This week: new socks + race weekend

RUNLY NEWSLETTER #144
April 9th 2026
 
Robbie here, Runly founder.

If you're new here, I write this founder update regularly to give you an insight into behind the scenes at Runly.

Last year, we activated at Sydney's first marathon as a major. It was simply huge in every way imaginable.

For us, the runner's expo was an incredible experience. Both local and international runners with a shared nervous excitement, collecting bibs & browsing their favourite brands.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's a true 'pinch me' moment for us, to be activating alongside big (sometimes global brands). Just a couple of years ago, that would be only a dream.

If you're wanting to run a big marathon, you often need to enter a ballot.

Now, it's not quite a ballot for us, but to activate at the biggest marathons across the country - Melbourne, Gold Coast & Sydney, it's extremely competitive.

Given we got in last year, we got the heads up early that the expo was being moved from Darling Harbour to Olympic Park in Sydney's West.

Of course, I had already booked all of my flights and accom assuming we would get in this year 😅

So I had to try and scramble to rebook somewhere close enough to the expo.

Last week the activation details opened up for brands. I'm not joking when I say it's like trying to buy tickets for Ed Sheeran, or Taylor Swift.

'It will sell out within 30 minutes' they said. The pressure was on. The hype was immense.

This year was also different. You can't choose your location. Once you've been approved, you'll be allocated a spot in the Sydney Marathon Expo based on a first-in basis.

So I was refreshing the page, waiting for the link to formally register at 11am when it opened.

But it wasn't working. 

A droplet of sweat started to form on my forehead.

What was happening.

I emailed the organiser. The link was in fact hidden. Maybe I wasn't the only one.

I scurried to register, paid the expo fee (🥵) and I was done.

Three hours later I got the email.

WE'RE IN.

I was stoked. 

Now, it is a very different format to last year it seems, on paper. There was a concern that there was not enough space, and it was a bit tight, so they moved to a larger venue.

But also the format this year puts a lot of the independent brands towards the back of the expo, which I don't love. But it is what it is. 

I can't wait.

Both Gold Coast & Sydney locked in now.

NEW SOCK COLLECTION

This has been my worst kept secret. For a long time I have been developing a new sock collection.

I think I'm at something like 33 different working samples. My idea is this, to create the most complete material blend for running performance socks.

Often you'll find the material in socks are heavily geared towards a singular material - cotton, or nylon, polyester, bamboo, or wool sometimes even.

The truth is that each material type has its pros & cons.

I have been trying to formulate a material blend in the right spots of the sock. For example, in my opinion nylon creates the best form of compression around the ankle, so use that there. Cotton provides the best cushioning, so use that where it's best utilised.

This goes against the grain of many sports & running brands that make socks. It's often an after-thought. They see it as an add-on to what they're doing. They pick a material and make 80% or more of the sock a single material.

After months and months of testing, iteration, samples, traveling to find fabrics and materials, we are finally in production. With a bit of luck, they should launch some time next month.

That's all for now.

Run well,
Robbie