Sydney Marathon Full Course Challenge After Surgery - Part 1

Sydney Marathon Full Course Challenge After Surgery - Part 1

Hello, I'm Runninghaeyoung, a woman who loves exercise.

After my ankle surgery, I cried a lot, worrying that I wouldn't be able to run again. But now, 5 months later, I'm in Sydney to run the Sydney Marathon full course.

I flew with Cathay Pacific, with a layover in Hong Kong. The journey took about 13 hours (3.5 hours and 9.5 hours). I arrived at Sydney Airport at 8 am, and after missing check-in and having lunch, I started exploring the area. Since I was only 4 months post-rehab, my goal was to complete the full course within the Sydney Marathon's time limit of 7 hours.

Many people came from all over the world to run the Sydney Marathon. We connected through the marathon, becoming online friends and chatting briefly. It was surprising to find out that we were staying at the same hotel...(It turned out he's a well-known figure from Popcast).

Something I found interesting in Sydney was that despite the cool weather, many people ate outside with takeout food. Most people sat on the stairs to eat, and restaurants always seemed to have outdoor seating. (I was wearing winter clothes...)

Sydney Marathon D-2: For international marathons, you need to pick up your race bib at the expo. The sooner, the better. Sponsors (Asics in Sydney) sell souvenirs, but your desired size might not be available.

With the Sydney Marathon becoming almost officially recognized as one of the world's top seven marathons (there are 3 candidates), the course and expo location have changed significantly. Last year, the expo was near the airport, making it difficult to access. This year, it's in the city center, making it accessible even by running!

I heard that the expo on Thursday (D-3) was extremely crowded in the morning, so I decided to go at lunchtime on Friday. With the extra time in the morning, I planned to go for a jog and have breakfast.

I love going for a morning jog when I arrive at a new travel destination. It's like exploring the surroundings beforehand! I can discover popular local restaurants and cafes while running, and it makes navigation much easier. Haha.

My hotel was near Circular Quay in Sydney, offering a view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The Opera House, Harbour Bridge, art galleries, and the Royal Botanic Garden are famous here – and great for jogging.

The Royal Botanic Garden—or rather, a park. Many runners were there. Above all, there's a view where you can see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge at the same time, so I highly recommend running there. By the way, in Australia, they drive on the left, so it's better to run on the left. Driving and directions are opposite to Korea.

I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel. The breakfast was excellent. Be sure to try a flat white in Australia. I filmed a lot of videos during my trip, so it seems like it will be divided into three parts. The second video will be about the expo, and the third will be about completing the marathon. Please refer to Runninghaeyoung's YouTube channel for details.