11.02.2009

World-class marathon added to Perth City to Surf program

Organisers of the Perth City to Surf are working to assemble the finest elite field seen in a marathon in Australia since the Sydney Olympic Games.

In 2009 for the first time a full 42.2km marathon will be run as part of the 35th year of the running carnival in Perth, Western Australia. The total prize pool of $120,000 is designed to entice Australia’s best distance runners and to attract a solid international field. The prize money will make the Perth City to Surf Marathon, in its inaugural year, Australia’s richest road race.

Event manager Laura Mckelvey said “In addition to assembling a quality field the generous prize pool is also an investment in the vision we have for the event. We are laying the foundations for growing the Perth City to Surf Marathon into one of the world’s premier city marathons”.

With the World Championships in August 2009, many athletes will not be committing until national teams are confirmed, however fallout from the selections should benefit the event.

Athletics Australia has welcomed the inclusion of the event to the Australian running calendar.

Athletics Australia CEO Danny Corcoran said “The Perth City to Surf Marathon is a fantastic new addition to the road running calendar. The travel support and prize money on offer makes the Perth City to Surf very exciting for distance running, nationally.

“The exposure the Perth City to Surf will attract is a real opportunity to showcase our great distance athletes. We have a strong history in the road events and this success helps to inspire new generations of athletes.

"The Perth City to Surf Marathon will bring some of Australia’s current road champions to the west which we hope will really help to reinvigorate and build distance running in Perth.”

The course will take participants on a tour of some of Perth’s most beautiful scenery in a 42.2km path from the city to the surf.

Race designer Chris Letts has created an amazing course set to stand the test of time as the event grows over the coming years.

"We’ve been sure to allow for growth of the event in designing this course," Letts said.

"I wanted to be sure to take in the Perth scenery and am pleased with how that’s been achieved."

Participants will run along the river for the first half of the race before heading to beautiful Kings Park and then on to the traditional finish at City Beach.

The marathon course, whilst tough, is deceptively fast and should make it attractive to the elite field and also recreational runners wishing to record entry times for world marathon events.

“The speed on the downhills makes up for the uphills,” McKelvey said.

“The hilly part of the second half of the course is quite fast, the second half of the course is our half marathon route and we’ve had some very fast times run in the half marathon in its first two years”.

Organisers have stressed that the marathon is there for anyone to enjoy, not only serious runners. A city marathon is unique in that it allows elite athletes and recreational runners to participate in the same event. In the company of some of the world’s fastest distance runners, other participants can achieve significant personal goals on the same course, on the same day, in the same event.

“We wanted to give members of the community an opportunity to further their fitness aspirations and become part of the ever-increasing worldwide interest in marathon running,” McKelvey said.

The Perth community will also be encouraged to get behind this special event. Non-participants will be welcomed as spectators to offer encouragement and support to runners along the 42.2km route. A festive vibe will be created by the excitement of the race and the provision of entertainment on course. Spectators can also share in the runners' excitement and relief as they cross the City Beach finishing line, exhausted and exalted by their great personal achievements.

The Perth City to Surf Marathon will be run as part of the Perth City to Surf, which also includes a half marathon, 12km run, 12km walk, 11km wheelchair event and 4km run/walk.

Organisers expect participation to top 40,000 in 2009. The event will take place on Sunday August 30, with all funds raised by the City to Surf going to help Activ continue its mission to create a better life for people with disability.

For event information and course map, click here.