A Bravery Trust team took on the 42.2km Sydney Marathon as part of Bravery Trek. Here are some thoughts and insights from one of our dedicated runners, Bravery Trust Ambassador Murray Bruce.
Things were tense up in Sydney as they entered the 2nd stage of candidacy to become an Abbott World Marathon Major alongside New York, Boston, Tokyo, Berlin, London and Chicago. In 2023 despite the heat and runners dropping like flies they passed the 105-point checklist to pass stage 1.
The stage was set (pardon the pun) on 15 September 2024 for Sydney to mount its best shot at passing stage 2. Up the Hume the forecast was for a much cooler top of 17 degrees but with gusty winds throughout. The half marathon distance from ‘23 was dropped, the hemmed in starting zone with 10% of the Portaloo’s needed was relocated, most of the gazillion switchbacks removed and the field increased to 24,000 runners – Sydney wanted this bad.
So clearly with such an opportunity, tickets for this penultimate candidate event were in high demand. Not the race week to learn that the entry you thought you had secured was a figment of your imagination. Equally not the morning to wake up @ 4.15 to find your Garmin hadn’t charged fully and would struggle to make it across the Harbour Bridge let alone along Oxford St – twice!!!
So clearly despite my lack of preparation the race was on. I scrounged a bib (just call me ‘Juliana’ and accept that I had no place being in wave B as a runner struggling to finish in under 5 hours), swapped my Garmin with a friendly spectator who I’d only just met and donned Liz’s 98-year-old mother’s woolly ankle freezing leggings to brave the earlier start.
Before you say that last line is crazy – buckle in – I was running with Singh, Liz and Leanne – this would not be your standard run. We were also joined by Adon and Stu from Bravery Trek which was using this year’s run to raise awareness.
We were about 1km from the start line in our crowded wave shoot being shepherded like sheep when our wave was set off. So far from the start line we didn’t even hear it being announced. How crazy that your running starts a km before the start line – talk about bonus distance.
Across the bridge (which never ceases to be amazing) running 20-30 abreast and into our first tunnel. Doug will tell you tunnels mean one thing when you are running with Singh and me – it’s time to sing (or is that Singh!!!). Two Wimbledon-clad runners passed complete with tennis rackets just as we entered the tunnel leaving us no other choice than to launch into ‘Love is in the Air’. Can’t say that the tune was magnificent nor that we got the words 100% correct but the crowd around us enjoyed the pick me up and off we trotted knocking off the kms.
The next tunnel was ‘Always Look On The Bright Side of Life’ by which time other runners were glad this was the last tunnel on the course. Maybe singing isn’t an option for Singh and my post-tech careers!!!
We passed Kez in Piermont and rounded the Casinos to head back through the CBD and out in the teeth of a building Southerly buster. By the time we’d reached the top of Oxford Street they’d heard Singh and I were coming and they’d brought in reinforcements to ensure we didn’t sing again. Some drag queens met us at Taylor Square and were doing a fabulous dance and song routine that we simply couldn’t match. On ANZAC Parade Elvis was reborn to ensure he thrilled the runners and other cover duos, reggae drummers and rave DJs ensured we made it to the Kingsford turnaround without the hint of humming another bar.
We passed Liz and Renee a km ahead cruising back into town and then rounded the turn, put the wind at our back as we sailed our way back into town. We cruised around Centennial Park and the footy/cricket grounds back into Darlinghurst to knock off the next tradition in Singh and my Bravery Trek Marathon tradition.
It was into the Taphouse (fittingly near the end of ANZAC Parade) where we had a quiet ale to reflect on the people who had given their lives in service and those veterans who returned with demons on their backs and took their own lives. We cruised out of the pub, reunited with our friendly drag queens at Taylor Square and descended into the Domain.
Here Singh and I realised that we needed to reunite with Stu and Adon to group up for a photo finish at the Opera House. Time to reflect on the gentleman we passed in the 90-94 year age group, the guy from India in his 70s who’s living in London and travelling through Australia and NZ knocking off a few more marathons or the couple in their 50 states marathon shirt (yes, they’d run a marathon in each of the 50 American states). These folk are tough – maybe not as brave as the 2 lads from Budgy Smugglers though – who ran the entire run in budgies while posting on Tick Tock at every chance they could get.
So as we reached Mrs Macquarie’s Chair with 3km to go we could slow down and walk for a bit to wait for Adon and Stu or…..
Have a spa
Courtesy of Budgy Smugglers and with the Opera House & Harbour Bridge as our backdrop – in we hopped donning our brand-new hot chilli budgies – courtesy of Budgy Smugglers – and it’s time for another social media post. See Insta if you think we’re making this stuff up…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_7Rq4YPc_k
And you know if it’s on Insta we mustn’t be lying.
So Adon and Stu rescued us from the spa, we laced back up and headed up the last hill and down to the finish.
So much fun, great to meet so many people out on the course and great to do it for such a great cause. Along with others in TTS we’re raising funds for Bravery Trek for emergency financial support, counselling and education for serving people, veterans and their families. Look us up on braverytrek.com.au
Better still hop on the website to register to join us on 10 October @ 0600 for a run with the Pollies from Campbell High to Parliament House via Mt Ainslie. Or if you like your fun super-sized join Singh and me @ 11pm on 9 October @ Hall Village as we head out along the Centenary Trail, join up with the Pollies in the morning and knock off 50km to wrap up the Trek.
For Sydney – they certainly gave the Abbott World Marathon Major checklist a shot. Did it call for unregistered runners? Did it require them to have people singing in tunnels? Would guys running in Buddy’s help or hinder their cause? Was there a need for aid stations serving delicious hoppy craft beers? What about a spa with a view?
We may never know – but keep your eyes peeled because if the fun was anything to go by TCS Sydney Marathon 2025 with be an Abbott World Marathon Major. My guess is we’ll all need to get our entries in early.
