Monday, September 21, 2009

"You Can Run Around Australia"


Running in a new place whether you're on vacation, just moved or running an unfamiliar route, enables you to see things you often miss when traveling by car. It's one of my favorite ways to explore a new city. There are great running and walking tracks all along Sydney's coast which makes it easy to sometimes lose yourself and feel like you're in a small town instead of a thriving city of 6 million. The recent races I've run in help put Sydney's population in perspective. The City2Surf 14K last month had a record 75,000 people registered, starting in the city and ending at Bondi Beach. The winner crossed the finish line before I even started the race! This last race pictured here is from the Sydney Running Festival which has a distance for everyone. There was a marathon, half-marathon, 9K and 4K. My flatmate even had a chance to ride his bike alongside racers in wheelchairs. The highlight -- the Sydney Harbour Bridge is closed for the race for everyone to run across. Wish I could claim I did the marathon but I ran the 9K, a gorgeous run through the city with a course that weaves through the Botanic Gardens and a finish line that all racers cross in front of the Opera House. Running across the bridge was amazing. The only downside is I miss the beer trucks and bananas on race day....

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