Sydney Ultra Marathon

Winter in Sydney usually means lazy café mornings and mist lifting off the Hawkesbury, but the Sydney Ultra Marathons on July 26th 2025 turn that gentle scene into a full-throttle trail festival. Three single-loop courses—SUM 30, SUM 50 and SUM 80—all launch from St Ives Showground and dive straight into the sandstone labyrinth of Ku-ring-gai Chase before threading through Garigal National Park and, for the longest race, the lakeside trails of Manly Dam. Every climb rewards you with a new slice of bushland or a glittering inlet, and every descent reminds you Sydney’s north-shore single-track can be as technical as it is beautiful.

SUM 30 – Sydney’s ultimate 30 km hit-out

A single lap that punches above its weight: creek-side boardwalks, razor-back ridges, and a finale that pops you onto the Showground oval with the crowd almost inside the gum canopy. Perfect for road runners wanting a first taste of technical trail.

SUM 50 – The premier 50 km challenge

Add Garigal’s flowing valleys and the notorious “Stegosaurus Spine” climb and you have a genuine ultra that still finishes in daylight for most runners. Aid stations every 12–14 km keep legs fresh and packs light.

SUM 80 – The big one

North to Cowan Track switchbacks, east to Manly Dam rollers, then home via the fern tunnels of Cascades—SUM 80 is a grand tour of every surface Sydney trail culture loves. Two thousand metres of vert means quads sing; sunset finishers will switch on head-torches for the last forest stretch.

What every Sydney Ultra Marathons bib delivers

• Premium event shirt (soft poly-blend, gender-specific cut)
• Professional race photos—all digital shots free, no watermark drama
• Chunky finisher medal with distance-specific ribbon
• Well-stocked, cupless aid stations (fruit, Tailwind, coke, savoury bites)
• Live online tracking for friends glued to the couch

Mandatory gear snapshot

All distances are cupless—bring a soft cup or flask.

* Sunset is ~17:10; pack lights if you’re a 10 h+ runner.
** RD makes the final call 48 h pre-race.

Why the Sydney Ultra Marathons sell out

• One-lap freedom – no mental grind of repeats; every kilometre is fresh.
• True national-park immersion 45 minutes from the CBD.
• Limited fields – 200 runners per race keeps trails uncluttered and aid volunteers attentive.
• Feel-good entry fees – the event partner, 180 Cadence, pours a slice of proceeds into track-maintenance grants for Ku-ring-gai and Garigal.

Lock it in

Final-spots pricing is live: $180 (SUM 30 wait-list), $275 (SUM 50) and $375 (SUM 80). Hit REGISTER NOW, start practising rocky creek crossings, and be ready when Sydney Ultra Marathons calls the roll on 26 July 2025.