LET’S RACE TO 50,000

City-Bay Fun Run organisers are now aiming for a record-breaking crowd of 50,000 to celebrate the race’s 50th event next year, after the success of yesterday’s run in hot, challenging conditions.
From 8.30am onwards, a sea of colour covered Colley Reserve at Glenelg as 16,800 smiling, sweaty, runners made their way across the finish line. City-Bay chairman Daniel Chaffey Hartwig said he was “really, really pleased” with this year’s turnout and hopes next year to break the race record of 40,000 recorded on the event’s 40th anniversary.
“(It’s given us) a bunch of ideas to get to 50,000 participants for the 50th anniversary,” he said. “We’re going to try and activate corporates and big community groups.”
Mr Hartwig said the total funds raised passed the $300,000 mark during the race and he expects it to rise again in coming days.
“We’re really thrilled especially because people’s finances are tight,” he said.
The course got everyone’s blood pumping and left all participants, no matter their age, with a feeling of accomplishment. David Saies finished a long way back but, at 90, he was just happy to cross the line.
Mr Saies said he had every intention of being involved again next year and celebrating the fun run’s 50th anniversary.
“If I’m still alive, I’ll be shuffling one foot in front of the other,” he said.
“I started in 1973, and I want to keep doing it.” Mr Saies has been involved in running since he was in college, and has no intention of slowing down.
“I trained and trained for what was then the half mile and mile, which is now the 800m and the 1500m,” he said.
“And then this thing came out in 1973 and I thought I’ll get into it.”
Parched from their efforts on the 28C day, some runners struggled getting water, with volunteers forced to pour it into their hands and mouths due to a shortage of cups.
“You just sort of squirted it in your mouth,” Nic Hales said.
“But it worked out well because you cooled down at the same time.”
Mr Hartwig said water was freely available and said there were cups at every stop.
Melbourne man Jack Rayner was not deterred by the heat and rocketed through the 12km run finishing first, for the second time in a row, with steeplechase Olympian Genevieve Gregson, from Queensland, 34, the first woman to cross the finish line.
Rayner, 27, who has run a half-marathon six times, said he was pleased with his time despite it not being his fastest.
“I think it’s the second or third quickest time,” he said. “But still, my aim was to win.”
Isabella Vincent, 17, an ambassador for Lumary, said the weather was perfect for the inclusive event which she always looks forward to being part of.
“It’s even a bigger turnout than last year,” she said.

Written by Eva Blandis, Sunday Mail