I'm annoyed any time I have to do a switchback during any race. It ruins my motivation and just makes me think the organisers have been too lazy to design a proper course.
Yep, so much emphasis on Centennial Park. The most unenjoyable part of the marathon. I'm not saying they should get rid of Centennial Park, but it should only be running through it, not back and forth all over it.
Changing to North Sydney Park should make the start and toilets a non-issue. No complaints about the hills. Boston and New York are hilly. Don't have to be pancake flat to be a major. Date change would be tricky with City2Surf mid August. But agree, last year was unbearable. Glad they've scrapped the Half. Do Sydney Half in May if that's your thing. BTW GC has the 10k on Sunday. Closing roads for 2 days in Sydney would not be viable. I think 2024 will be a vast improvement. Here's hoping for no heatwave.
This year's start was a vast improvement, just like other majors. The only issue with toilets was that when you went through to holding pens this year there were no toilets.
great video as a marathon runner but slower; id be concerned that these measures would increase the cost significantly ; some of these events are getting to the point that more amateur local runners are opting out ; and at end of the day those thousands of runners who only run for fun so to speak are the ones who create pay for these events; they are happy to pay to run the distance but some of these events are getting pretty expensive
Hi, yes, some ultras are getting very expensive but most marathons are around the $180 mark, you get good nutrition, a t-shirt and a medal fro your accomplishment and sometimes so other extras. Lets hope they don't slowly creep up in price🤞
Humble Brag-I've done all the majors 😊 Boston and NYC are not fast and also hilly. Out and backs are not good for 30k which i think they'd want as a major. Date wise it would need to change,it is too close to Berlin and Chicago.
Great video Nathan, this was my first marathon, talk about baptism of fire. Agree with everything apart from the complaints about elevation, yes the course should change, all them out and backs around Centennial were hellish, but it's a hilly city, you'd be hard pushed to figure a route that doesn't incorporate significant hills. Keep up the great content!
Thanks Thomas, certainly a hilly 1st mara. Have u contemplated GC mara? Would be a good comparison. I just think they could flatten it out a wee bit, would certainly help esp trying to be appealing for people to run it as a major.
I don't think Sydney will get a flat marathon. The city is hilly so no avoiding it. I think Sydney simply needs to embrace the elevation and sell it as a challenging marathon like Boston. But if they could get rid of the switchbacks and find a route which loops from the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House, I believe it would be a lot more enjoyable even with the elevation. I really hated the amount of time spent in Centennial Park and feel it ruins the run.
Thanks for this Nathan. I am trying to decide on whether to go to Sydney for the Age Groups World Championship in 2024, and while I would love to do the race, and would love to visit Australia, so far I see zero evidence that any of the troubling issues you bring up are being addressed for 2024 - the date is the same, the timing is the same, the half marathon is still on the same date (and starts earlier in the day - what is the point of that?), and the course hardly seems to be any different. It is a long and expensive trip from the east coast of the US, and I don't want to do it only to be aggravated by a lot of avoidable issues!
Totally understand Anthony. I’m not sure how it will get Major status with the issues I brought up and which everyone seems to highlight. There seems to be no structural recommendations made by Abbot. It just seems they want to accept Sydney just to take their money without making sure the marathon is as high a level as the other majors. Most of the world will find late September too hot and humid to run a marathon that starts at 7am. The whole marathon in my opinion needs revamping especially the start, the route and date. 🤞🏼
I hope you decided to come. They scrapped the Half and will start earlier, from a bigger park. Plus way fewer km in Centennial. I'm sad about losing the Darling Harbour part. But it makes sense for racing.
The Sydney marathon course has some amazing views, but everything you mentioned is absolutely correct, especially the hills, the twists and the heat. The Gold Coast Marathon is far better, although even in July, the GC can be warm and humid. The Melbourne Marathon is probably much better than Sydney, although it can be a little warm as well, and then there is the HM intermingling with the marathon. One error you made is the Gold Coast HM is on the Saturday but the 10km is on the Sunday, not Saturday as you suggested. I ran the GC HM last year and my friend ran the 10km, he held my rain coat and I went and cheered him on, as he was coming back from open heart surgery. Anyway, thanks for the video.
Great video, and I agree with all of your points. I was shocked at how many people were publicly urinating before the start of the race - yuk! I was running around the 4hr group, and the water stations were overwhelmed with crushes of runners. Volunteers did a great job, but water was an issue.
