Sri Chinmoy Iron Cove Race Report

It has been four years but on Sunday (24 February) it seemed like only yesterday that the last Sri Chinmoy race was held around Iron Cove. Many of the 'old' faces returned, along with plenty of runners sampling their first race of the new Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series for 2008.

The "Bay Run" is rightly renowned as one of Sydney's most popular running venues. The flat, wide cycle path following the shoreline offers a scenic, rejuvenating and never lonely run. The very popularity of the course also offers one of its main challenges: there are always plenty of recreational runners, walkers, cyclists and roller-bladers enjoying the same benefits! Most users are very respectful of others, and runners accept that navigating a route betwixt pedestrians is part of the adventure of this course.

A remarkable feature of the field assembled for Sunday's race was that the women outnumbered the men - 115 to 95. This ratio would have been unheard of during the first 'running boom' of the '80s when women were still minority participants. That more women are not only running nowadays, but also participating in races is a great testimony to the progress of the sport over the last 30 years.

35 runners lined up for the 4 km race, which was convincingly won by John Hughes in 14:35. Clara Dziedziczak, first in the Under 17 Girls was also first female overall in 19:07. With medals for Under 13 and Under 17 Categories, it would be pleasing to see more younger runners participating in the shorter distance race at future events.

8 km proved to be the preferred distance on the day, with 110 entrants completing the once-out-and-back course. While Natasha Cole (left)scorched the field in the women's race - her 31:26 placing her 6th outright and over 8 minutes ahead of her nearest rival - the men's race saw a much closer tussle with Charlie Brooks only drawing away from Greg Greene as they entered the finish chute, to win by a mere one second.

The pace was on in the men's 16 km, passing through half-way in a little over the time of the winners for the 8 km race. Darren McClellan (right) and Sebastian Hatercamp both narrowly missed breaking the one-hour mark, finishing in 1:00:21 and 1:00:36 respectively. Sally Lynch (1:11:47) meanwhile powered ahead from Sharon Antonir (1:12:35) in the women's race.

A cooler morning was welcomed by all runners, and when the mercury started rising by the second lap of the 16 km run, it was tempered by a sea breeze. The feeling amongst all competitors was friendly and convivial, a perfect start to a glorious Sunday in Sydney.

Full results by category are now published for all 3 races, along with a photo album from the day's action.

Race 2 in the Sri Chinmoy Sydney Series is a delightful cross-country course in Centennial Park, with 14 km, 7 km and 4 km options to be staged on Easter Monday, 24 March. Online entries are now open.

Meanwhile on Sunday 16 March, escape to beautiful Jindabyne in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains for a race you will never forget: the Sri Chinmoy Multi-Sport Classic is 12 legs of running, mountain biking, swimming and paddling for solo athletes and relay teams, a varied and tremendously satisfying course with something for everyone.