A capital marathon Canberra Marathon, Australia. 9 April 2006 By Alison Kay Canberra is Australia’s capital city and home to its Parliament. Lying between Sydney and Melbourne, it was chosen as the site of the federal capital in 1908 and planned in 1912 by master designer Walter Burley Griffin. Now in its 30th year, the Canberra Marathon has been equally carefully planned and well-organised. Griffin was a Chicago architect who won an international design competition with his plan which combined nature and urban living. Even today, 53% of the Australian Capital Territory in which Canberra was situated remains as nature reserve. It makes the Canberra Marathon one of the most scenic races in Australia. Traffic-free roads are bounded by parkland and offer panoramic views of Lake Burley Griffin and many of Australia’s national The marathon starts and finishes House, acclaimed for its celebrate the 50th anniversary of buildings. at Telopea Park. Conditions were impressive architecture, the National Capital in 1970. cool, calm and sunny (0-16C, 59% landscaped gardens and While most carillons have a Current race director Dave Cundy humidity). First up is a 10km collection of contemporary minimum of 23 bells, this one is took on the role in the fifth year, circuit of Canberra’s Australian art. The 81m flag mast large. It has 55 bronze bells, each 1980, after running the event in “Parliamentary triangle” followed soaring above the building is a weighing somewhere between 7kg 1977-79. Canberra is Australia’s by a double out-and-back route Canberra icon. and 6 tonnes. It is often used to oldest city marathon, and after 26 on the road along the shores of celebrate national days and years in the job Cundy must be Lake Burley Griffin. Runners on a All this and not yet past 10km, but special occasions. one of the longest-serving five-hour plus schedule are at that point, runners pass around marathon race directors anywhere guided onto a scenic cycle path Old Parliament House, now a Further along Parkes Way, and in a in the world. that follows the lake shore more heritage building that was home straight line of sight from both the closely and avoids lengthy road to the Federal Parliament from new and old Parliament buildings Canberra is one of only two closures. 1927-1988. It’s affectionately is the outstanding Australian War Australian city marathons that known as “the House where Memorial, a museum and hasn’t gone down the path of Given that more than 80% of the Australia grew up”. short options. A 10km and 5km marathon field comes from out of exhibition centre commemorating fun run are held as separate town, it is appropriate that the Now the marathon crosses the the sacrifice of Australians in war marathon eve events. On route provides a tourist’s guide to Kings Avenue Bridge over Lake and peacekeeping duties. It Marathon day, youngsters can run the capital’s major buildings and Burley Griffin and turns left to includes the Hall of Memory, the final 2.195km of a full attractions. Within minutes of the follow the lakeshore. Runners Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, marathon distance that they have marathon start runners pass by head past the National Carillon Pool of Reflection and Roll of completed in shorter legs over the several sights. The National on Aspen Island. This was a gift Honour listing the names of more previous few weeks. These three Gallery is Australia’s premier art from the British Government to than 102,000 service people who events together attracted 850 institution housing more than the people of Australia to have died in war. runners. 100,000 works of art. Next comes the High Court of Australia, a Other than that, the focus is on concrete-and-glass structure on the thousand-odd full marathon the lakeshore, opened in 1980 runners and the really keen after a national architectural athletes who choose the 50km competition. Inside are three ultra distance option. courtrooms and an impressive public hall decorated with murals For the past 13 years finishers depicting the development of the have been offered the possibility Australian nation and its of continuing for another 7.805km Constitution. to complete a 50km ultra marathon. This year the race The course passes by Questacon, incorporated the inaugural the National Science and Australian 50km Road Technology Centre, that offers Championships and a record 78 visitors a variety of interactive runners went ‘beyond the exhibits that makes learning a by- marathon’. New Zealander Mark product of fun - like a 6m free fall Hutchinson, now living in or a virtual roller coaster ride. Queensland, and Siri Terjesen Then runners pass by the National (USA), also a Queensland Library, with its 220km of shelving. resident, took the honours, running 3:09:05 and 3:35:19 From this point runners move up respectively. and around new Parliament DISTANCE RUNNING July – September 2006 21 Result MEN: 1 Barry KEEM AUS 2:24:10 2 Magnus MICHELSSON AUS 2:25:02 3 James BARKER AUS 2:27:07 4 Jeremey HORNE AUS 2:29:29 5 Matthew THOMAS AUS 2:32:53 Further along the lake is the 6 Ben STUTTERD AUS 2:33:23 7 Jonathan BLAKE AUS 2:38:17 Captain Cook Memorial Jet (a 8 Rod DRAPER AUS 2:39:02 water fountain), one of Canberra’s 9 Damien JACKEL AUS 2:39:59 most eye-catching attractions, 10 Ian JONES AUS 2:40:12 built in 1970 to mark the bicentenary of Captain Cook’s WOMEN: discovery of Australia’s east coast. 1 Shireen CRUMPTON NZL 2:42:55 When operating at full capacity, 2 Emma MURRAY AUS 2:45:42 3 Verity TOLHURST AUS 2:58:20 the jet reaches a maximum height 4 Siri TERJESEN USA 2:58:35 of 147m and has about 6 tonnes 5 Kirra RANKIN AUS 2:58:48 of water in the air at any one 6 Suzanne KELLY AUS 3:02:28 moment. 7 Julie MCNAMARA AUS 3:05:20 8 Erin HARGRAVE AUS 3:05:43 From here runners simply focus 9 Fleur FLANERY AUS 3:07:15 on the distance still to go, under 10 Jacqui PARRISH AUS 3:08:36 the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, through the underpass at Acton, past the Australian can refresh their memory during National University, under the the second lap around the shores shadow of Black Mountain almost of Lake Burley Griffin, before they as far as the Glenloch turn off towards the finish at Interchange. Here they turn to Telopea Park. come back the same way. Even then it will not have been This time they cross the lake on enough. The Marathon is the the Commonwealth Avenue means whereby visitors can Bridge and retrace their steps past orientate themselves and whet the National Library, Questacon, their appetites for what Canberra High Court and National Gallery, has to offer as a purpose-built to complete the first of the out- capital city modelled along similar and-back laps. lines to Washington DC or Brasilia. Some slower-paced If runners didn’t catch all the sightseeing in the following days sights first time around, then they is definitely worthwhile. DISTANCE RUNNING July – September 2006 23.