The up and backs out the front of Moore Park were annoying, turning at 180 degrees over and again. The heat got me, so that affected my speed more than the hills which I had prepared for. I wonder if we stepped in the same pothole?
Hey Nathan, this years Sydney Mara was my first ever. It was an amazing experience but I can’t agree more with your points. Time of year is too hot and an over-reliance on Centennial park hurts its chances of becoming a major.
To expand on my comments the only city in Australia with the international appeal to be a major is Sydney and I dont live there however changes need to be made for it to make the jump to that level first of which is the startits to narrow for that size of field and not enougth room pre race. There is also an overreliance on the park with the endless out and backs in there, the road surface in parts was poor as well. I dont think the course profile is a problem not all courses need to be superfast NY and Boston both have significant elevation gain. Aid stations can be improved and removing some of the out and backs give room for wider aid stationsfor one with better access to ice (I only saw one aid station offering ICE) and gels.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts now that they've announced some changes for 2024! Absolutely wild that the year before you ran it there was another 100m of elevation.. It was so brutal! Totally agree with you for the date change. It's currently just after the cut-off to be a qualifier for the following years' Boston Marathon, so even a week earlier would be great for weather and for BQs.
Thanks Harry, to be honest I don't believe owe actually need another Major, esp as Australia is so far away for the rest of the world, it will make it very difficult for people tomcat the full set, but saying that, if you live in Aus like myself, every major is a mammoth journey and very expensive. I think Abbott marathon major execs must've just watched this video and implemented all of my recommendations lol, where do Is end the bill?! Another 100m of elevation would've been brutal! Date definitely needs to change to avoid clashing with other majors and to avoid heat issues like 2023.
I'm annoyed any time I have to do a switchback during any race. It ruins my motivation and just makes me think the organisers have been too lazy to design a proper course.
Yep, so much emphasis on Centennial Park. The most unenjoyable part of the marathon. I'm not saying they should get rid of Centennial Park, but it should only be running through it, not back and forth all over it.
Changing to North Sydney Park should make the start and toilets a non-issue.
No complaints about the hills. Boston and New York are hilly. Don't have to be pancake flat to be a major.
Date change would be tricky with City2Surf mid August. But agree, last year was unbearable.
Glad they've scrapped the Half. Do Sydney Half in May if that's your thing. BTW GC has the 10k on Sunday. Closing roads for 2 days in Sydney would not be viable.
I think 2024 will be a vast improvement. Here's hoping for no heatwave.
This year's start was a vast improvement, just like other majors. The only issue with toilets was that when you went through to holding pens this year there were no toilets.
@@ultradiabetic the B/E pen had toilets. Or do you mean the starting pen just before take off? We weren't in there very long.
great video as a marathon runner but slower; id be concerned that these measures would increase the cost significantly ; some of these events are getting to the point that more amateur local runners are opting out ; and at end of the day those thousands of runners who only run for fun so to speak are the ones who create pay for these events; they are happy to pay to run the distance but some of these events are getting pretty expensive
Hi, yes, some ultras are getting very expensive but most marathons are around the $180 mark, you get good nutrition, a t-shirt and a medal fro your accomplishment and sometimes so other extras. Lets hope they don't slowly creep up in price🤞
Humble Brag-I've done all the majors 😊
Boston and NYC are not fast and also hilly.
Out and backs are not good for 30k which i think they'd want as a major.
Date wise it would need to change,it is too close to Berlin and Chicago.
Great video Nathan, this was my first marathon, talk about baptism of fire. Agree with everything apart from the complaints about elevation, yes the course should change, all them out and backs around Centennial were hellish, but it's a hilly city, you'd be hard pushed to figure a route that doesn't incorporate significant hills. Keep up the great content!
Thanks Thomas, certainly a hilly 1st mara. Have u contemplated GC mara? Would be a good comparison. I just think they could flatten it out a wee bit, would certainly help esp trying to be appealing for people to run it as a major.
agree with most of your points having done the race with the exception of the course being to hilly not all courses have to be super fast
Thanks Mary, yes certainly not as hilly as Brisbane
I don't think Sydney will get a flat marathon. The city is hilly so no avoiding it. I think Sydney simply needs to embrace the elevation and sell it as a challenging marathon like Boston. But if they could get rid of the switchbacks and find a route which loops from the Harbour Bridge to the Opera House, I believe it would be a lot more enjoyable even with the elevation. I really hated the amount of time spent in Centennial Park and feel it ruins the run.
