90,000 set to light up Sunday’s City2Surf

Sydney’s iconic City2Surf fun run has already broken records for 2024, with 90,000 runners taking on the 14km course from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach on Sunday.

It’s the largest ever group in the event’s 54-year history and organiser Craig Heydon told NewsWire excitement was building up ahead of the starting gun.

“It’s set to be the biggest in our history,” he said.

“In 2019 we had 85,000 (runners) and this year it’s 90,000.”

It’s also 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.

There are no more spots available for the run, but there’s plenty to enjoy 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.

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