41 replies to this topic

[homgrunner]

Hi Cr's,

Just qondering,
have any of you run this course?

If so, is it a fairly easy course (flat) or hilly??

would sub 55 be a reasonable target??

and what happens at the end of the race, like what kind of things happen at the finish area??

Chris

[doddsy]

I did this run last year, was only my second ever run, I thin I did 51:23min once you have done there really is only two uphill one at milsons point going on to the bridge and the one coming out of Mrs Macquaires chair and they really arn't hills. I thin under 55 is acheivable for you, run your heart out and just keep pushing once you are the last km or so is down hill so you can really push yourself till you drop. Would love to do this run again this year but will be doing the marathon.

Its a good fun event.

[homgrunner]

doddsy, on Jul 23 2010, 11:29 AM, said:

I did this run last year, was only my second ever run, I thin I did 51:23min once you have done there really is only two uphill one at milsons point going on to the bridge and the one coming out of Mrs Macquaires chair and they really arn't hills. I thin under 55 is acheivable for you, run your heart out and just keep pushing once you are the last km or so is down hill so you can really push yourself till you drop. Would love to do this run again this year but will be doing the marathon.

Its a good fun event.

Thanks mate,

What training if any, did you do for this event??

Chris

[tonedbutt]

This is an awesome run.  The course is so pretty.  I reckon you could do it sub 55.  I couldn't I have been happy with sub 75 but should ramp it up a bit.

[homgrunner]

tonedbutt, on Jul 24 2010, 12:25 PM, said:

This is an awesome run.  The course is so pretty.  I reckon you could do it sub 55.  I couldn't I have been happy with sub 75 but should ramp it up a bit.

Hey thanks for info,

when you did it last time,

What kind of stuff happened at the finish line area??

Chris

[tri123]

As stated above - this is a great run, you get to run the bridge, round to Mrs. Mac's chair, back down to the opera house. Last year i just snuck into the top 200 and I am a very average runner. The key is to start near the front, take it steady all the way to the Art gallery, work the downhill round Mrs. Mac - ease off back around to parliment house then crank it downhill to the finish. You can sit on the steps for a while and you should see the Marathon winner come in. Great atmosphere. There are plenty of stores in the garden giving out papers, samples, massages ($) and the like. Great day out. All the best k-1234 and toned Butt - hope you achieve your goal.

[doddsy]

kocxy1234, on Jul 23 2010, 09:07 PM, said:

Thanks mate,

What training if any, did you do for this event??

Chris

Chris my training only started 2 weeks out,
I did something as follows
Tue 5.3
Thu 5.2
Sat 10.3
Mon 1.8
Wed 6.0
Fri 6.0
Sun(race day)9.0

I did very little as you can see and would not at all advise this, you have plenty of time to train for the 9km. Keep at it an maybe next year you'll aspire to do one of the bigger events ie the half or full marathon.

After the race my wife and sun come met us was a perfect day last year for a picnic in the botanic gardens, and as tri123 said sit around and wathc the marathon runners finish I found this really inspiring for me and promised myself it would be me next year.

D

[homgrunner]

doddsy, on Jul 31 2010, 10:56 AM, said:

Chris my training only started 2 weeks out,
I did something as follows
Tue 5.3
Thu 5.2
Sat 10.3
Mon 1.8
Wed 6.0
Fri 6.0
Sun(race day)9.0

I did very little as you can see and would not at all advise this, you have plenty of time to train for the 9km. Keep at it an maybe next year you'll aspire to do one of the bigger events ie the half or full marathon.

After the race my wife and sun come met us was a perfect day last year for a picnic in the botanic gardens, and as tri123 said sit around and wathc the marathon runners finish I found this really inspiring for me and promised myself it would be me next year.

D

Thats an awesome time from only 2 weeks of training !!

i have about 7 weeks so i'm gunna but the pedal to the metal and hopefully go under the 55 and somewhere near 50

Chris

[homgrunner]

Hey doddsy,

are you racing it again this year???

if so what race?

Chris

[tonedbutt]

kocxy1234, on Jul 24 2010, 09:08 PM, said:

Hey thanks for info,

when you did it last time,

What kind of stuff happened at the finish line area??

