I'm not even really sure where to start when it comes to recapping the 2024 Melbourne Marathon.

 

If you follow Runly on Instagram or Facebook, you have probably seen us posting a lot of content at the Melbourne Marathon over the last week.

 

Many of you will have absolutely nothing to do with the Melb Mara. Maybe you live in another state, perhaps even another country.

 

But I think everyone can appreciate the significance of having the brand showcased at our home-town race in front of almost 90,000 people!

 

It was definitely a pinch-me moment.

 

For many other brands there, it was another day, another event. Most of which are international brands - you know them well.

 

They are great brands. Big companies. Big funding. Lots of staff working at the Runner's Expo each day, often handing out freebies.

 

For the few that are Australian brands, and even fewer, Melbourne-based, it was an incredible opportunity to showcase what we do in front of a big audience, alongside the big boys of the industry.

 

It kicked off on Wednesday with a bump-in.

 

My wife and I spent five hours painstakingly assembling our displays one-by-one. We had these specially made for this particular event months and months ago, so it was amazing to finally have them all out.

 

Thursday and Friday were bib-collection days. To be honest, it was probably a little quieter than we expected at the Runner's Expo at the MCG, but it was still amazing. Big, long days. We were up at 5am each morning, and got home late.

 

Saturday was like a festival. Just an absolute pleasure to be a part of something that brings together an entire community.

 

We had so many conversations with people, lots of people came over to learn more about our running vests & try them on, and I was lucky to even meet 20 or 30 of you guys that came over and said hello!

 

Race Day rolled in.

 

Up at 4am. Inside the MCG by 5am. Setup and open by 6am. An hour early. I figured if the marathon kicked off at 7am, runners will be rolling in by 6am, so we may as well be open!

 

As the only exhibitor open at that time, I think we saved a few runners for the mara who had forgotten their soft bottles, or one person even forget to bring socks! 😅

 

As manic as Sunday was, it was not quite the festival vibe of the Saturday. A lot of sore & sorry runners trudging past looking forward to getting back on the couch!

 

All-in-all, an incredible experience for us.

 

Maybe this sounds weird, but then again, maybe you've come to expect this kind personal reflection from me in these emails.

 

 

Being able to exhibit our Melbourne-based brand that we created from scratch, at our home-town marathon for the first time was an incredible experience.

 

Not to mention, getting a spot at the Melbourne Marathon Runner's Expo is brutal. It's a cut-throat selection process, so for the organiser's of the Melb Mara to give a local up & coming brand a go is a credit to them, too.

 

It was so great to meet many of you, and for those that ran I hope it was everything you hoped it was going to be! There's nothing like running a lap of the hallowed turf of the MCG to finish a hard race.

 

 

After the first release of the Hybrid Pro sold out in a matter of hours, we are now restocked!

 

These have been super popular, and it was great to see many people sporting the Hybrid Pro at the Melb Mara festival.

 

One of the big benefits of the Hybrid Pro is that it is so light.

Grab your Hybrid Pro here before they sell out again.

 

That's all for this week. Don't forget to join the crew on in our Strava Group here.

 

Run well,
Robbie

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