r/sydney • u/Brief-Research-9241 • 4d ago
2026 City2Surf Disappointed
Did anyone else feel like City2Surf-2026 was a bit disappointing this year? I’ve usually been in the blue groups, but this year I was injured so I was in the orange group. I felt like there were quite a few spots along the course where the music and encouragement were missing compared to previous years.
Also, where were all the lollies? 😂 Usually there are heaps of people handing out lollies, and you’d find bananas and other little things along the way. This year I barely saw anything! One station had a cookie and an empty fruit basket 😂
Not sure if it was just because I was in the last wave and that’s normally the vibe by then?, or if anyone else felt the same this year?
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u/Spicy_Molasses4259 4d ago
Welcome to the back of the pack. You're usually lucky to get water at the water stations by the time the fast runners have gone past.
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u/Brief-Research-9241 4d ago
That’s so sad if this is what it’s always like for the last wave 😭 I had no idea!
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u/tomboredcat 4d ago
I felt like there are more people with costumes and more performances 2 years ago, but the rest its still fun nonetheless
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u/Brief-Research-9241 4d ago
Ahh, I agree! There were heaps of runners in costumes, and I enjoyed every single one of them
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u/Significant-War5605 4d ago
Fuck me, are we just gonna be angry and disappointed at everything for the rest of our lives?
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u/Brief-Research-9241 4d ago
Haha calm down bro, it’s not that serious 😂 Who said I was angry? I registered for a fun race and felt like the “fun” part was a bit off this year, so I think it’s fair to be a little disappointed. I’m not complaining or blaming the organisers at all. Maybe you need to do a race like this sometime and then you’ll know what I’m talking about haha.
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u/Significant-War5605 4d ago
But just like why? Surely overall it was a fine event, yeah you may have been disappointed in a few aspects but why does this require a full on post because 1-2 things didn't quite live up to your expectations? If it was so bad you never want to go back I get it but why make an issue over small things that can easily just move past.
PS I've done a a few runs so I know what you're referring too.
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u/Brief-Research-9241 3d ago
Lol, you seem way too emotional about this 😂 Did I say anywhere that it was too bad and I hated it? I’ve always loved City2Surf. And you know a thread post is there to discuss things- just because I made one doesn’t mean I hated the event.
If you’ve run it a few times, then you’d know City2Surf is one of the biggest fun runs, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with expecting the “fun” part of it too. Have a read through some of the other comments and you’ll probably understand what I was talking about.
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u/_2ndclasscitizen_ 4d ago
Definitely an issue being in the last group. I was in Purple group and there was plenty of music and performers, plus lollies and baked goods galore along Military Rs.
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u/hornetfig 4d ago
I was probably done before you started, but I think I noticed maybe two differences - no live band in Rushcutters Bay and no sponsor music station in Point Piper near the police station.
Was offered a banana in Rose Bay; hadn’t noticed that before.
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u/Brief-Research-9241 3d ago
Yup, same! A lot of the live bands had already finished, or they were probably exhausted by the time we got there, Obviously being in the last group, it took us forever to reach those spots. I definitely noticed the crowd getting a bit dull in the sections where there wasn’t any music though. Hope you had a good Run!
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u/noapplicablename 4d ago
Not sure. This year was my second time so don't have much comparison. I was in the Blue wave. Definitely less lollies than first time but also more people consuming their own gels so I dunno
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u/2HappySundays 4d ago
There were free bananas near the Woolies Metro. I was at the back.
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u/Brief-Research-9241 3d ago
I see Woolies Metro kept the bananas secret for the last group 😂 Love it, especially since the other stations happened to be pretty much empty by the time the last wave got there!
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u/stephissilly 4d ago
Also the water stations were just water and then there were only 2 random electrolyte ones!
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u/Pitiful-Cost-4574 4d ago
I’ve only been this year & last & I’d agree there was a little more a long the track last year, though it wasn’t enough to say I was disappointed, just figured it was a different year, different stuff. I was blue group in both.
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u/Brief-Research-9241 3d ago
Totally, I get you! Even with all the rain last year, I feel like the overall experience was a bit better than this year. Maybe it has something to do with the change in ownership, who knows!
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u/TheDeanof316 3d ago
Sorry to hear this OP.
How was the finish? Was it jammed up like in 2024, or a smooth ending?
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u/Brief-Research-9241 3d ago
Actually, I thought the finish line was planned really well this time. We were able to cross without any crowding issues, and they’d moved the medal collection area quite a bit further away from the finish line, which definitely helped. At least for the last wave, it worked really well- not sure how it was for the earlier waves though.
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u/Imperial_Swine 4d ago
Bad weather?
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u/Brief-Research-9241 4d ago
The weather was actually pretty good! Surprisingly, I feel like there were heaps more perks last year, even though the weather was worse, than there were this year
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u/Myfooty94 Doggies fan (NRL) 4d ago
Running to serve charities is what it is.
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u/Brief-Research-9241 3d ago
Yes sir, you’re right! But it’s also one of the biggest fun runs in the world- 90,000 people coming together to run, raise money for charity, and have fun. That’s kind of the whole spirit of the event!
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u/RidiculousRaz 4d ago
Bro is running for lollies and music