It was all a bit of fun, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t competitive.
And now soldiers can say they’re the fastest to run 80 kilometres along Sydney’s famous coastline in the Bondi to Manly Ultra in October.
Six ADF teams entered, joining almost 1000 solo runners tackling the full distance and 350 other teams of four.
The ADF teams entered the relay format, with each runner completing about 20 kilometres.
Each service entered two teams. Army Team One was the first across the line, completing the harbour-side course in 7 hours and 6 minutes.
Army Team One captain Corporal Sarah Parkins set the soldiers off on the right foot and said it was good to get one over the other services.
“There’s always a huge rivalry between the services in sport and it was good to win in running because it was the first time we’ve done the urban ultra as a team,” Corporal Parkins said.
Air Force Team One was the second ADF team across the line, completing the harbour-side course in 7 hours and 14 minutes.
They were eight minutes behind the winning Army team.
With the end in sight, FLGOFF Ethan Phipps raced ahead of the team including FLTLT Blake Shuttleworth, who was about to finish the fourth and final leg.
“It wasn’t that important to win but I’m competitive with Blake,” FLGOFF Phipps said.
Navy Team One was the third ADF team across the line, completing the harbour-side course in 7 hours and 29 minutes.
ABMPO Rhiannon Fitzgibbon, who completed the final leg from Clontarf to Manly Beach, said the hilly and sandy trails of North Head were a challenge compared to Darwin.
“It was super different to what I was used to. The course was challenging and scenic and I’ll be back to do it again next year,” AB Fitzgibbon said.
As far as races go, few are as spectacular as the Bondi to Manly Ultra.
Traversing world-renowned landmarks, such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, national parks and beaches, the road-and-trail race is a love letter to the Emerald City.
In its second year, the race followed the Bondi to Manly walking track.
The route opened in 2019 and it wasn’t long before it became a bucket list for endurance runners.
ADF runners will have another chance to take on the world-famous coastline soon.
ADF Running and Athletic Association president Lieutenant-Colonel Tegan Musumeci said following the success of the event the association was planning to be involved on a regular basis.
