We'll call it the Brunswick hipster's version of the great race against Puffing Billy.

A jogger has taken on the route 19 tram in a four-kilometre race down Sydney Road and won, comfortably.

Bogged down in heavy traffic on a Saturday, when average tram speeds on Sydney Road fall to just 7 km/h, the route 19 tram was no match for runner Pen Bennett, a member of a lobby group pushing for big changes it says will breathe new life into the congested strip.

Ms Bennett completed her run between Bell Street, Coburg and Brunswick Road, Brunswick in 24 minutes, including stops at traffic lights.