Luca Altamura takes Sydney 2026
For Luca, Sydney Marathon was about more than a finish time. It was his first marathon, his first World Major, and the culmination of a training block that required patience, consistency, and a fair bit of problem-solving along the way. From managing ITB flare-ups to building towards weeks of 100km and beyond, getting to the start line was an achievement in itself. He ultimately crossed the finish line in 2:47:53 - and, as you'll read, it didn't take long for thoughts of the next challenge to creep in.
“Taking on Sydney as my first World Major - let alone my first marathon - was a massive feat. After months of training, early mornings and plenty of kilometres, the day finally arrived, and there was a mix of excitement and nerves knowing I was about to find out what 42.2km really felt like.
Going into the race, one of the biggest reminders from everyone around me was to take the downhills sensibly. That advice was particularly relevant given how the marathon build had gone. It hadn’t all been smooth sailing, with an ITB issue requiring careful management throughout the block. Descending running had been one of the contributors to the flare-ups, so the undulating nature of the Sydney course was always going to be something in the back of my mind.
With the incredible views of the Harbour Bridge and the energy of the crowds, it would have been easy to get carried away early. Instead, I tried to stay disciplined, particularly on the descents, and settle into my rhythm without putting unnecessary stress through the legs.
The marathon build had been a big step up. I was averaging around 100km per week, with my biggest week reaching 126km. A lot of the work centred around longer 2km repetitions, 5-8 minute threshold efforts, and marathon-pace running built into long runs. There was a real emphasis on learning what marathon effort felt like and getting comfortable running at pace when there were already plenty of kilometres in the legs.
Managing the ITB alongside that workload meant paying close attention to training load and how the body was responding. There were adjustments along the way, and getting to the start line healthy became just as important as hitting every session. In hindsight, making it through the block and arriving at Sydney ready to race was an achievement in itself.
On race day, I settled into my pace relatively early. I never really found myself running as part of a specific pack, instead spending much of the race around larger groups of pacers. Starting in one of the later waves meant there were plenty of runners around, which made for an interesting experience as the race unfolded.
Then came the hills.
The elevation was no joke. Every downhill came with that little reminder in the back of my mind - manage it, don't get carried away, and keep the legs under control. Looking back, it's probably the part of the course I would change most about my preparation. I wish I'd spent more time specifically training for the climbs and, just as importantly, the descending that came with them.
The hardest part of the course for me came through Centennial Park. After the energy and crowds of the earlier sections, things felt noticeably quieter. The kilometres seemed to slow down, and it was here that I really started to understand just how long a marathon actually is.
From there, it became a matter of staying focused and getting to the finish.
The final kilometre was pretty surreal. After everything that had come before it, suddenly the finish was there - the downhill approach towards the Opera House, the crowds, and the realisation that my first marathon was almost over. It was one of the craziest ways I could have imagined finishing a race.
I crossed the line in 2:47:53.
Straight afterwards, I apparently told Mum, “I’m never doing that again.”
But enough time has passed now that I'm already sitting here with confirmation of my entry into Boston.
On to the next”.