Chris

I last did it in 2008.  Had a serious injury last year.  After the race, I pick up my bit of hardware to say I finished, then have a qwuick look around the festival village and maybe grab a couple of freebies if the lines aren't too long.  Sometimes you can meet a celebrtiy.  I have met Guy Leech and Glenn McGrath in the past.  Then I hot foot it to the bottle shop and join the other Cool Runners to cheer the marathon in, outside the MCA.  Then we go to a pub in the Rocks for lunch.  It is a brilliant day out.  But you probably don't want to be having beers as you are still at school.

[sharrison]

So glad to see this. I think they've changed the course a little this year but I'm hoping its still predominantly flat.

I'm sure its mostly mental but I am terrible at running hills.

I'm running about 8km at the moment, fairly comfoprtably so I've started adding some hills into my run - and by the top I am really struggling. Any ideas how long I will have to struggle through this phase til it starts to get a little easier???

[tonedbutt]

sharrison, my running coach says it never gets easier, just faster.  I don't know, I'm still struggling which is pretty scary cos I'm doing the half this year.  BTW it's only really the finish of the 9km that has changed.  it finishes in the Botanic Gardens instead of the Opera House forecourt because of works happening there.

[sharrison]

So it never gets easier - Wonderful!

I find the psychology behind it all kinda interesting. I've been incorporating one steep hill into each run and whilst its a mental battle to get to the top, the upside is that it makes nearly any other hill seem easy!

Good luck with the half!

[tonedbutt]

Thanks, good luck with the 9.  The good thing about the 9 is that it is such a scenic view, it keeps your mind off the hills, which are very minor if you are used to hills.  Which I am because the hills on one of my training runs are like a roller coaster.  If you can, join us after the run to cheer the marathon in, near the MCA.  You will hear us.

[sharrison]

When you say the hills are minor, do you mean in gradient or in length?

I'm asking because the hills I usually do are quite steep but not terribly long....

[tonedbutt]

Ok, the start is uphill, steepish but only about 400metres long, then it dips down a little, then you go uphill again to get onto the harbour bridge, gentle gradient but about 1km.  Your next uphill is Macquire St, about 500 metres, gentle.  Then down into Mrs Macquarie's which has about 250 metres up section towards the end of the point and another short uphill after the turnaround, steepish and then a nasty pinch of maybe 50 metres out of there near the art gallery.  As long as you've done some hills, you'll be fine.

[Curreo]

The key to running hills is to not to run them as fast as you run on the flat. Slow it down a bit by taking shorter steps but same cadence and effort. You don't want to kill yourself running up them or you will be tired once you get to the top. Remember what comes up must come down and the time to power is on the downhills when gravity is working with you not against you. This is where you make up the time lost going up but you won't make up this time if you are too tired from running up them too fast!

[sharrison]

Thanks.

I suppose the upside to runing steep hills is that milder ones seem like nothing at all!

I've found not looking at the top helps too, I just look a couple of metres ahead of me and focus on getting there.

[Curreo]

yeah that is a good ploy.

They definitely get easier and before you know it the milder ones are barely noticeable

[Amateur177]

Everyone should have noted already, but if not, for 2012, just be aware that there are course changes for this 9km; from the map - the first being the turn off into Cahill - coming off the bridge, you need to stay on the right side and do a loop around to join Cahill from the Northbound lanes (you join from the under ground path). Additionally, coming out of Art Gallery Rd/Domain - instead of going straight down Macquarie St, you need to run past St Mary's Church, along College St (almost to the start of the c2s) and then back. [Ta - see the correction below from the Event Director - was hard to see on map!] The finish at the Conservatorium of Music is the most obvious change.

Good luck!

Edited by Amateur177, 15 September 2012 - 07:47 PM.

[Wayne Larden]

Amateur177, on 14 September 2012 - 08:50 AM, said:

Everyone should have noted already, but if not, for 2012, just be aware that there are course changes for this 9km; from the map - the first being the turn off into Cahill - coming off the bridge, you need to stay on the right side and do a loop around to join Cahill from the Northbound lanes (you join from the under ground path). Additionally, coming out of Art Gallery Rd/Domain - instead of going straight down Macquarie St, you need to run past St Mary's Church, along College St (almost to the start of the c2s) and then back. The finish at the Conservatorium of Music is the most obvious change.

