From top Strava stats to the hottest inner-city routes, the chat in the U:L office strongly indicates that we, along with everyone else, are well and truly in our running era.
With City2Surf—one of the biggest days in Sydney’s event calendar—just around the corner, kicking off a U:L Run Club in preparation was inevitable. Proudly holding the title of the world's largest fun run, this 14km running event will see over 70K people hit the streets of Bondi on Sunday 11 August.
And thanks to the legends over at New Balance, our City2Surf squad of rookies and race-ready pros are well on the way to looking and feeling our best as we cross that finish line.
So, whether you're planning on tackling Heartbreak Hill in a few weeks, or you need some frseh inspo to elevate your hot girl walks, join us for a Friday morning trot and scope how the U:L team are running their way to City2Surf.
House Rules
The first rule of run club is there are no rules of run club. Whether it's a leisurely trot and weekly debrief with our Deputy Sydney Editor Georgia, or chasing a sub-five-minute KM with Eric and Dan, our Friday morning sessions are about taking in some fresh air and doing something good for the soul.
The aim of our club is simply to encourage our U:L runners, non-runners, and everyone in between, to get out there in a way that feels good for them. Oh, and we do have one rule—you've got to be down for a sweaty, post-run caffeine hit and a sweet treat.
7am — Pre-Run Hype-Up
Travelling from as far as the Northern Beaches, our U:L crew meet at the iconic running hotspot of Centennial Park at 7:00am sharp for a mandatory pre-run hype-up.
“Our U:L Run Club helps keep me accountable in my running journey. As a chronic alarm snoozer (especially in winter), ensuring I lock in my attendance on a Thursday night has been a game changer in getting me up and at it on a Friday morning—and I always feel better for it.” — Andi, Senior Strategist.
7:30am — Fit Check
After taking a few minutes to say hi to our resident run club doggos, discuss our route of choice, squeeze in a few stretches, and confirm a time to re-convene for coffee, it's high fives all 'round before lacing up and hitting the pavement. Snapping a few pre-run pics is also a must—because if the U:L team's involved there's always a need for a quick fit check.
“I find that having gear I feel comfortable in has made a massive difference in my running progression. My current obsession would have to be my new New Balance SC Elites. Not only do they make me look the part, but they've also helped me to level up my pace game.” — Dan, Commercial Director.
7:40am — Assess The Pulse
At the 1km mark, a bit of a pulse check is never a bad idea. Training for a longer race like City2Surf can be tough, so listening to your body throughout the process is key.
“As a competitive person at heart, it took me a while when first starting with running to not benchmark myself or my success on others. Remembering that everyone has their own unique and individual base fitness level, and honouring that some days just aren’t my day, has been key when it comes to sticking with a solid training plan that keeps me coming back to the pavement.” — Maisie, Junior Commercial Content Producer.
7:55am — Turn It Up
When the breathing becomes heavy, there's one way to make that last push a little bit less rough. Much like good running shoes, good tunes are a must when it comes to making the most of any run.
At U:L we love moving our feet to a whole mix of the latest and oldest bops. From motivating lyrics to securing a trusty techno track you can zone out to, we recommend Spotify’s curated running mix for a playlist tailored especially to you. We've been stanning Katranayda’s newest album for some high-tempo groovers, and running to the rebirth of Charli XCX (and entering our Brat era).
“As much as I love listening to something upbeat while running, recently I've been trying to pop on a podcast or audiobook to help me lock in on my longer runs, and distract from the breathlessness and maybe a little bit of pain … lol.” — Eric, Designer.
8am — Cross That Line
After posting a selfie to prove we've seized our Friday morning, it's time for a team debrief. This ranges from celebrating PBs to discussing our highs and lows—and doubles as the perfect time to stretch the muscles and soak up the day's first rays of Sydney sun.
“Although stretching after a run can feel like a drag at points, I've found that keeping myself accountable to take an extra five minutes to do some static hamstring and glute stretches is such a game changer to how I feel that next day. This is especially important if I'm wanting to prepare myself for a Saturday night boogie.” — Rojan, Client Service Manager.
8:15am — But First, Coffee
By the time 8:15am rolls around, you already know we're parked up at the coffee caravan to secure a hard-earned caffeine fix, and of course a little treat. Whether it's the runner's high talking or being in the fresh air, this time spent together out of the office has become a highlight of our run club crew’s working week.
“Running with my fellow U:L crew has been not only awesome in creating a solid running habit and continuing it, but I've also seen ways that our U:L Run Club has inspired a sense of motivation, camaraderie, and a deep-seated sense of belonging when we're back in the office.” — Tai, Designer.
8:20 am: Friday Farewells
Post coffee and catch up, it's time for us to part ways and de-sweat before catching up for coffee number two at the office.
“Walking away from our Friday morning run club and pondering what I'm going to whip up for brekky is always a good feeling. I'm a firm believer that kicking off the day with a runner's high is a surefire way to set me up for a creative, fulfilling, and productive day at my desk.” — Commercial Video Editor, Bestie.
Whether you're gunning for a certain time or just want to make it up Heartbreak Hill with air left in your lungs, with the help of New Balance, you can Run Your Way this City2Surf and look slick while doing it. Learn more here.
Editor’s note: this article was produced in partnership with New Balance. Thank you for supporting the partners who make Urban List possible. To read our editorial policy, click here.
Image credit: Urban List.