Every great marathon city has its story.
Boston has tradition, Berlin has speed, London has crowds, New York has energy, and Tokyo has precision.
Sydney, for years, has had potential. A gorgeous harbour. A legacy Olympic course. A passionate running community.
Now, in 2025, that potential turns into reality: the Sydney Marathon officially joins the Abbott World Marathon Majors, becoming the seventh race in the world’s most prestigious series. For Australia and Oceania, it is a seismic moment, the region’s first chance to stand on the same stage as Berlin or Boston.
On Sunday, August 31, over 35,000 runners from 156 countries will flood into Sydney. Some will be there to chase records, some to earn their six-star medal, and many to simply experience the thrill of crossing the Harbour Bridge with thousands of others before finishing under the sails of the Opera House.
It is a marathon that promises spectacle, but also bite. Sydney is not flat. It is not forgiving. And in its debut as a Major, it is determined to show that “scenic” does not mean “soft.”
The Course: Beautiful, Brutal, and Unforgiving
Sydney is not like Berlin’s autobahn or Chicago’s pancake-flat grid. This is a race of constant shifts. A marathon of rhythm-breakers. Every hill, every turn forces you to reset your effort. And yet, that is what makes it special.
The Harbour Bridge sets the tone. It is not steep (+2.5% up, -3% down), but the adrenaline of crossing one of the world’s great landmarks in the opening kilometre makes restraint difficult. The smart runners will hold back here, saving themselves for the middle miles.
Through The Rocks and the CBD, you will face short, sharp rollers, the most infamous being the Oxford Street climb around 10–12K (+3%). Later, from 24–27K, a relentless, almost imperceptible +1% incline wears you down. By then, the crowds thin and the field spreads, and it is just you and your legs.
At 30K, you enter Centennial Park, a shaded reprieve of rolling terrain. It is a place to regroup, breathe, and maybe find rhythm again. But the sting is still to come.
The final hill at 41K, cruelly positioned just before the finish, averages +3% and feels like a wall. Crest it, and you are rewarded with a glorious downhill into the Royal Botanic Gardens and the most dramatic finish line in marathoning: the Sydney Opera House.
On paper, the net elevation is actually downhill (-83m overall). But those stats hide the truth: Sydney is relentless. There are no mountain passes, but there is no real “flat” either.
Tips for Surviving Sydney
- Start slow. The Harbour Bridge and early downhills beg for speed, but patience pays dividends later.
- Watch your watch. GPS signals get messy through the CBD, trust your effort more than your split.
- Fuel consistently. Aid stations are well-placed, with water every 2–3K and Powerade every 5K. GU gels at 20K and 30K. Do not wait until you are already fading.
- Respect the weather. August mornings average 13°C, but the sun can push it above 20°C by mid-race. Hydrate early.
- Brace for the final hill. Mentally bookmark it. If you know it is coming, it will not break you.
The Elite Men: Kipchoge vs the Future
No preview of Sydney can ignore the giant in the field: Eliud Kipchoge.
At 40, the two-time Olympic champion and 11-time Major winner remains the sport’s most iconic figure. Sydney marks his first-ever race in Oceania and his chance to claim a sixth star.
He is not the unbeatable force he once was, a DNF in Paris and sixth in London (2:05:25) prove that. But Kipchoge’s presence elevates the race instantly. For him, Sydney is about legacy, not just victory.
Waiting to challenge him are men who represent the sport’s future. Vincent Ngetich, just 25, debuted in 2:03 and has already podiumed in Tokyo.
Birhanu Legese, ninth-fastest all time, brings experience and a lethal kick. Edward Cheserek, the U.S. collegiate legend, has quietly transformed into a 2:05 marathoner. Dawit Wolde and Laban Korir add depth to an already loaded field.
For Kipchoge, Sydney is both an opportunity and a trial. For his rivals, it is a chance to beat the greatest of all time, on a stage where the world will be watching.
The Elite Women: Hassan’s Moment
If Kipchoge is the story in the men’s race, the women’s belongs to Sifan Hassan.
.The reigning Olympic champion has rewritten what is possible in running, winning medals from 1500m to the marathon. Sydney offers her a chance to do what she does best: dominate on a global stage. With a PB of 2:13:44, she could obliterate Sydney’s course record on debut.
Her biggest challenger is Brigid Kosgei, the former world record holder. Injuries have slowed her in recent years, but at her best she is relentless.
Then there is Workenesh Edesa, last year’s Sydney champion and current course record holder (2:21:41). She knows these streets better than anyone and will not give up her crown easily.
Ethiopians Meseret Belete and Ashete Bekere add depth, while Australia’s Jess Stenson carries the hopes of the home crowd. Fresh off a PB of 2:22 in Tokyo, she could deliver a historic podium.
It is a clash of eras: Hassan’s brilliance against Kosgei’s grit, Edesa’s experience, and Stenson’s home pride.
How to Watch
If you are in Australia, tune into 7mate and 7plus Sport from 6:00–10:00 a.m. AEST. Globally, the race will stream live on the Sydney Marathon YouTube channel, with broadcasts on Eurosport, SuperSport, Flosports, DAZN, Fuji TV, Sky NZ, and more.
In Sydney, you can feel the atmosphere at official cheer zones: The Rocks, Martin Place, Taylor Square, and Moore Park. Each will be packed with music, fans, and noise.
Why Sydney Matters
This is not just another marathon. It is a milestone.
By joining the Majors, Sydney proves that world-class marathoning does not just belong to Europe, the U.S., or Tokyo. It belongs to Oceania too. It is a reminder that marathons are more than races, they are cultural events, civic pride on display, and stories in motion.
For the elites, Sydney is a battleground. For everyday runners, it is a chance to run across the Harbour Bridge, past crowds lining the CBD, and into the Opera House finish chute. For the city, it is history.
On August 31, Sydney will not just host a marathon. It will join the marathon world’s elite. And whether you are running, watching, or following from afar, you will be part of its very first chapter as a Major.
