When registering for Voltaren City2Surf, you will need to select your start group (or start wave). 

Your start group is a colour and will reflect your start time and start zone on event day. To help you have the best experience on the day, please select the start group that’s right for you based on how long you think it will take you to complete the 14km course. Don’t worry! Your time will only begin and end as you cross the start and finish line timing mats. 

For those speedsters looking to start at the front of the pack - there are four start groups that require qualifying, and four open start groups which anyone can select. 

If you want to run with friends or family, you should all select the same start group if available. Unfortunately once start group allocations are exhausted, no changes can be made.

City2Surf start crowd content

Choose Your Start Group

All pushed wheelchairs, strollers and participants with service dogs should enter the orange group.

The Charity Superstar Group is a priority start group exclusive to Charity Superstars only - find out more.



Open start groups

 start group purpleSold Out startgroups blue6rebel sport is calling - Sold Out start group yellowSold Out start group orangeSold Out
How long you think you'll take to complete the 14km course 1hr30mins - 1hr45min 1hr45mins - 2hr 2hr - 2hr30mins 2hr30mins +
Is this the right group for me? For semi-serious runners who intend to run the whole distance and give it a red-hot crack! You’re a runner who will try to run or jog the whole way but you’re also keen to have a good time. For all abilities including joggers, walkers and groups… you’ll take a little longer because you’ll be taking a selfie or two along the way. Everyone is welcome in the orange group! This group is for runners, fun groups, joggers, families, disco partiers, pushed wheelchairs and walkers.

Qualifying start groups require qualifying evidence from the runner of being able to run 14km within a certain time.  Information on how to qualify for 2026 is below. NOTE: All Qualifying groups are now sold out for 2026 Voltaren City2Surf



Qualifying start groups

 startgroups elite group Sold Out start group redSold Out start group red Sold Out start group greenSold Out
Is this the right group for me?

Elite runners looking to place in the top 30 should enter the elite wave.

Sub-elite speedy runners hunting down elites.

 You’re an active runner who intends to race against the clock… Strava flex much? You’ve been training hard and ready to smash Heartbreak Hill and go for that PB!
Qualifying Time Required – Based on 14km 

M: Sub47mins
F: Sub55mins

Must be an official race result

M: 47mins -53mins
F: 55mins - 60mins

Must be an official race result

Under 70mins

Official race result or Strava/similar accepted

70-90mins

Official race result or Strava/similar accepted
Required Run Pace (14km) M: 3:21min/km or faster
F: 3:55min/km or faster		 M: 3:21min/km - 3:47min/km
F: 3:55min/km - 4:17min/km		 M: 3:47min/km - 5:00min/km
F: 4:17min/km - 5:00min/km		 5:00min/km - 6:25min/km

 Elite Assistance Application Information > 

Qualifying Information

If you want to run in a qualifying start group, please follow the below process: 

1. Click on the Enter Now button (once entries open)
2. Select your chosen Start Group during the registration process. To qualify, you will need to: 

If you have completed any of the below events in the required race pace or qualifying time in the past two years, you will automatically be able to enter the appropriate qualifying start group and you will be able to move to the next step.

Please ensure your First Name, Last Name and DOB match your existing registration to allow matching. 

If you select a start group you do not automatically qualify through running an eligible event for, you will be prompted to upload a file. You can upload a screenshot or provide a link of you running the qualifying race time or pace using your Garmin, Strava, or MapMyRun results. We will accept times from these resources anywhere in the world, within the past 6 months that are 10km or more in distance. The image must show your name, date of run and ELAPSED run time.

Once this has been submitted, you will remain in the chosen Start Group and be entered into the event. If your submitted result does not meet the eligibility criteria for that Start Group, you will be moved into the next available start group. If you fail to meet the criteria initially, you may resubmit qualifying evidence, pending availability in that start group.

*Red and Green start groups only

If you select a start group you do not automatically qualify for through running an eligible event, you can provide a result from another event. You will be prompted to upload a a screenshot or finisher certificate file. Green start group applications will need to supply a qualifying link. This will need to show proof of you running the qualifying time or pace at any official race, anywhere in the world, but the race must have been completed since August 2024 and be 10km or longer in distance.

Once this has been submitted, you will remain in the chosen Start Group and entered into the event. If your submitted result does not meet the eligibiity criteria for that Start Group you will be moved into the next available start group. If you fail to meet the criteria initially, you may resubmit qualifying evidence, pending availability in that start group.

*Mandatory for Elite and Preferred Qualification