Good luck!

Hi guys

There is a change to the course, some of which is covered here. When you get onto the Cahill Expressway you will be directed onto the southern (city) side and exit onto Macquarie Street to run up the western side (city side). You will then do the College Street out and back before heading into Art Gallery Road. This time on the eastern side (closest to Art Gallery and opposite to last year). Down to Mrs Macquaries Chair and back up on the western side. You'll then leave Art Gallery Road and head back onto Macquarie Street heading north (downhill) toward the finish area at Conservatorium of Music.

Hope this helps.

Rgds
Wayne

[Kookaburra]

What did people think of the new 9km course? I thought it was good - got a good speed up going through the tunnel that took us onto the Cahill Express way.  Weather was perfect for running - unlike last year. Always a great event and I will return yet again next year for my 12th time.  Remember when it ran from North Sydney to Fox Studio.

Edited by Kookaburra, 16 September 2012 - 06:01 PM.

[Rob28D]

I thought it was a bit of a late start this morning, sun was beaming by the time we started at 9am, even the 4km Family runners started before us? 3 mins over my goal of Sub 40 but happy with my time considering how i felt and the conditions one of the most amazing scenic runs iv'e been in though, will be back next year for the Half or Full

[danish]

Really liked the course. A few hills in there to test out the lungs and also some really fast sections to boot. The loop down to the tunnel on the cahill expressway as mentioned above was great to really open up the pace. My 3rd km was done in 3:10 because of it!

I guess I could complain that the course was longer than the claimed 9km, and judging by the quick survey I did of the gps watches of finishers around me by probably around 250-300m. My watch read 9.31km, and it has been absolutely spot on during my previous 2 races with it, measuring 14.1km for C2S and 11.05km for Sutherland2surf so I reckon it's pretty accurate. The finishing time of the winner and the average finishing time of this year compared to last point to an increase in length as well.

Really though everyone runs the same course so I'm not too fussed. Regardless of distance the winner still has to run the fastest so its still a level playing field. Only annoying thing I suppose will be comparing times to next year should the course change back once the opera house is finished.

Perhaps chucking a timing mat at the 5km mark and also at the bottom of Mrs Macquaries chair as well to stop the cheating pointed out in the main thread.

All I'm all thought bloody great day. Ran the time I wanted and finished well inside the top 100 which was my goal

[Rafferty]

danish, on 16 September 2012 - 10:08 PM, said:

I guess I could complain that the course was longer than the claimed 9km, and judging by the quick survey I did of the gps watches of finishers around me by probably around 250-300m.

The official results page "average pace" would obviously be in error, yeah?

[danish]

Rafferty, on 16 September 2012 - 10:30 PM, said:

danish, on 16 September 2012 - 10:08 PM, said:

I guess I could complain that the course was longer than the claimed 9km, and judging by the quick survey I did of the gps watches of finishers around me by probably around 250-300m.

The official results page "average pace" would obviously be in error, yeah?

The pace on the results is based on a 9km course, so assuming the course was long, then yeah the average pace would read slower than how fast you were actually running

[orangevegie]

My first ever fun run was the 9km bridge run yesterday and I had a blast! I cannot get over the amount of people that ran, it was such a great atmosphere. I managed to get my goal time of 54min so was happy (although am blown away by those that run in about half that time!!)
I will train and do the half marathon next year. Such a buzz.

[Lindyk]

On the on line entry, on the web site, in race descriptions the Bridge Run distance is alway given as "approx. 9km" which it was. I can understand frustration if an event is listed as a certified 10k or marathon but when the word approximate is used by the organisers I cannot see how you can complain that the distance was inaccurate. They told you before you started that it was inaccurate!   

