Perth City to Surf Fun Run
The Perth City to Surf has been an institution in Perth since 1975 when about 500 runners competed in the 12km.
Well over 40,000 runners in 2010, and marathon winning times of 2.14! and 2.35 (in the Womens) confirmed the incredible growth of this event into a world class running event. In 2004 in its 30th year, well over 20,000 people took part in the City to Surf. Since 2004 it has become firmly established as the second biggest run in Australia behind the Sydney City to Surf, and the signs are it may become the biggest run in Australia, with well over 30,000 runners in 2007, a new Half Marathon event in 2007, and a full Marathon in 2009 attracting some world class Kenyans and Ethiopians to chase the big money and bring the times under 2.20. In 2008 arguably the most famous Aboriginal Australian, Sydney Olympics 400m champion (and lighter of the Olympic flame cauldron in Sydney) Cathy Freeman, was there to encourage runners.
It is more than just a race, it is an event that helps define the character of Perth,
and as such is a significant part of the cultural identity of Western Australia.
The official City to Surf webpage is here.
This page is a conglomeration of photos, and information accumulated from involvement in this event.Here are some photos from the walking section of the 2004 City to Surf,
which shows you don't have to be a serious runner to enjoy the City to Surf;
This photo shows a University of Western Australia (UWA) representative
who has been persuaded to spend some his valuable time in posing for a quick photo shoot
before continuing up the first big hill that takes runners and in this case walkers
up out of Perth central business district (CBD) on St Georges Terrace up past Kings Park...
At the end of the City to Surf, each finisher receives a medallion to mark the achievement.
I have seen people wearing these medallions to work they were so proud of completing the City to Surf!
This is a very fitting photo because;
it is taken on the beach where the SURF is!
Jonathon's racing in the City to Surf;
City to Surf 12km;
1997; 52min 52secs (565th place out of 6005)
In 1998 Jon Racewalked the 4km section of the City to Surf.
1998 4km;Racewalked it in about 22min....in 1998 I racewalked the 4km, cos my ankle injury was only just getting there, and it only just lasted that...
1999; 58min 10secs (very slow!, especially second half, therefore; 1272th place out of 6900)
2000; Did not do it...
2001; 4km; 19min 49.... 214th place out of about 4000-5000, there was a lot of entrants this year...the most ever, about 10000 in the 12km.
2002; 4km; 17min 25.... 33rd place out of 4000-5000 or so. Record entries again, over 16000 in total this time.
Jon at the Start
.......& Finish of the 2003 City to Surf 12km;
2003; 54min 15 .........907th place out of about 14584...(about 20,000 entrants altogether this year, just failed to smash my P.B.,but still a good solid run I was happy with...)
2004; 56min 22 .........1133rd place out of 10917 timed runners...(about 23,000 entrants altogether this year, didnt threaten my PB at any stage, but finished well, probably negative splitted, and pretty pleased with an enjoyable run...)
Jon finishing the 2004 City to Surf;
The City to Surf 12km with its 3 big hills, was part of the good preparation
for Jonathon to eventually go on and run half marathons in 2003,
and then run his first full Marathons in 2004. Jonathon has run the Perth Marathon every year since 2004 (2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010) as shown on his BLOG here.....also Rottnest Marathon in 2004, Melbourne Marathon in 2007 and 2009, with a DNF (23km) in the 2008 Melbourne Marathon after an ankle explosion 1km into it.
In addition Jonathon dabbled with Ultra-marathons like 6-inch hilly! 45km in 2005,2006,2008,2009... and the WAMC 40miler (46k DNF in 2008)...
More of Jonathons City to Surf runs, but now as a marathoner;
2005 60min 06...I was about 3 minutes late for the start and had to run in oppisite direction to runners back to the start line to get my time registered, so actual time was more like 57 minutes by my wristwatch. Official placing 1658th of about 14000.
2006 I entered it, but DNS (did not start)...
2007 Did Inaugural Half Marathon event (21.1km)1 hr 54min 20...508th of 948. Only about 900 finishers though, could be it was too tough for some...good solid hitout considering I only had one training run in the 7 weeks before it. Enjoyed the run.
Full report on my blog here... or in my blog command archives here.....
Photos below of Jonathon after his run in the first ever City to Surf Half Marathon in 2007 recovering at my Aunty Marlene & Uncle Noels place;
...
2008 Did Half Marathon (21.1km) again 1 hr 54min 48...895th of about 1494? About 1390 successful finishers I think. Not very well motivated to run fast, and ran for 30 minutes before to keep warm, plus 35minutes after to get back to start of 4k and walk that with my wife Kathryn, (and 1 year old son Jacob in pram most of the way, although he did walk a few steps on Oceanic Drive at top of hill.)...So a good 3 hour training run...+ over an hour walking with Kathryn so 4 hours out there altogether... Full details @ HEREon my blog.
2009 Ran the inaugural MARATHON in 4hrs 42min 15 secs....Kathryn (and Jacob in pram) walked the 4km in a quicker 46min 27 secs this time. A nice time at my uncle and aunts afterwards again. A wonderful day, and I got on the Channel 9 TV special for 2 seconds that night as I ran at the front in 9th spot with the Kenyans, Ethiopians and Todd Ingraham (one of the few current sub 2.30 marathoners from Perth) ... for the first minute or two......full race/training run report @ HERE...walked a lot of Kings park hilly section and wore hydration pak as I was seeing it as a training run for Melbourne Marathon...
2010..Ran the Marathon again in 4 hrs 15 min 59 secs...nice to be 26 minutes better than 2009,& just 20 minutes from PB on this tough! hilly course.
Hammy was soreish on some of the steeper/longer hills, so walked whenever I got the slightest twinge. Started with a bit of a sprint (I'm there at 46-47 seconds on youtube vid.) running with the Kenyans KipKemboi (winner in 2.14!!!), Kiproo (a few seconds behind Kipkemboi at the end), and Kosgei. Then settled into some 5.20 per K stuff, going through the nice flat fiurst 21.1km in 1.53.34. Good training run/time-trial without really going for broke. Probably could have got it under 4.10 without much trouble...A lot of fun!
2010 C2S Marathon Photos above; About 7km in on Mounts Bay Rd, with old swan brewery behind us, and coming back about 18km in just after exiting UWA.
...
2010 C2S Marathon Photos above; at the top of a hill in Kings park? about 31km? into it...and finishing 42.2km in 4hrs.15min.59secs, after a Half split of 1.53...
B grade section of 2003 City to Surf field;
This photo was taken from a helicopter that got up close and personal before the start....
From CITY to SURF!
A hard earned medal marks the achievement!
