Every year on the third Sunday of May, you can find thousands of runners stretching at the starting line of the Sydney Half Marathon. This is the perfect time of year for a long distance race in Sydney, Australia.
The beginning of May is toward the end of fall, so the temperatures are mild and quite comfortable for racers stretching their legs for 13.1 miles. Runners fly in from all over the world to run this race, so prepare for the long distance travel if want to run this long distance race.
Part of the thrill of the Sydney Half Marathon is raising money for charity. Each year the race sponsors select Australian charities to benefit from money raised by racers. Many runners set up online fundraisers and collect throughout the year, knowing there will be a worthy cause to collect the funds come registration time.
If you like to race for charity, this is an excellent opportunity for your fundraising skills.
Yet, winning racers receive thousands of dollars at the finish line as well. This is one of the more generous races where those who come in as the top three take home substantial financial gains.
Select athletes who can prove particular finishing times can also be placed at the very front of the line so they cross into the race first.
This is definitely a race that caters to elite runners who are there for the prize, but charity benefits just as much from the event regardless of where you place.
Race History
The legacy of the Sydney Half Marathon started in 1992. The first race registered just over three thousand racers, and by 2001 race officials were in the unpleasant business of returning applications because the maximum of 4,000 registrations had already been reached. This started occurring months ahead of the race, leading racers to scramble to register as early as possible in later years.
Today, the Sydney Half Marathon opens to more than 10,000 permitted registrations in February and typically fills up months before the May race. Participants continue to register early to ensure their spot. This continues to be one of the most respected long racing events in the world. Racers at least twelve years old are now permitted to enter.
Race Course
The Sydney Half Marathon course has changed over the years, mostly due to traffic problems with the original course. For many years the course required runners to take multiple laps before rounding to the finish line, but 2012 a single lap course was unveiled.
This course is very similar to the multiple lap route that was previously used, but it was designed to incorporate more of the famous sights visitors want to see when they visit Sydney, Australia.
Since the course has changed so much in the past, it is a good idea to check the race’s website for details on the course for any given year. What you can guarantee is that the course will take you past some of the most intriguing and scenic sights in the city.
Training for the Sydney Half Marathon
Once you commit to training for the Sydney Half Marathon, your initial task has to be to register for the race. You will also have to make early travel reservations to ensure you can get a flight and a comfortable hotel room if you are traveling from outside Australia. Then, you can get down to the business of training your body for the journey.
There are pace requirements for the race, so you will have to reach certain mile postings on the course within certain amounts of time.
For example, you have to hit the seven kilometer point within an hour of race start. Determine a pace that will satisfy these restrictions, and make that your goal during training. This ensures you are training to make it to the end of the race.
One thing to keep in mind is that there are no musical devices allowed during the race. You should at least do your long runs without an iPod or mp3 player so you are able to complete the actual race without the music pushing you along.
The course is lined with supporters and live entertainment displays so you will have some distractions when you start to get tired and need to push to the end.
While the Sydney Half Marathon does attract some of the best runners in the world, it is still a great race for those who want to travel abroad for their first half marathon experience.
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