The charity run, organised by the St George Medical Research Foundation at St George Hospital, raised more than $75,000 for research into trauma care, women's health and cancer.

Foundation CEO David Tipler said the number of participants in all three distances, 10km, 5km and the kids' 2km, was extraordinary.

"When we were setting up on Saturday, and when we woke up on Sunday and saw the weather, we wondered if anyone would turn up,'' he said.

"But I think the numbers of entrants we had and the overall success of the event showed not only that the Dash has been accepted as part of Sydney's running calendar but said something about the spirit of St George.''

And as it turned out, the inclement weather kept most pedestrians and walkers indoors so the dashers had the esplanade largely to themselves.

"The reports we had from all our runners was that it was a really successful day,'' Mr Tipler said.

The foundation was created in April last year to raise awareness and funds for medical research occurring within St George Hospital.

"Research at the hospital attracts in excess of $10 million a year from government funding bodies,'' he said.

"It's a vital part of the hospital's operations.

"The Research Foundation was created to increase awareness of that research and add to it.''

The foundation will announce a new round of research grants, funded in part through the money raised from the Brighton Beachside Dash, in mid November.