KR Traditions and Rituals - Repping the Red
Steve Kibble
Greetings KRew
Something that I often get asked about is the history of our much loved KR shirt so today I thought I’d give a little potted overview of the KR shirt and Repping the Red.
When I took over running the club in 2016 there were a few things I wanted to do and one was to have a new shirt that would stand out in the running community. The older shirt was white and had a small logo on it that was quite dated at the time. So the KR committee at the time went about designing a new shirt with what would become our now famous branding.
Why Red? At the time KR was a relatively small club and we wanted to stand out from the crowd and in a big race we wanted our supporters to see us racing and be able to see each other. Looking at the other run clubs in various races at the time, the colour that noticed the most that missing was red. Other clubs had various, white, blue, green and so forth. So, we went for a very specific tone of red, and as we have seen by how many race organisers use photos of the KRew running to promote the race because KR look great whilst running in the shirt.
The design was one of several we did with the distinctive letters that is a KR font, and the DOTS on the words represent the harbour bridge and acknowledge a connection to Kirribilli and to the first nations people of the Cammeraygal on whose land we start and finish our runs.
And the shirt is now synonymous with KR and many people recognise the distinctive red shirt as we run.
I love how the shirt has been worn to Rep the Red all over the world. We’ve had people race and run in the shirt on every continent and in countries to many mention. Also, all over Australia as various members of the KRew have travelled to all the far flung places in the wide brown land, from the Cape to Hobart, from the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between.
Over the years many people have talked about how they felt when they got their first KR shirt and how it meant they felt they really belonged to the KRew now they had their own KR shirt.
Kirribilli Runners is well known because the KRew love their red shirts and wear them wherever they happen to be running.
If you want to get a shirt, or add a new one, like the 20th Anniversary Edition you can as the shop is currently open and ready to take your order!
https://www.sub4custom.com/category/kirribilli-runners/
For fun below is a photo of the KRew from about 2014 of the KRew with the flag and wearing the old white shirt. (See how many people in the photograph you can recognise?)
Well done to everyone who ran with us on the long run last Sunday for the February Long Run. Very challenging hot and humid conditions out there, but the mighty runners of the KRew got it doen.
20th Anniversary Update
I have now published on the KR FB page the 2026 KR Calendar so that everyone can see what we have planned for the coming year. The calendar has all the regular KR runs as well as the major races that we will be following and promoting. We will add to the races as the year goes on. If you have a favourite race, then let me know and we can add it.
As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations, we have events planned for most months of the year and I hope you can join them and be part of the fun as the year goes on. The big date is 26th March which will be the celebration of the running of the first KRClassic back in 2006, followed by a celebration picnic and BBQ on the 28th March.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday Speed Sessions. We will be meeting at 6:30pm at the usual spot at Gore Hill Oval. It is open to all and if you want to know more details, please reach out to me.
Upcoming Races
If anyone is interested in small trail race to kick off the New Year I recommend you join us this Sunday 1st March for the 17km Whale Rock Trail Race. I did it last year and it was very well organised and great course and solid medal to all finishers.
https://www.whalerocktrailrun.com.au/
Canberra Times Running Festival 11 and 12 April 2026. This is always a popular event for the KRew, and I know there will be a lot of us heading off to our Nation’s Capital for the weekend. If you are thinking of doing it, then sign up today.
https://solemotive.com/pages/canberra-times-marathon-festival
As a hint check out the new Paramatta Half held in June which should be a good race to head out west for.
https://www.parramattahalfmarathon.com
For a friendly, low pressure local race series that is very reasonably priced, has various distances on offer and held is some of the most scenic parts of Sydney, check our Sri Chinmoy. https://au.srichinmoyraces.org/sydneyraces
Of course, there are many races throughout the year that the KR will do, such as those out at Sydney Olympic Park and around the foreshore. We will highlight as many we think of, but if you have one to promote you think the KRew will love, let us know!
If you want to find some races for yourself, I highly recommend using The Running Calendar website which lists just about every race in Australia. If you find a race that has a KR Team and needs a code let me know. Or if you are the first KR to sign up for a race, please create a KR team and let me know.
https://www.runningcalendar.com.au/
If you are bringing bags tonight Trevor has promised to bring his car to hold them for you. As always please collect them straight after the photo. Thank you, Trevor, much appreciated.
Regarding the bag drop, to help keep KR running smoothly I have asked Trevor to take on being the coordinator for Monday and Thursday nights to ensure there is a car to enable the bag drop. He has a group chat and would love to add you to it if you are able to help from time to time.
That’s a wrap for this week; remember to take care of yourself, and if you can, others.
Keep running @everyone and happy trails,
Steve
Director
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