Yes agreed matt, the elevation for this marathon is something to be lived with
Thanks for this Nathan. I am trying to decide on whether to go to Sydney for the Age Groups World Championship in 2024, and while I would love to do the race, and would love to visit Australia, so far I see zero evidence that any of the troubling issues you bring up are being addressed for 2024 - the date is the same, the timing is the same, the half marathon is still on the same date (and starts earlier in the day - what is the point of that?), and the course hardly seems to be any different. It is a long and expensive trip from the east coast of the US, and I don't want to do it only to be aggravated by a lot of avoidable issues!
Totally understand Anthony. I’m not sure how it will get Major status with the issues I brought up and which everyone seems to highlight. There seems to be no structural recommendations made by Abbot. It just seems they want to accept Sydney just to take their money without making sure the marathon is as high a level as the other majors. Most of the world will find late September too hot and humid to run a marathon that starts at 7am. The whole marathon in my opinion needs revamping especially the start, the route and date. 🤞🏼
I hope you decided to come. They scrapped the Half and will start earlier, from a bigger park. Plus way fewer km in Centennial. I'm sad about losing the Darling Harbour part. But it makes sense for racing.
Agreed, your medal holder is like mine lol
Good to hear.
Afyer jus hearing point 1 how is syndey even being considered for a world marathon lol
Why does an Abbott marathon course need to be “fast”???
The Sydney marathon course has some amazing views, but everything you mentioned is absolutely correct, especially the hills, the twists and the heat. The Gold Coast Marathon is far better, although even in July, the GC can be warm and humid. The Melbourne Marathon is probably much better than Sydney, although it can be a little warm as well, and then there is the HM intermingling with the marathon. One error you made is the Gold Coast HM is on the Saturday but the 10km is on the Sunday, not Saturday as you suggested. I ran the GC HM last year and my friend ran the 10km, he held my rain coat and I went and cheered him on, as he was coming back from open heart surgery. Anyway, thanks for the video.
Thank you, yes sorry GC 10k is on the Sunday.Glad you enjoyed the half.
Great video, and I agree with all of your points. I was shocked at how many people were publicly urinating before the start of the race - yuk!
I was running around the 4hr group, and the water stations were overwhelmed with crushes of runners. Volunteers did a great job, but water was an issue.
both toilets and waterstations have been fixed for this year. aswell as the start time. good luck breaking 3:30 this year
The up and backs out the front of Moore Park were annoying, turning at 180 degrees over and again. The heat got me, so that affected my speed more than the hills which I had prepared for. I wonder if we stepped in the same pothole?
There were several!
Hey Nathan, this years Sydney Mara was my first ever. It was an amazing experience but I can’t agree more with your points. Time of year is too hot and an over-reliance on Centennial park hurts its chances of becoming a major.
I think beginning of august would be more suitable
To expand on my comments the only city in Australia with the international appeal to be a major is Sydney and I dont live there however changes need to be made for it to make the jump to that level first of which is the startits to narrow for that size of field and not enougth room pre race. There is also an overreliance on the park with the endless out and backs in there, the road surface in parts was poor as well. I dont think the course profile is a problem not all courses need to be superfast NY and Boston both have significant elevation gain. Aid stations can be improved and removing some of the out and backs give room for wider aid stationsfor one with better access to ice (I only saw one aid station offering ICE) and gels.
Great points Mary, thank you
Great points Mary, thank you. I came across two ice stations but only in centenary park
Would be interested to hear your thoughts now that they've announced some changes for 2024!
Absolutely wild that the year before you ran it there was another 100m of elevation.. It was so brutal!
Totally agree with you for the date change. It's currently just after the cut-off to be a qualifier for the following years' Boston Marathon, so even a week earlier would be great for weather and for BQs.
Thanks Harry, to be honest I don't believe owe actually need another Major, esp as Australia is so far away for the rest of the world, it will make it very difficult for people tomcat the full set, but saying that, if you live in Aus like myself, every major is a mammoth journey and very expensive. I think Abbott marathon major execs must've just watched this video and implemented all of my recommendations lol, where do Is end the bill?!
Another 100m of elevation would've been brutal! Date definitely needs to change to avoid clashing with other majors and to avoid heat issues like 2023.
@@ultradiabetic CHANGE THE DATE!!!!!!!!!
They passed the first test 😎😎😎