Sydney Marathon 2026: The Ultimate Race Week Survival Guide | Tips, Expo, Course & Race Day

Sydney Marathon 2026 Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Race Day | Women's Running Collective

This week on the Women's Running Collective, Hayles and Jussie are getting excited because Sydney Marathon is almost here! Whether you're tackling your first marathon or chasing a shiny new PB, this episode is your ultimate race week survival guide.

Before diving into all things Sydney Marathon, the girls catch up on recent racing, training and share a few very honest (and very funny!) stories about the glamorous realities of being female runners, including pelvic floors, Harbour 10 mishaps and why carrying spare shorts might not be the worst idea.

From there, they break down everything you need to know before marathon weekend. They cover the course, start times, aid stations, pacers, race morning logistics, the expo, carb loading, transport, bag drop, sustainability initiatives and the brand-new Motion Festival taking over Circular Quay.

If you're feeling nervous, excited, overwhelmed, or all three....this episode is packed with practical advice to help you feel calm, prepared and ready to enjoy one of the most iconic marathons in the world.

This episode is proudly sponsored by ASICS and the new GEL-KAYANO™ 33 the shoe designed to deliver soft, stable comfort on every run.

Timestamps

00:00 – ASICS Sponsor Shoutout 00:34 – Podcast Catch-Up & Banter 01:18 – Race Day TMI Stories (Yes… we went there 😂) 04:43 – Weekly Training Recap 07:46 – Sydney Marathon Hype Begins 10:08 – Why is a Marathon 42.195km? 12:08 – Start Times, Corrals & Getting to the Start 12:44 – Course Highlights: Harbour Bridge to the Opera House 17:17 – Elevation, Pacers & Aid Stations 19:11 – Sydney Marathon Sustainability Initiatives 21:51 – Easy Ways You Can Make Race Day Greener 22:15 – Simple Eco-Friendly Running Habits 23:16 – Sydney Marathon Expo Survival Guide 26:25 – Carb Loading Without Overthinking It 27:26 – Race Morning Tips & Staying Warm at the Start 29:31 – Race Day Checklist: Don't Forget These! 31:40 – Finish Line Plans & Post-Race Recovery 33:56 – Motion Festival: Why You Should Check It Out 35:10 – Mindset, Community & Enjoying Every Kilometre 38:35 – ASICS Sponsor Wrap 39:24 – Weekly Recommendations 42:14 – Wrap Up

If you're running Sydney Marathon this year, we are so excited for you! Remember, you've already done the hard work. Trust your training, soak up the atmosphere, thank the volunteers, high-five the crowds and don't forget to look around. Running across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing at the Opera House is something you'll never forget.

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love it if you subscribed, left us a review and shared it with a friend who's racing Sydney. Every listen helps us continue building a supportive community where every woman feels welcome, no matter her pace or experience.

We'll see you next week... and if you're racing Sydney, we'll see you on the sidelines cheering you all the way to the finish line!

XO WRC Hayles and Jussie