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May 2, 2027
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The HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon, known as the Sydney Half Marathon, is a road half marathon through Sydney's central business district, held on a Sunday in early May, early autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. It began in 1992 as the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon, and a 10 km race is held alongside it. The start is on the Cahill Expressway, at the corner of Macquarie and Bridge Streets, with views over Circular Quay. Runners then head along the harbour and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, loop through Pyrmont, pass Barangaroo and run through the Royal Botanic Gardens to the finish in the event village at The Domain. The course also takes in the Sydney Opera House and The Rocks, and the organisers describe it as all on closed roads, with harbour views and some undulations. It is certified by AIMS and measured to World Athletics standards. Runners must be at least 16 on race day, and on-course cut-off points apply because of road-closure restrictions. The race was not held in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and returned in 2022; since the 30th-anniversary relaunch it has been part of the Runaway Marathon Series.
Typical climate for the race month — an estimate, not a forecast or a race-day record
Early May is early autumn in Sydney: average highs are around 21 °C and lows around 12 °C, with rain on about eight days of the month.
The Race
Sydney
The first race was held in 1992 as the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon, with 3,075 entries. It started under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and ran anti-clockwise through the CBD. Sydneysiders Andrew Lloyd and Sue Mahony won that first race, before Steve Moneghetti and Kerryn McCann took over the titles in the following years.
In 2008 the start and finish lines were moved to Hyde Park, and a record field produced more than 6,000 finishers for the first time. The race was not held in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and returned in 2022. It was relaunched for its 30th anniversary as the HOKA Runaway Sydney Half Marathon, joining the Runaway Marathon Series with a new half marathon course and a 10 km race.
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