Sunday morning 8^th August bright and early, I joined the likes of 80,000 Aussies and others from the world over in the biggest fun run on the globe, the 14Km City2Surf. My second time doing the race, I was eagerly anticipating its arrival… despite what some may say resembled a distinct lack of training!

If you’re new to Sydney or unfamiliar with the City2Surf, this is essentially a run, walk or stroll from Sydney’s Hyde Park in the CBD along the edge of the water side all the way to Australia’s most famous beach, Bondi. You’ve got your serious runners, your joggers, walkers, kids, mums, grandmas and dads, and of course your bubs. This race is for everyone for every reason you can imagine – fitness, fun, being part of something, seeing the sights, raising money for charity, and dressing up in outrageous costumes or even setting a tradition with your mates.

The day was beautiful! Waking up early on a Sunday is not what I usually describe as a happy event, but as I gathered my girlfriends together, we were excited. It took nothing but a sight of the crowds to get pumped up for our journey ahead. I was relaxed, slightly nervous, and ready to cross the finish line, albeit eventually.

The thing about City2Surf is, unlike other Sydney festivities where you turn up to watch a band or a free concert, there is a great feeling of being part of thousands not observing but actually participating and getting fit. While some may argue that 14Km is no mean feat at all, when you arrive at Bondi, people EVERYWHERE, arms waving in the air that it’s finally over, the accomplishment isn’t that you completed 14Km, but that you participated in this fantastic event with the rest of this spectacular city.

My race strategy sadly didn’t go to plan. With hope of enjoying a slow jog with my girlfriends at a steady pace, I was quickly greeted by my girlfriends informing me of their own race plan – a very slow walk that made me even more determined to make up for lost time. By ½ way I was thirsty for some speed, and after the grueling Heartbreak Hill, which goes for about 1km, I said Adios to my girlfriends and ran for the end.

If you haven’t done the City2Surf, I would encourage you to try it! It makes you want to be fit and healthy, it makes you want to be involved with Sydney as one big community, and it’s an accomplishment. It makes that first taste of cider after a long race taste better than anything. Get involved, I did, and now my real training for summer will begin!

Big congratulations must go to all who completed City2Surf, with over $2.5million being raised for charity to hundreds of different charities.