The Sydney Marathon has introduced guaranteed entry for local runners for the 2027 race under one condition; they have to have completed at least 10 prior Sydney Marathons.
While once a measly 3000 or 4000 people ran in the event, popularity has surged, particularly in the past two years after the marathon was granted world major status. Now more than 123,000 people enter the general ballot for 40,000 places, with Australians vying for a spot on the startline against runners from 139 other countries.
The Sydney Marathon has long recognised the group of just under 100 runners who are members of the Bridge Club. That club consists of athletes who have run at least 10 previous Sydney Marathons as members. Before this year, the benefits of being in that club involved little more than some free merchandise and having their names enshrined on the event website.
There was no need for a guaranteed entry before the race was afforded major status because there was no risk of missing out on a place at the North Sydney starting line.
But the surge in popularity has meant even Bridge Club members started missing out. In response to their dismay last year, race organisers said they were revising their ballot for 2027 and now, 100 spots have been set aside for Bridge Club members ahead of the general ballot closing on Monday. Because the club’s membership is currently less than 100, all will be guaranteed a spot for the 2027 race.
It’s a privilege that had previously only been extended to an even more exclusive club of six runners, known as the Blue Line Legends, who have run every race since 2001.
The guaranteed entry has been years in the making for the race’s most loyal runners.
“You would be side by side with your friend at the start until the world major started,” Viv Kartsounis, 62, said. Kartsounis has run 16 Sydney Marathons. “But now you have to understand it’s a world major. It’s a huge event.”
Though Kartsounis has been able to bag a spot in the two years in which the race’s popularity has surged, not everyone has been as lucky.
Soonchil Shin, 59, has finished 15 Sydney Marathons but missed out on a place in the 2026 race.
“When I first heard about Sydney Marathon becoming a candidate, I was excited actually because a lot of people [would] come to Australia, and it’s good for business, good for the economy,” Shin said.
“This year, I missed out even though I uploaded my application for the ballot. But, I wasn’t chosen, I wasn’t taken. It was surprising.”
Blogger Brian Rock analysed the data from those who finished the 2026 race and found that Australians made up 90 per cent of the field in 2023 but just 39 per cent of the total runners this year.
Disappointed, Shin was one of several Bridge Club runners who contacted race organisers about missing out.
“I sent a private message saying ‘you didn’t look after Bridge Club members’,” he said, adding that he mentioned the New York Marathon in his message, which, along with several schemes to lock in places for local runners, has guaranteed entry for those who have done 15 or more previous editions.
Organisers told Shin they were looking into it. Then, last month, club members received an email in the days before the general ballot opened to tell them 100 spots had been set aside for its members, meaning all would get a spot in the 2027 race.
The initiative was introduced alongside a separate ballot for those who have volunteered at the race in previous years.
“We remain grateful to the runners who have shaped this event over so many years, and we look forward to celebrating many more finish lines together,” a spokesperson said.
“I was so happy,” Shin said. “And it sounded right because we always love [the] Sydney Marathon and suddenly, we [were] just forgotten. I was surprised they didn’t recognise us as loyal customers, and they just forgot about it. And then finally they looked after us, so I’m happy.”
Kartsounis felt similarly.
“After all the loyalty, and not only me, other people … There was still no guarantee that they would get in. So all the people that have been loyal all these years, I think it’s great the Sydney Marathon are recognising them – and it will encourage more people, I think, to do 10,” she said.
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