It’s the annual event, the City2Surf, where masses of people run, walk, skip and strut approximately 14 kilometers from Sydney CBD to the famous Bondi Beach.
Right now I am at the ‘back of the pack’, briskly walking with some friends and praying that ‘Heartbreak Hill’ isn’t as devastating as it sounds. This is my first time entering the race, which raises funds for chosen charities every year.
I will update you about the day in the next few days, including the moment I crossed the finish line, any celebrities I managed to glimpse, the general atmosphere and any obstacles along the way.
Click on this link to see what all the excitement is about. It’s the largest race in the world!
UPDATE:
Well I did it! Along with two other friends, this first time-participant has achieved the same glory as approximately 80 000 other people in saying they completed the 2010 City2Surf. To be honest with you, it went by fairly quickly and I enjoyed every minute of it (well, minus the long queue to catch a bus from Bondi to Bondi Junction train station).
The weather was sunny, cool, bright and perfect for the race. Organisers recommend bringing warm clothing for the start of the race, especially for those in the Back of the Pack (we have to wait until the ‘real’ runners finish the race). Perhaps I overcompensated by wearing an old red turtleneck (skivvy) with a singlet, City2Surf top and jacket; but as the race progressed we had the opportunity to throw out our clothes onto the ground to be later picked up the the girl guides and donated to The Smith Family.
By the time we crossed the START line we had already walked a few hundred metres and as everyone passed the starting mats, a wave of excitment filled the air. For those that participate non-competitavely, the crowd is part of the entertainment as groups parade their costumes, or raise awareness about a campaign, with some businesses using the City2Surf as an advertising platform. I was amazed by the number of parents who took their children in strollers and ran through the crowd at the same time.
The best features of the race were the beautiful views which coloured the course, the rush of crossing the finish line, and the time spent with my friends as we encouraged each other and appreciated the beauty and buzz which surrounded us.
The most difficult part was not Heartbreak Hill, but the last kilometre of the race. By this time we just wanted to finish already, the crowd was getting thicker and it was getting harder to weave in and out of the groups. So we decided to run down the last few hundred metres and happily pick up a participation medal along the way!
While waiting for the bus to Bondi Junction we spotted former Australian Champion surfer Layne Beachley.
Altogether it was an amazing experience and one I hope to repeat next year and in the years to come.
wow — that is a lot of people! good for you!
hey Gem! Thanks for the post! aww man! i still wish i was there and take part in our great new tradition… hehe but anyways, i enjoyed reading your post and the pics are great also! 🙂 I’m happy you guys had an awesome time! Here’s one for next year! ^_^ xxx Susie
woo! i was totally there 🙂 sounds like you had a great day!
great blog!
loving the posts
stop by some time xx
Fantastic! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Thanks, I love your fashion blog as well. Blogger hasn’t been letting me comment though : (
So I’ll say a few things – I love that green ring in your latest post – Good luck with the HSC!! (it seems like you were in the middle of trials) – and I could have told you not to pick chemistry! 😛
You’ve got a lot of style… come back again 🙂
award for you Gem
Thank you!!
bondi beach!! i miss it.
Hello Elle!! Welcome 🙂
I would love to go back there in summer, it’s an iconic Australian beach for a reason!
Hey hey…. looks absolutely great…. WOW… look at the crowd….
The crowd was fantastic. Especially looking back when we were on top of a hill.
You managed to incorporate running, walking, skipping AND strutting into it!
Of course! What fun would it be if we didn’t mix things up a bit 😛