Sounds like a good run anyway Danish!  
Lindy

[roymonster]

Yes, but I'm not sure it is reasonable to say 9.4km is approximately 9km.  However, the extra 400 metres wouln't have been such a big deal if there had been kilometer markers at the 8k and 9k marks.  Instead, with 400 metres to go, my goal time passes and I think I've missed my target when in actual fact I was fine.  It would have also helped if my phone had picked up the GPS at the start and I wasn't guessing my distance and pace.  9AM is also gertting a bit late in the day to start.  Surely the 4KM could start after the 9.4km?

Apart from these whinges, had fun and still beat my pace goal!

[Rafferty]

Lindyk, on 17 September 2012 - 09:08 AM, said:

They told you before you started that it was inaccurate!   

True, but don't remember reading anything about the "average pace" on official results were going to be inaccurately generated.

To some runners this may be important in post race analysis.

Those with a GPS watch probably less so.

Edited by Rafferty, 17 September 2012 - 03:53 PM.

[Angelaa]

It was a great run, but definitely way over 9k. My GPS read 9.9k. Not complaining, just makes it difficult to compare times with other runs.

[Paul Every]

Rafferty, on 17 September 2012 - 03:53 PM, said:

Lindyk, on 17 September 2012 - 09:08 AM, said:

They told you before you started that it was inaccurate!   

True, but don't remember reading anything about the "average pace" on official results were going to be inaccurately generated.

So you want accurately generated data from an inaccurately measured course?

Sounds like everyone got more running for their $ with the course being a bit over 9 km. I'd be happy with that.

Plenty of certified, or at least relatively accurate, 10 km courses around Sydney if you want to run one for benchmarking your fitness. It's not like one has to wait a couple of months to recover from a 9 km before racing again.

Edited by Paul Every, 18 September 2012 - 08:15 AM.

[Rafferty]

Paul Every, on 18 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

So you want accurately generated data from an inaccurately measured course?

You miss the point.

Why put these details up on results page if it's clearly going to be inaccurate and misleading?

Paul Every, on 18 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

Plenty of certified, or at least relatively accurate, 10 km courses around Sydney if you want to run one for benchmarking your fitness. It's not like one has to wait a couple of months to recover from a 9 km before racing again.

All very true, Paul. But would have throught that would depend on one's individual racing schedule and short term milestones/goals.

[julia]

Will the course be reverting back to the previous one next year/when the opera house construction is done?

I much preferred that course - I love finishing at the Opera House. I found the finish at the Conservatorium really narrow, had to slow down to navigate somewhere to cross the line. And it also just wasn't as exciting as finishing at the opera house!

[Kookaburra]

Rafferty, on 18 September 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

Paul Every, on 18 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

So you want accurately generated data from an inaccurately measured course?

You miss the point.

Why put these details up on results page if it's clearly going to be inaccurate and misleading?

Paul Every, on 18 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

Plenty of certified, or at least relatively accurate, 10 km courses around Sydney if you want to run one for benchmarking your fitness. It's not like one has to wait a couple of months to recover from a 9 km before racing again.

All very true, Paul. But would have throught that would depend on one's individual racing schedule and short term milestones/goals.

I agree with the above, re missing the point.  I don't mind if the course is over 9km or 10km, however when they put your pace down this is incorrect because it is showing you pace had you run a 9km course, not a 9.32km course.  As stated by danish above, my Garmin is normally pretty accurate and stated that I had run the same pace as I had in the City to Surf.  All year I have been running approximately the same pace and doing PBs in all runs, except funny enough the Bridge Run and yet my watch had me running a fairly good time and pace.  My watch also showed I had run 9.32km and I was up the front so know I did not hit my watch until crossing the line at the beginning and the end.  Love the course though, but is definitely longer than previous years and therefore if not an accurate course, they should omit the pace on the results page, as it is not correct.  No problem with distances that are wrong, just pace results being put up that are not correct compared with distance run.

[Kookaburra]

Kookaburra, on 21 September 2012 - 07:35 PM, said:

Rafferty, on 18 September 2012 - 08:48 AM, said:

Paul Every, on 18 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

So you want accurately generated data from an inaccurately measured course?

You miss the point.

Why put these details up on results page if it's clearly going to be inaccurate and misleading?

