This was my third year running the SMH half. There were around 10,000 entrants so it is a popular race. They are divided into start groups based on qualifying times so the faster runners can break away without too much trouble. It is a very competitive field with over 1000 runners finishing in under 97 minutes.

The start area is pretty crowded, there is not much parking nearby and a lot of the surrounding roads are closed so most people travel by public transport.

The race starts (& finishes) on the road between Hyde Park & the iconic St Mary's Cathedral. We then ran past the NSW state parliament and down to the Rocks tourist area. The course goes around the harbour and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge before crossing into Pyrmont. The start of the course is mostly downhill so it is very easy at first but it gets harder as you go along. Coming back we run over the Cahill Expressway which gives a great view of Circular Quay, the Harbour and the Sydney Opera House but the incline to that point is a bit of a challenge for most runners. We then ran around Mrs Macquarie's chair before the finish inside the entrance to Hyde Park. The finish is much harder than the start so you need to save some energy for running uphill.