Provisional results can be found here – please report any errors or anomolies.

The opening photos of today’s race gallery were taken at 7.30m while setting up the drink station at the far turnaround point of the 31km course. While Canberra slumbered under a blanket of fog, it was clear from this vantage that the race would be held under glorious sunshine.

Unfortunately not everyone had the advantage of this view, and quite a few runners who had already entered for the race, elected not to run today – perhaps persuaded by the fog submerging their houses? Those who chose to come and run regardless of how the weather appeared were rewarded for their courage and foresight with the best running conditions one could possibly dream of – as you will see by scrolling through to the remainder of the gallery.

Another measure of how good the running was today, can be seen from the number of course records broken – no fewer than 7 of the 14 age categories contested today across the 10km and 31km races saw records tumble. It goes without saying that everyone who won any category of the 2.2km race set course records, as this distance today made its debut, proving popular with the younger runners.

Thanks to innumerable runners who kindly mentioned that the “30km” course was quite a bit longer than advertised. We apologise sincerely – this course now will be advertised as 31km, still a little short of its actual distance but closer to the mark… We appreciate that this is a particularly demanding event, and the last thing a runner needs to contend with is wondering when on earth the “15km” turnaround point will appear!

Sasha Lee was not content to own the record for the Female 31km course from last year – she returned with the aim of lowering the mark, and so she did with a brave and determined run of 2:37:10 to take 4 minutes from her previous time. It’s as well she did run so fast, as Sarah-Jayne Miller was never far adrift and also bettered the former record with her fantastic 2:38:45 for 2nd place, ahead of Natalie Wood’s excellent 2:44:18 for 3rd.

Pam Muston is a champion who just keeps getting better and seems to enjoy her running more and more as her stellar career continues. Today she took about 10 minutes off the record for Female 50-59 with a glittering 3:19:30, ahead of Leonie Montgomery (3:31:18) and Kim Greaves (3:35:03). Sue Bowden took out the Female 60-69 with a sterling 4:13:34.

Michael Daly meanwhile conquered the men’s 31km record by about a minute with his superb effort to finish in 2:13:54; ahead of a closer contest for the minor podium placings between Nuru Somi’s 2:18:03 and 3rd placed Daniel Oehm with 2:18:35. Martin Pogson headed home the Male 50-59 with 2:52:48; Michael Sullivan won the Male 60-69 in 3:16:55; and Peter Allen set a new record for the Male 70 and Overs with his strong effort of 4:50:23.

While running an additional lap of the oval is certainly a trial for tired runners, it’s great for spectators as this is our only chance to observe the race – and it’s especially exciting when there’s a close finish to cheer.

Narelle Desmet led home a competitive field in the Women’s 10km race, winning in 49:37 (only 20 seconds outside the course record) from Sally Parker in 50:03 and Kim Ashby almost breathing down Sally’s neck in 50:08. Sarah Fien showed her true class in winning the Female 50-59 category by 10 minutes with her 4th-outright placing and a timing of 50:44. Judy Murray took out the Female 60-69 in 1:26:42.

Tim Barnett showed great speed and agility to take out the Men’s 10km race in 43:30 from Tim Carton in 44:00 and Chris Simms with 44:28. Steve Richardson broke the record for Male 50-59 by running a speedy 48:37. A great race was had between the ultimate winner of the Male 60-69, Peter Badowski who ran 1:04:12, and just pipped Terry Dixon whose 1:04:13 nevertheless broke his own record for the Male 70 and Over.

In the 2.2km short race, outright winner came from the Boys Under 13 category, with Max Alderman’s impressive 11:33 enough to finish ahead of Girls Under 13 winner Chloe Pragt’s fine run of 11:43. Next home was Xavier O’Brien with 11:52 and Ryan Miller’s 12:47, both also running in the Boys Under 13.

Jim White possibly doesn’t expect to win many age group awards these days which are open to anyone 17 and Over, yet that’s exactly what he accomplished with his 177th race of the calendar year 2018. His winning (and course record) time today was 13:08. Joel Kelly took out the Boys Under 17 with 14:56; and Nancy Eyers the Female 17 and Over in 14:21.