City 2 Surf - 5 ways to prepare

City 2 Surf is practially here..  

The Fun-Run as well as a race, attracting both competitive runners and community participants who can choose to run or to walk. The event attracts more than 80,000 entrants which makes it the biggest run in the southern hemisphere. 

With 14 Kilometres to cover; The route commences in the centre of Sydney and passes through Easy Sydney, Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, Rose Bay, Vaucluse, Dover Heights and Bondi Beach. The most difficult part of the course is "Heartbreak Hill" which is at about the halfway mark. It's a 2 kilometre long hill from Rose Bay to Vaucluse. 

We have assembled our "How-to" Guide for crushing your goals as City 2 Surf. From gear, to training, to race days hacks and even course preview. Each topic will be presented weekly by a different contributor. 

1 - Gear & Rack Day Hacks by Stu Sleeman (Pace Co-Founder)

There is a saying that just jumps to mind when thinking about City2Surf. I think I got it from my dad and I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of people who've heard the same saying: "Preperation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance". If you excuse the profanity, this little piece of alliteration sums up the way to attack City to Surf. Lets start with Gear

1: Shoes

This is an obvious one, but it's worth mentioning that if you haven't run City2Surf before, there are alot of hills. This means that alot of runners (from experts to beginners) will choose a slightly more protective and cushioned shoe than normal. This helps with those long downhills where your feet are slapping the ground (especially on tired legs). However, on the same note, it's nice to have a shoe that is slightly more responsive when going up-the-hills; so something in the middle is advised. 
To give you an example, my normal race shoe is a very light racing-flat, and my go-to training run shoe is a very cushioned model from Hoka One One. For City 2 surf I'll be going for something in the middle; like a Saucony Kinvara. Firm in Forefoot (great for speed/pace and uphill), soft in heel (great for downhills and tired legs).

2: Socks
A Shoe is only as good as the sock you put in it. 
Putting crappy socks in a good shoe, is, in my mind, like putting vinyl seats out of a 1974 kingswood, into a brand new mercedes benz. You ruin the ride, the comfort and all-round feel of your money's worth. 
Plus, A blister at 2k is a great way to make the next 12k pretty ordinary. Dropping $25 on a good pair of socks is a cheap way to provide some insurance for your feet. Feel good, look good, run good! 

3: SpiBelt:

This is a MUST. When 80,000 people run/walk the same route, there is chaos everywhere. This is honestly half the attraction of the run. The sheer amount of people makes the run something that you just have to expereince. 
I would never run without my spibelt. I chuck in my phone, credit card, a house key and I'm sorted. I don't notice the belt when I'm running, and when I get to the finish line I have everything I need to grab a coffee, some food and a cab outta there. 
When the run finishes, Bondi is a party-town, so if you want to hang around and put away some schooners, the spibelt also comes in handy there too! 

4 & 5: Sunnies & Hat

Running east from the city to the ocean, in sydney means that you are running directly at the Sun. This Glare is brutal and a good pair of sunnies will stop 14 kilometres of squinting. When I'm in the sun I burn super easily so a hat stops me arriving in Bondi with my head being any more red than it needs to be!  

6: A Jumper/Jacket for the start Line

Every year, I do my annual trip to my local St Vinnies and pick up a jumper for the start line. This stops me from freezing to bits, and i dump it on the side at the start. The best part? All of the clothing left behind is donated back to charity. So the $6 sweater you get from the op shop ends up in a good place, and successfully does the job of keeping you feel fresh on the start line. 


TOPIC 2: How to train specifically for City 2 Surf (and how to get the most out of it). Particularly with short notice! 
Coming Next Week!!