Culture
The Canning Street 1K
A fast, fierce race down one of Melbourne’S iconic streets.
Now, I’ll admit—although I’m new to Melbourne, I’m not new to the running scene here. Melbourne has one of the most diverse and vibrant running communities of any city in the world, and I’ve long been a fan. Whether you’re tackling a long run along the Capital City Trail, pushing through a Friday threshold around Albert Park, or logging laps of The Tan, there’s no shortage of phenomenal places – or people – to run with in this incredible city.
One stretch of road I recently became acquainted with is Canning Street. Nestled in Carlton, this 2.4km stretch offers stunning views of the city skyline and served as the inspiration for the Canning Street 1K, an event brought to life by AM:PM co-captain Matt Willocks.
“Most running ideas stay on the pavement. They evaporate like the sweat from your brow, leaving nothing but the faint scent of possibility. But sometimes, when you want it enough, you act on one of those ideas before it disappears.”
Matt Willocks
On an overcast Friday evening, run crews from across Melbourne gathered at Jungle Jungles new flagship store in Fitzroy, buzzing with anticipation. Over two heats, runners would battle it out over a fast and furious kilometre down Canning Street. The energy was electric– runners were anxious, spectators were excited, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation.
When the dust settled, the winners emerged:
Heat 1
Neil O’Connell (Ate Miles)
Thi Reynolds (Run South Yarra)
Heat 2
Charlie Wilson (AM:PM)
Taylah Verney (Run South Yarra)
Under the glow of streetlights, with cheers still echoing in the air, the night was a celebration of speed, community, and the sheer love of running. Melbourne’s running culture is alive and thriving—and if this race was anything to go by, it’s only getting bigger.
