’t have to be sweaty or strenuous—just an attempt to achieve your personal best!