On Sunday 31st August, Gillian Jago and Bev Morritt travelled down under to make history, taking part in the TCS Sydney marathon in Australia. It’s the first time Sydney has been accepted into the Abbotts Major Marathon series making it a much sought-after race.
The race starts at North Sydney Oval crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge after about 2km. The course is undulating with elevation gains of 330m but rewarded with 396m elevation loss. The route takes in iconic sights such as the Sydney 2000 Olympic Stadium, Darling Harbour, Centennial Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens. The last kilometre ends at the iconic Sydney Opera House with a fantastic view of the harbour making it the perfect backdrop to show off their finishers medal.
35000 runners commenced in waves from 6:30am, the average start time being roughly 8am. Although it was a chilly start (it’s winter in Australia, after all), the sun came out peaking at a comfortable 19c with a cooling wind.
Despite struggling with jet lag, Gill finished in 4:28:32 and Bev hit a massive PB of 5:43:48, shaving 37 minutes 48 seconds off her last marathon time.
Although it was a long way to travel, the ladies highly recommend this race to anyone who fancies trying it. Ballot opens on 26th September 2025 for the 2026 event. Good luck!