Paul Every, on 18 September 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

Plenty of certified, or at least relatively accurate, 10 km courses around Sydney if you want to run one for benchmarking your fitness. It's not like one has to wait a couple of months to recover from a 9 km before racing again.

All very true, Paul. But would have throught that would depend on one's individual racing schedule and short term milestones/goals.

I agree with the above, re missing the point.  I don't mind if the course is over 9km or 10km, however when they put your pace down this is incorrect because it is showing you pace had you run a 9km course, not a 9.32km course.  As stated by danish above, my Garmin is normally pretty accurate and stated that I had run the same pace as I had in the City to Surf.  All year I have been running approximately the same pace and doing PBs in all runs, except funny enough the Bridge Run and yet my watch had me running a fairly good time and pace.  My watch also showed I had run 9.32km and I was up the front so know I did not hit my watch until crossing the line at the beginning and the end.  Love the course though, but is definitely longer than previous years and therefore if not an accurate course, they should omit the pace on the results page, as it is not correct.  No problem with distances that are wrong, just pace results being put up that are not correct compared with distance run.  As always, I loved this run, and having a chance to run a varied course.  I too know there are many runs to run throughout the year which we can run if we want accurate results and therefore that is why I run each weekend.  I think others on this forum, including myself are merely passing comment.  Personally, I am glad they did pass comment, as I was sitting back thinking my watch had started to play up or my running was worse than last year in the same event - and we all know what the weather conditions were like last year, and because of this, I could not figure out why I had supposedly run slower this year.  Now I am happy knowing I was not the only one whose watch and time was out.

[sharrison]

My running app said 9.4km but that doesnt really bother me.

This was my first time running in an event like this and I have to say, I found the etiquette of some participants a little strange. I picked Group B as I wasnt sure what constitutes a fast pace and yet less than 1km in, I was dodging people who were walking. Surely thats what Group C was for?

Obviously there will be different running speeds and thats something that cant be helped but its really hard to get a consistent pace going when you're constantly blocked by people walking!! Is that normal??

[GreenConsort]

sharrison, on 24 September 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

My running app said 9.4km but that doesnt really bother me.

This was my first time running in an event like this and I have to say, I found the etiquette of some participants a little strange. I picked Group B as I wasnt sure what constitutes a fast pace and yet less than 1km in, I was dodging people who were walking. Surely thats what Group C was for?

Obviously there will be different running speeds and thats something that cant be helped but its really hard to get a consistent pace going when you're constantly blocked by people walking!! Is that normal??

Unfortunately yes for the big fun runs.

If you do a club run, like those by Striders or SMC, there is no problem. People self-seed and position themselves according to ability.

[Quinkin]

I wouldn't mind it if the Bridge Run was increased to a certified 10km course. Either that, or have it over the same course every year. That way you can compare performances from year to year.

[champix]

sharrison, on 24 September 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

My running app said 9.4km but that doesnt really bother me.

This was my first time running in an event like this and I have to say, I found the etiquette of some participants a little strange. I picked Group B as I wasnt sure what constitutes a fast pace and yet less than 1km in, I was dodging people who were walking. Surely thats what Group C was for?

Obviously there will be different running speeds and thats something that cant be helped but its really hard to get a consistent pace going when you're constantly blocked by people walking!! Is that normal??

That was annoying for me as well. There were Group B runners walking on the Bridge. The amount of dodging and weaving all through the run was beyond a joke. I normally run at a 5.15  pace for 10km but this time I ran with my 12 year old son and we took it out pretty slow because I didn't want to do him any damage. Because of this we got stuck behind a bunch of shufflers as we tried to bring it home fast. Next year we will register in the A group and head towards the back of the group at the start. This should help avoid the problem we had this year.

[tonedbutt]

julia, on 18 September 2012 - 10:10 AM, said:

Will the course be reverting back to the previous one next year/when the opera house construction is done?

I much preferred that course - I love finishing at the Opera House. I found the finish at the Conservatorium really narrow, had to slow down to navigate somewhere to cross the line. And it also just wasn't as exciting as finishing at the opera house!

My understanding is that the finish will revert to the Opera House when the construction is done.

[bouncyboy]

Cool, sounds like a great run course. I hate the walkers too!!