The Bay Run – Drummoyne
The Bay Run Course Notes | |
Description | The Bay Run is a 6.86 kilometre-long run - shared by Runners, walkers and cyclist circuit around Iron Cove Bridge. It intersect through the suburbs of Rozelle, Lilyfield, Haberfield, Five Dock and Drummoyne in the inner-west of Sydney, New South Wales. |
Rating | Very Popular - It is a purpose-built continuous run circuit with no roads to cross (just a couple of driveways to car parks) |
Difficulty | Easy | Daily Run | Relatively Flat - Except for "The Push" from King George Park to Iron Cove - 13m climb at 1.3% according to Strava |
Best Times | Early Mornings | Mid Morning | Late Afternoon | Suitable For Night Running - The quality of night lighting is generally Good - but it can be "fair/poor" in 1-2 spots for no more than 2-5meters. |
Busy Times | Sunny Weekends - (Ratio of Walkers to Runners 60:40 |
Drink Fountains | 7 Spread around the run course |
Car Parks | 3 Major Car Parks (See Map) |
Tips | Run over your starting point to get to 7Ks in Strava. There are specific start points that work better for Strava |
The Bay Run – Drummoyne
The Bay Run Course Notes | |
Description | The Bay Run is a 6.86 kilometre-long run - shared by Runners, walkers and cyclist circuit around Iron Cove Bridge. It intersect through the suburbs of Rozelle, Lilyfield, Haberfield, Five Dock and Drummoyne in the inner-west of Sydney, New South Wales. |
Rating | Very Popular - It is a purpose-built continuous run circuit with no roads to cross (just a couple of driveways to car parks) |
Difficulty | Easy | Daily Run | Relatively Flat - Except for "The Push" from King George Park to Iron Cove - 13m climb at 1.3% according to Strava |
Best Times | Early Mornings | Mid Morning | Late Afternoon | Suitable For Night Running - The quality of night lighting is generally Good - but it can be "fair/poor" in 1-2 spots for no more than 2-5meters. |
Busy Times | Sunny Weekends - (Ratio of Walkers to Runners 60:40 |
Drink Fountains | 7 Spread around the run course |
Car Parks | 3 Major Car Parks (See Map) |
Tips | Run over your starting point to get to 7Ks in Strava. There are specific start points that work better for Strava |
Strava Map
The Best Bay Run Starting Point Tips
There a number of places you can start your bay run largely dependent on the Car Parks and getting there. Each starting point has its own advantages.
- King George Park – This park is a multi-purpose park – Little Athletics during the summer and Soccer and Rugby for the rest of the season. This starting point has public toilets and drink fountains. The advantage of starting here is that you can start the steepest park of the Bay Run, otherwise known as “the Iron Cove Climb” – about 13 meters climb over 400 Meters distance but the end point brings you to the flattest point of the course the Iron Cove Sprint (500 Meters) along the bridge – perfect for sprints.
- Montage Piazza – The Car park is on Maliyawul St, plenty of parking unless there is a large event at Le Montage. There are public toilets in Hippo park (at the end of the street) and drink fountains. The Le Montage has a cafe which is a perfect place for a coffee and meals after your run. The main advantage of this starting point is the 1km “warmup” run before you hit “the Iron Cove Climb”, the warmup km makes it easier to settle into your run.
- Drummoyne Swimming Centre – Located on Marine Henley Drive. It is a popular meeting location since it is close to Victoria road and public transport and the Birkenhead Shopping Outlet. Most runners will meet at the drink fountains on Henley Marine drive. The main advantage of this starting point is the downward slope to start your first 1-2 Ks down Henley Marine Drive.
Bay Run Parking
There are 3 main car parks that provide adequate car parking, there is also a mix of car parking and street parking that can fill in the gap on busy days.
- Drummoyne Pool Car Parking – this is a public car park share by the “water polo pool”, Aqua Luna and the Run. About 80+ Spots in the main car park and 15 spots in the smaller car park across the road. There is also street parking along Formosa Street, Henley Marine Drive, and if you want to shop & walk Birkenhead Point.
- Maliyawul St Car Park – Services Le Montage, Leichhardt Ovals and Bay run – About 100+ spots. Just beware of potential soccer games, events at Le Montage & Leichhardt Oval that can make the car park busy.
- King George Park (KGP) Car Park – About 50 spots, some spots are on sloped grass. KGP is a 400 Meter grass running track used by Balmain Little Athletics, running clubs and coaches alike for time trials and interval training.
Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise?
Do you run the circuit Clockwise or Anti-clockwise. Most people tend to run the circuit anti-clockwise because it is the inside track when you run (because we run on the left-hand lane in Australia) and because you are running closest along the water in this direction. If you start from Drummoyne Pool then the anti-clockwise direction allows you to start the Bay Run start on a downward slope (easing into the the run). The other popular starting place is from Le Montage Car Park, the anti-clockwise direction lets you settle in the run before approaching the “hill”.
The main advantage of the Clockwise direction is that the run becomes a gradual gentle climb up Henley Marine Drive when starting from Montage and you get to run down the “the Iron Cove Climb”.
Interval Training at The Bay Run
King George Park – is where Balmain Little Athletics training takes place during the summer weekends. The park has a 400 meter grass track where runners and running clubs will often frequent for their interval training sessions. As mentioned earlier you can also use the Iron Cove Sprint for 500 Meters or the pathway after the Leichardt Rowing Club (about 200 Meters) for Interval Training.
Hills Training
The Bay Run intersects through Callan Park, which is 60 hectares of estate between Waterfront Drive and Balmain road and has about 200 meters of elevation from the lowest and highest point. If you search roads such as Glover Street, Wharf Road, Supply road, North Court you will find plenty of opportunities for Hills Training on these roads. Traffic is very light, since the roads are only used to get in/out of the park so it makes it a perfect setting for Hill training for your running.