Two-time City2Surf champion Liam Adams and rising star Ed Goddard are gearing up to go head-to-head for the 2022 City2Surf title when the event returns this Sunday, 14 August.

Adams became a household name after his recent exploits at the Commonwealth Games where he led the marathon for over half the race, eventually finishing fourth and just seven seconds off a medal. Arguably his best result to date, his feat is even more impressive considering Adams is an amateur runner who balances his racing commitments around full-time work as an electrician.

The 35-year-old will want to ride the momentum of the Commonwealth Games into this weekend’s City2Surf as he aims to take the title for a third time, ten years on from his last win.

Hoping to stop Adams taking his third title is the 24-year-old hometown hope Goddard. The Sydneysider won both editions of the City2Surf Virtual Run in 2020 and 2021 and is excited to see the event return to its full glory in 2022 after a three-year hiatus.

“It’s great to have the City2Surf back in mass participation again, it’s such a huge day in Sydney’s sporting calendar and it’ll be fun to get out there,” said Goddard. “I think the size of the field makes for a great spectacle, with thousands of runners and crowds along the way it adds a big atmosphere and brings out the best of the athletes. I’m going to enjoy it even more if I win too.

“The good thing about athletics and these road racing events is there’s 60,000 people and the crowd and all the fans, everyone’s doing the same thing as everyone else, so I think that’s pretty special and pretty unique to running and there’s not much like that in anything else,” he said.

Goddard heads into the City2Surf in fine form, having recently finished second at Gold Coast Half Marathon and third at the Sydney Harbour 10km. He is expecting a fast race between himself and Adams.

“I’m feeling great heading into Sunday, I’m really happy with how training has been going and I’ll make sure I let the body freshen up this week so I can rock and roll-on Sunday. I think with Liam and myself in the field that it’ll be quick from the gun,” said Goddard.

Having experienced racing in the City2Surf before, Goddard has some expert advice for those competing in the event for the first time.

“You’ve got to pace yourself because you do want to save a bit for the last few hills, but honestly you just want to have fun, that’s why I do this sport and why a lot of other guys do the sport. It is super fun and you are running through some of the most iconic parts of Sydney as well, so you do have to enjoy it,” he said. “When you’re running up Heartbreak Hill make sure you do look back and across the city because it’s pretty special.”

Although it may be Adams and Goddard that catch the eye at the front of the race, one elite to watch out for on Sunday is Aidan Hobbs, who will be wearing his now traditional Superman costume.

“The City2Surf has always had a great tradition of people dressing up and just having a good time so one year I thought it would be a bit of fun to bring some of that silliness towards the front of the field. The first time I did it I got a good response from the volunteers on the drink stations and from the kids along the side cheering on the runners on course, so it has become another tradition for me that has survived the years. That's just my story though. I love that I get to share the 14km journey with 60,000 others who have their own unique stories on the second Sunday of August each year,” said Hobbs.

The 2022 edition will be Hobbs’ 26th consecutive City2Surf – 28 if you count his participation in the virtual runs of the last two years.

“It has become a family tradition. I started back in 1995 when my grandparents first invited me to join them, and I've run it every year since. My wife and I have three children now and they have all finished the City2Surf in the pram every year since they were born. My grandad will be there again this year too,” he said. “I love the size of the race, the atmosphere on the start line, and the unique course. It's quite exhilarating when the gun goes off. It's like running with the bulls, sprinting down William Street with a sea of 60,000 other runners chasing behind you.

“Having the City2Surf back again is the most reliable sign I know that nature is healing, and things are returning to normal again. I was glad we were able to keep our streak alive with the virtual races over the last two years but I'm really looking forward to making the annual trip from Hyde Park to Bondi again this weekend,” said Hobbs.

After two years as a virtual race, the City2Surf is back with a bang for its 50th physical running. The strong field of elites will join over 60,000 runners for the 14km course from the CBD to Bondi Beach.

The full seeded male list is available here.