Time to smash some 2019 goals – challenge yourself this year and train for one (or all) of these races.
Sunday 11th August 2019
The City to Surf attracts more than 80,000 entrants each year of all ages and is a 14km run from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach. It’s mainly flat except for heartbreak hill. It’s still so you’ll want to add some hill sprints to your training. The most difficult part of the course is “Heartbreak Hill” at the halfway mark, a 2km long steep ascent from Rose Bay to Vaucluse along New South Head Road. It’s so worth it though for the entertainment and cheering along the way, plus the feeling when you run down the hill and see Bondi Beach at the finish line.
Blackmores Sydney Running Festival
Sunday 15th September 2019
You’ve got options at the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival. Reach for the stars and train for a full marathon or run a half marathon. Or participate in the 10km “Bridge Run” or 3.5km “Family Fun Run”. One of the coolest things about this race is you get to race of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, traffic is stopped for the start of the races, and it’s such a cool experience.
9th June 2019
The iconic Manly Soft Sand Classic happens every Queens Birthday long weekend. Competitors have the choice to test their stamina with the 21 km Soft Sand Classic, stretch themselves with the 9km solo or create a team of three to take on the 9km race.
Sunday 27th January 2019
Get your goggles ready and forget that fear of sharks. The Big Swim is an ocean swim from Palm Beach to Whale Beach around the headland through the Tasman Sea. Conditions for the 2.5 – 2.8 km swim have been known to vary from dead calm to big swells from all directions. It is a huge achievement to complete one swim and some have swum in over 30 swims.
Thurs 22nd – Sat 24th February 2019
Take a trip to Jervis Bay to the idyllic coastal location of Huskisson for the Husky Triathlon Festival. Never done a triathalon before? Start small with a Super Sprint distance (200m swim, 8km bike and 2km run) or challenge yourself further. From there you have the Sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run), Classic distance (1km swim, 60km bike, 10km run) and Ultimate distance (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run). Keep doing these each year and you might eventually make it to an Ironman!
Fri 4th – Sat 5th May 2019
Spartan Race claim to be the “world’s best obstacle race”. It’s also considered one of the most challenging. Think running meets cross fit but outdoors and full of activities like monkey bars, javelin throws, carrying heavy sacks, climbing ropes and more. It’s all super fun though. In 2019, Spartan Sydney have a 5km Sprint, 21km Beast, the new Sprint & Beast Combo, Hurricane Heat 4 hours.
16th & 17th November 2019
Similar to Spartan Race, Tough Mudder is an endurance race that requires you to run as well as complete obstacles…only with the addition of lots and lots of mud. The course is 16+km and designed to challenge you physically and mentally. It’s also lots of fun but be warned, you’re likely to get mud in places no one should ever get mud.
Fri 15th March
Get three friends together and register your group for Coastrek. Push your limits as you trek 30km or 60km (60km has now sold out) along scenic coastlines, high clifftops, rough bush trails and soft sand. This year they’ve also introduced a Moonlight Trek which is 15km starting at 6pm at Taronga Zoo to Manly.
Every Saturday
Parkrun is a collection of 5km running events that take place every Saturday morning at over 1,400 locations in twenty three countries across five continents. They happen all over Sydney from Centennial Park to Cronulla, St Peters, North Sydney and more. It’s designed to be active and social. Your time is recorded each time so you can race against yourself and keep chasing that PB.
Sat 7th Sep 2019
The Coastal Classic is a 30km trail run along one of the most stunning tracks in Australia, in the Royal National Park. s everything to offer from rocky terrain, sand running and beaches, to cliff-tops, bushland, rainforest and steep hill inclines. The scenery is spectacular with breathtaking coastal views on the beach and from the cliff tops. You literally feel like you are a million miles from anywhere.