Sydney’s legendary City2Surf fun run has already broken records for 2024: 90,000 runners will complete the 14 km route from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach.
It’s the largest group in the event’s 54-year history, and organizer Craig Heydon told NewsWire that excitement was building even before the race kicked off on Sunday morning.
“It will be the biggest in our history,” he said.
“In 2019 we had 85,000 (runners) and this year there are 90,000.”
It is also expected that the fundraising goal will be exceeded.
The event’s goal is to raise $3.5 million for various charities, and so far runners have donated more than $3.1 million.
Donors can give money up to four weeks after the race and Mr Heydon said donations would “definitely” exceed the $3.5 million goal.
So far, runners have donated money to 506 charities, including the Black Dog Institute and the Children’s Cancer Institute.
There are no more places available for the race, but there is plenty to enjoy along the racetrack.
Nineteen bands will entertain the runners at various points along the route.
“It brings people from all walks of life together,” said Mr Heydon.
“There are top runners, there are families, people in costumes.
“It’s an event that people really support. It’s a special part of Sydney.”
For the famous “Heartbreak Hill” section of the race, Mr Heydon urges runners to “embrace the pain”.
“Enjoy it. Embrace the pain. On the way up you’ll have a great view of Sydney.”
START TIMES AND COURSE
The start times are divided into groups.
Elite runners start their race at 7:35 a.m. Then different groups start at different times between 7:35 a.m. and 9:35 a.m.
The course starts in Hyde Park in Sydney’s central business district and ends at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach.
The runners are moving through Sydney’s eastern suburbs and motorists are warned that there may be delays and closures from Sunday morning.
ROAD CLOSURES
City2Surf advises residents and visitors that the following streets will be closed due to the event.
The streets around Hyde Park near the start line will be closed from 3.30 a.m.
Roads between CBD and Edgecliff will be closed from 6am
Roads between Double Bay and North Bondi will be closed from 7am
Roads around Bondi Beach near the finish area will be closed from 6am
Roads in the city will not reopen until around 11:30am. Roads through the eastern suburbs will gradually reopen from 1pm and 2pm. In Bondi they will reopen from 4pm.
In detail, the following roads will be closed:
• Sydney CBD between 3.30am and 12pm: sections of College St, Park St
and Macquarie St.
• Woolloomooloo to Edgecliff from 6am to 12pm: William St to
New South Head Rd at Ocean Ave. No access to the city via New South
Travel on the road west of Ocean Street until 12pm, diverting via Oxford Street.
• Double Bay to Rose Bay from 7am to 1pm: New South Head Rd from
Ocean Ave to Dover Rd.
• Rose Bay to North Bondi from 7am to 2pm: New South Head Rd from
Dover Rd to Old South Head Rd, Old South Head Rd and Military Rd. A
Section of Military Road between Blake Street and Lancaster Road will be closed from
5:00 a.m. with controlled access for residents until 7:00 a.m.
• Bondi Beach: Campbell Pde and adjacent streets closed from 6am to 4pm.
If you need to access your vehicle, make sure it is parked outside the venue.
Of course. It is an offence to drive onto a closed road or to drive out of a driveway.
COURSE TRANSITION POINTS
Access for residents to cross the route will remain at the following locations. Once the route is closed, access will no longer be available until the roads are reopened.
Please plan your movements in advance.
• Double Bay: One-way exit from Ocean Ave and Cross St to New
South Head Rd until 7:10am. No entry after 7am.
• Vaucluse: Vaucluse Rd to Towns Rd in both directions only until 7:10am.
• Watsons Bay: Old South Head Rd one-way exit at New South Head Rd
only until 7.10 a.m. No entry after 7 a.m.
• Note: Access to Cross City Tunnel and Craigend St (westbound)
only) is maintained via McLachlan Ave.
AFTER THE RUN
Mr Heydon said he expected runners to take a dip at the famous Bondi Beach after the race, despite the cold winter weather.
At the finish, around 1,000 free Oporto burgers will be distributed.
130 buses transport the runners between Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction after the race.
