10 Things You Need to Know Before Running the City2Surf

First run in September 1971 and now billed as the largest event of its kind in the world, the City2Surf sends a tide of runners from the CBD out to Bondi every August - and the next one is Sunday 8 August 2027. Whether it's your first or you're chasing a personal best, a bit of preparation goes a long way. Here are the ten things I'd tell any mate before they line up.

1. Know the course

It's 14 km from the CBD to Bondi. The opening kilometres are fast and net downhill, then near halfway you hit Heartbreak Hill - a roughly 2 km climb from Rose Bay up to Vaucluse along New South Head Road. Knowing exactly where the hill sits lets you save something for it instead of blowing up early.

2. Enter early and pick the right wave

Entries open earlier in the year and sell out - the 2026 event was gone well before race day, and the 2027 race is set for Sunday 8 August 2027. Register the moment entries open, and choose a start wave that matches your realistic finish time so you're not weaving through slower runners or holding up faster ones.

3. Train for the hill

Heartbreak Hill is what everyone remembers. Add hill repeats once a week in the lead-up so your legs and your head both know what a sustained climb feels like. It's the single best thing you can do for your time.

4. Build up gradually

Increase your weekly distance slowly rather than cramming. One longer run, some faster efforts and easy recovery jogs beats a couple of heroic long runs. Consistency is what carries you to 14 km comfortably.

5. Sort hydration and fuelling

Hydrate across the days before, not just on the morning. Have a light, familiar breakfast a couple of hours out. Whatever gels or drinks you plan to use, practise with them in training first - race day is no time for surprises.

6. Wear what you've tested - and sunscreen

Well-broken-in shoes, light moisture-wicking clothing, nothing brand new. And even in August, put on sweat-resistant sunscreen before the start; the sun really shows up by the time you reach Bondi.

7. Plan your transport

Roads close and the nearest stations fill early. Give yourself a solid hour of buffer to reach the start, find gear check, queue for the loo and warm up. Public transport beats driving every single time on race day.

8. Check the weather

Early-August Sydney swings from cool and grey to surprisingly warm. Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast the night before and dress for it - a cheap throwaway layer you can ditch at the start line is a good friend on a cold morning.

9. Pace it in thirds

Start conservatively, run the hill on effort rather than staring at your watch, and use the long downhills to recover without over-striding. Break the run into thirds and reassess at each. Negative-splitting the City2Surf feels a lot better than fading.

10. Recover and celebrate

Keep walking for a few minutes past the line rather than stopping dead, grab water and a snack, and agree a meeting spot with your crew in advance - signal gets patchy in the finish-line crowd. Then reward yourself: brunch, a swim, or a dip at the Icebergs pool. You've earned it.