90,000 City2Surf runners set to smash $3.5m in charity fundraiser as winner misses record by 47 seconds

Every year, tens of thousands take to the streets of Sydney for a 14km race that is for some a chance to prove athletic prowess, and for others a chance to prove a different type of bravery.

While many of the 90,000 runners in this year’s City2Surf were seen in full athletic gear, others were spotted in costumes depicting superheroes and video game icons.

One man took the “surf” element of the race more seriously than most though, choosing to do the fun run in nothing but a pair of budgie smugglers and running shoes, teamed with a bright pair of wraparound sunglasses.

South Australian runner Isaac Heyne took out the win for the 2024 City2Surf, finishing just seconds too late to break the longstanding course record.

The 24-year-old finished the 14km course from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach in 40 minutes and 50 seconds – less than a minute over the 40-minute-three-second record set in 1991.

Sunday was Heyne’s first City2Surf, and he told organisers ahead of the race he was hoping for, but not banking on, a win.

“Winning races is hard, I have high expectations of myself but don’t always meet them. It’s been a stressful but valuable lesson to learn to give my best in the process and be content whatever the outcome is,” he said.

Canberran Leanne Pompeani was the first woman to finish the course, with a time of 45 minutes and 38 seconds – just 30 seconds slower than the record time set in 2001.

She took out the win in 2022, but was forced to sit out last year due to injury.

While Sunday’s fun run is a chance to display athletic prowess, for many of the 90,000 runners taking on the challenge, it’s simply a way to have a bit of fun while raising money for a charity of their choice.

One group were seen jogging along dressed as Mario and Luigi, while another man donned a superman costume – complete with cape.

It was the largest ever group in the event’s 54-year history and organiser Craig Heydon told NewsWire it was expected to smash through its fundraising target.

The event is targeting a $3.5m haul for various charities and so far runners have donated more than $3.1m.

Donors can gift money up to four weeks after the run and Mr Heydon said donations would “definitely” break through the $3.5m target.

Runners have gifted money to 506 charities so far, including the Black Dog Institute and the Children’s Cancer Institute.

While some have chosen to spend the day tackling Heartbreak Hill, others have taken a more relaxed approach, choosing to enjoy the spectacle from the sidelines.

Nineteen bands will entertain runners at different points along the course.

“It brings people from all walks of life together,” Mr Heydon said.

“You’ve got elite runners, you’ve got families, people dressed up in costumes.

“It’s an event people really get behind. It’s a special part of Sydney.”

For the famous “Heartbreak Hill” section of the race, Mr Heydon tells runners to “embrace the pain”.

“Enjoy it. Embrace the pain. You get some great views of Sydney as you make your way up.”

START TIMES AND COURSE

The start times are broken up into groups.

Elite runners begin their race at 7.35am and then different groups begin at staggered times between 7.35am to 9.35am.

The course starts at Hyde Park in the Sydney CBD and ends at the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach.

The runners move through the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and motorists are being warned to expect delays and closures from early Sunday morning.

ROAD CLOSURES

City2Surf advises residents and visitors the following roads will be closed off for the event.

Roads around Hyde Park near the start line will close from as early as 3.30am

Roads between the CBD and Edgecliff will close from 6am

Roads between Double Bay and North Bondi will close from 7am

Roads around Bondi Beach near the finish area will close from 6am

Roads in the city reopen first around 11:30am and roads through the Eastern Suburbs reopen progressively from 1pm, 2pm and opened by 4pm in Bondi.

Specifically, 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 through to

New South Head Rd at Ocean Ave. No access to the city via New South

Head Rd west of Ocean St until 12pm, detour via Oxford St.

• 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 Rd between Blake St and Lancaster Rd will close from

5am with managed access for residents until 7am.

• Bondi Beach: Campbell Pde and local streets closed 6am to 4pm.

If you need to access your vehicle, ensure it’s parked outside of the event

course. It is a fineable offence to drive or exit a driveway onto a closed road.

COURSE CROSS OVER POINTS

Access for residents to cross the course will be maintained at the following locations, once the course is locked down there will be no access until roads reopen.

Please plan your movements ahead of time.

• Double Bay: exit only one-way 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 until 7.10am only.

• Watsons Bay: Old South Head Rd at New South Head Rd one-way exit

only until 7.10am. No entry after 7am.

• Note: Access to Cross City Tunnel and Craigend St (westbound direction

only) is maintained via McLachlan Ave.

AFTER THE RUN

Mr Heydon said he expected runners to take a dip at famous Bondi Beach after run, despite the chilly winter weather.

About 1000 free Oporto burgers will be given away at the finish line.

130 buses will move runners between Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction after the run.