With another City2Surf just around the corner, I’ve found myself reflecting on my experience last year and my first time lacing up for Syney’s most iconic fun run. What began as a bucket list goal became a celebration of health, resilence, and life.

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When I was a little girl I used to love running in the athletics competitions. Oh I would line up for the 100m sprints and then – ZOOM – I was off. As a kid, running wasn’t about medals or beating anyone. It was about feeling free! It was so simple – joyful. It was about having the wind in your hair and the feeling of weightlessness as you moved your little arms and legs so fast to propel yourself down the oval. But as I grew older, life got in the way. My focus shifted elsewhere and somwhere along the way running fell off my radar. Though, after many decades, running eventually found me again and just when I needed it the most.

Three years ago, during a particularly stressful period, I reached for my old runners. I didn’t have a plan. I just needed to move—to clear my mind and move the stress out of my body. What started as short jogs around the block slowly evolved into something much more meaningful. I began to crave that time outdoors – what would soon be known as my moving meditation.

Running wasn’t about fitness or pace. It was about be present. It was the one hour in a day where I was fully with myself without distractions. It was just me and the pavement. And I started to love it, to crave it. Nothing else mattered in those moments and I started to feel free again, like I did as a kid.

What is the City2Surf?

The City2Surf is an iconic running event that see’s participants run or walk the roads of Sydney for 14kms from the CBD all the way to picturesque Bondi Beach! It’s what’s called a “fun run” where people of all running levels are encouraged to lace up their joggers, don a quirky outfit (if they want) and enjoy a great cardio session with 90,000 of your closest mates – all while raising much needed funds for charity. I mean, if this doesn’t give you a runners high I don’t know what else will!

Why the City2Surf ended up on my bucket list

When I moved back to Sydney, I started putting together a fresh bucket list of things I wanted to do to reconnect with this city, with myself, and with the feeling of being fully alive. At the top of that list? Run the City2Surf. Not for fitness. Not for clout. But to mark a massive milestone: 15 years in remission from cancer. A decade and a half of surviving, healing, becoming…well, a newer version of me. The cancer survivor. The person who doesn’t take life for granted and wants to experience everything it has to offer.

I wanted to do something physical—something that reminded me of the good things my body was capable of. I wanted to sweat, to struggle, to push, and to feel everything – but mostly, I wanted to feel strong. I craved a challenge that reminded me how far I’d come not just in distance, but in life.

So, running the City2Surf felt like the perfect choice. It felt symbolic. It felt right. So I signed up.

Training for the City2Surf

Trust me when I say there was no elite training schedule taped to my fridge or insane diet. No running coach or fancy gear, just me, my sneakers, and a slow-but-steady commitment to showing up. Some weeks I nailed three or four runs. Other weeks, life got in the way and I struggled to even get a single run in.

I also leaned into strength training that focused on building my leg strength (got to protect those knees and ankles!), walks with my two rescue dogs Fritz and Freya, and lots of stretching (your hips will thank you, trust me!). But the real game-changer? Jeffing!

Jeffing: the running strategy that got me through it

Early in my training, I came across a pacing method called Jeffing—named after Olympian Jeff Galloway. It’s a structured run-walk strategy that helps you maintain a steady rhythm without burning out. I decided to try 250m of running, followed by 30 seconds of walking, and it completely changed how I approached longer runs. I eventually increased the distance of the running to 500m followed by one minute of fast walking.

Jeffing is a powerful run-walk method designed to:

• Prevent fatigue and reduce injury
• Keep your pace consistent(ish) over long distances
• Make running more sustainable (and dare I say, fun)—especially for new or returning runners

On race day, Jeffing helped me stay focused, balanced, and strong. I didn’t hit a wall. I didn’t crash. And most importantly, my legs and body never felt like they were going to give way. I just kept going—500m of running, one moment of rest, all the way to Bondi. And I finished in just under 2 hours—something I’m honestly really proud of.

Race Day: 90,000 Runners, One Giant Vibe

There’s nothing quite like City2Surf race day. Sydney buzzes with energy—costumed runners, live music, people dancing in the streets. No matter your background or pace, you belong.

And if you’re lucky, you might spot a true Sydney legend. I’ve seen him countless times in Pitt Street Mall, always with his signs radiating love, hope, and happiness. So when I saw him cheering on the runners, I had a full fangirl moment. This was my time to meeet this happy man and get a photo!.

I stopped. Had a brief chat. Smiled and got the photo.

The Final Stretch: Where’s My Epic Finish Line Moment?

Here’s the truth though: I expected a big, emotional, arms-in-the-air finish line moment. You know the ones you see on Instagram or TikTok all the time. The person is running to the finish line, the spectators are cheering them on, and as they run through the finish line with arms in the air celebrating.

But that’s not what happened.

The final stretch was… a traffic jam. Thousands of runners bottlenecked toward the finish chute. You couldn’t run even if you wanted to. We shuffled. We dawdled. It felt more like queuing at a theme park than completing a personal triumph. I was a bit crushed, to be honest. We all had earned that cinematic finish.

So yeah, I walked across the finish line. And while it may not have been the finishing moment I had envisioned, I walked over the finish line with heart. And that counts too.

What running still gives me

Getting back into running has taught me that showing up for yourself is what gives you strength. It helped me to reconnect with the little girl inside of me who loved to run for the joy of it and reminded me that moving my body should be about honouring my body rather than punishing it. It’s not about what my body looks like (though that is a bonus). It’s about what my body can do, what it’s carried me through, and what it will carry me through as I get older. And importantly, it’s given me a way to celebrate being alive.

Would I Do It Again?

Yes. A thousand times yes. I’ll Jeff it. I’ll walk if I need to. I’ll finish in a shuffle if that’s what it takes. Because City2Surf isn’t just a run—it’s a celebration. Of life, of resilience, and of the beautiful, messy, empowering act of movement and putting ourselves and our health first. In fact, I’m considering signing up for my next marathon in Outback Australia!

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Thinking of Doing City2Surf? Here’s What I’d Tell You:

You don’t need to be a runner

City2Surf is for everyone—walkers, joggers, dancers, superheroes in costume. Come as you are. There were plenty of people there just for the vibes and enjoying a casual stroll with 90,000 of their closest mates.

Consider Jeffing

It’s perfect for long runs, especially if you’re new or returning to running. I’m planning on doing a marathon in the future and I know I’ll be Jeffing that too.

Wear what you trust

This is not the time to try out new gear! Reach for the shoes and gear you already know and love. I trained with a bumbag—part habit, part comfort—and kept it on for the run. Do what works for you.

Fuel well, hydrate often

Nourish your body before the start line with a good carb-based breakfast, bring a water bottle, and take advantage of the refuelling stations along the way. Movement feels better when your body feels supported.

Soak it all in

This event is about so much more than the run itself. There’s live music, cheering crowds, high-fives from strangers, and the occasional dancing banana. The joy is everywhere—don’t rush past it. I even made a point to pat every dog I saw along the course—because why not? It’s that kind of day.

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Final Thoughts: Marking 15 Years, One Step at a Time

This run was more than a fitness goal. It was a ritual. A full-body YES to 15 years of beating cancers ass – of being in remission. A celebration of life. Of second chances. Of strength I didn’t always recognise in myself. I didn’t need a finish-line sprint to prove that. The run was the celebration.

If you’re looking for a sign to start something—whether it’s running, reconnecting with movement, or ticking off a bucket list goal—this is it. Lace up. Show up. Honour where you are and don’t be afraid to walk it out.

Much love,
Lara X

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