August 9, 2026 — 9:52am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA After tasting victory in this year’s 14-kilometre City2Surf race, Andy Buchanan said he planned to change shoes and “run back to the start”. He has marathons to train for, after
After tasting victory in this year’s 14-kilometre City2Surf race, Andy Buchanan said he planned to change shoes and “run back to the start”.
He has marathons to train for, after all.
The 35-year-old Victorian, who held the Australian marathon record, crossed the line first in a field of about 90,000 participants, with a time of 40 minutes and 27 seconds.
The course record of 40:03, set by Olympian Steve Moneghetti in 1991, grew a year older.
“I missed it by a fair bit this year, but I’ll be back to try to get it,” said Buchanan, who represented Australia in the marathon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Holly Campbell took out the women’s race, crossing the line at Bondi in 46:35. Competing in the elite category of the race for the first time, the 30-year-old surpassed the time her twin sister Paige set when she came second two years ago.
“I dreamed about winning this race as a kid,” Campbell, who grew up on a farm in central NSW, said. “Dreams do come true.”
Not everyone was taking the world’s biggest fun run so seriously.
A group of four runners dressed as football referees and linesmen were “just keeping everyone in check”, with a whistle and a red card in the pocket.
Many more wore costumes, for a laugh or for charity. Participants have raised more than $63 million for good causes since the fundraising total was first recorded in 2008.
The race began at 7.30am, but before dawn contestants had begun to gather at the start line near Hyde Park in the CBD.
Diego Soto, wearing blue-tinted aviator sunglasses, was hoping for a time below an hour. His strategy was “run fast before Heartbreak Hill”, the steep stretch between Rose Bay and Vaucluse.
Another early riser, Dan Agnew, said “everybody complains about it” but he liked Heartbreak Hill. “It’s actually really cool,” said Agnew, who was also hoping for a sub-60 minute time.
Jessy Bonney’s pre-race preparation included listening to “upbeat emo music” as she readied herself to draw on the crowd’s momentum.
“You feel everybody’s energy for the ‘ready, set, go’, you just use it,” Bonney said. “You’re part of that bubble.”
Personal trainer Omid Toloo said this year’s City2Surf would be his 31st and he hoped there would be many more to come. “If I last until I’m 80, I’m happy.”
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