Brighton Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (219 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Neil Halsey
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Worth running but shame course 13.5m
In full: I have run this race 3 times, in 2010 it was a shambles but 2011 race was pretty well organised. It was therefore somewhat of a surprise that 2012 was so poor. The start area was very crowded making it difficult to get to and from baggage area. The course in places was narrow and I had to deal with oncoming runners on a number of occasions. Cones were a hazard as were discarded water bottles. The extra distance was of course very unfortunate.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
|
2012 race reviewed by: xine267
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Would have been a good half marathon but it measured long
In full: Nice course but it measured long. Such a shame as I thought all other points on race organisation were brilliant.
A couple of minor points, goodie bag was unnecessary - I was hoping for a recovery drink in the bag, as it didn't contain that I would have been happy with just the medal and banana.
99% of the volunteers were amazing but there was an awful woman policing the Lucozade. I stood near a large stack of cases of Lucozade so I could rest my cup of water on top while stretching my calves before attempting to hobble off for my sports massage. I am a grown woman, I don't appreciate being scolded like a school girl for standing "too near" the precious Lucozade and apparently "encouraging people to steal it" OR having my water thrown away! I appreciate that volunteers have a stressful job to do and give up their own time to do it but please, try to at least be polite to the people who have paid to enter the event!
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Alec Haydon
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A 13.5 mile "half marathon" is extremely annoying.
In full: This course has great potential for personal bests - if only they could be bothered to measure the course distance properly. This was about 600m too long and the times are therefore useless to people trying to achieve their best.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: girly
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Lovely day - but over long, pacers way out of time, and why do we need an empty plastic bag...?
In full: I like Brighton half - I've done it the past 4 years, and this year the weather was beautiful - absolutely perfect sunshine, with a cool breeze. Great supporters most of the way around, and the volunteer helpers are always great - big thanks to them!
There were a few issues this year
1. definitely measured the course wrong - it was too long - not really a problem for me, as I don't time myself that much (I'm too slow to bother really!!), but understandably annoying for some.
2. I really like the medal here, but why oh why do we need an empty plastic bag? Well, not completely empty - mine came with one bit of paper offering 5 issues of Men's Running for £5 - but I'm a women, so what a waste of paper.
3. Information tent had an issue with getting numbers out to runners - quite a lot of numbers (inc my partners) hadn't arrived through the post - no idea why, but it meant that there was a huge queue of people trying to collect before the race started (you couldn't collect on saturday for some reason) - only two people in the tent to help out - and a real problem with blocking the pavements badly and meant some people started late
4. A personal point was that I ran for the official charity - but despite lots of Brighton supporters all the way around the course, I didn't see any of the official charity supporters! And although there were tents for a number of charities, I didn't see any for the official charity! Boo. If they were there at all, as the "official charity peeps" it'd be nice if they were somewhere they could be seen - I'd have killed for a cup of tea and a biscuit at the end!
But, all in all, despite this years niggles, I'll be back next year...and hoping the weather is as good again... :)
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: luna man
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Perfect conditions, great crowd - measured long
In full: I usually ignore comments on over-distance racing as garmins aren't to be trusted versus course measurements, but I took manual splits at the designated mile markers and they were all pretty much spot on 1 mile APART from mile 4 (0.88) and mile 5 (1.46), which I remember runners around me commenting on as we waited and waited for the mile 5 marker. So yes, U turn cones presumably placed wrongly.
Other than that - a beautiful day brought out much better crowds than normal - so a great atmosphere and I do like the course.
Didn't mind lack of goodies at all, but yes, the plastic bag itself was completely unnecessary.
Appreciated the few stalls that have started springing up now, and the new cafe at the volleyball park near the finish line is a great extra this year (though nothing to do with the organisers!).
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: bootsie
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Distance inaccurate, support very weak
In full: This is my 5th brighton half and i was very disappointed. The actual distance was closer to 13.5. There was very little support, no music, and the goodie bags had just a piece of paper in them which seemed like a waste! Weather was fab and scenary beautiful though! Though why Katie price got a parking space at the start line i dont know!
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Julezy
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: a 13.5 mile half marathon...
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: aimingforahalf
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Stressful at the start trying to get through all the crowds to drop your luggage off, but v quick once at that point. Pacers were not good, could not find the 2.15 person at start line so positioned myself in-between the 2h and 2h30
In full: First ever half marathon, great location, great atmosphere, great weather, great route however was spoilt for me for the following reasons:-
Stressful dropping off luggage - had to walk all the way through crowded areas to the luggage drop literally had 10 mins spare after that - not a great way to start
First half marathon, looking for a 2h20 so wanted to go with the 2h15 pacer, couldn't find her at start she was not there at the gun, the 2h and 2.30 was there. Spent first 4 miles with my head looking behind me every few minutes, and then at the u turn saw her as I was heading back, by about mile 7.5 she went passed me and I lost her at mile 9.5. Then at mile 11.5 the 2h30 guy jogged passed my at the last water stop passed hove, no one was around him, I could not believe it... he finished about 3 mins in front of me i.e. NOT in 2hours 30! ( it took us 5 mins to get to the line) are they paid to run - if so I am NOT impressed
My Garmin showed 13.5 miles - at 13.1 I was 2h19
At one lucoazde station my bottle hadn't been opened ( yes I am a first timer and did not notice) so had to use my teeth to bit into it.
I have only ever done a few small 10k runs, a local race, the Ricky Road Run that is very well organised, a Hellrunner and SOTF so some big events -
In summary crowd were great, route, weather just spoilt by the above
We all deserve an official statement
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: John Milsom
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Get the distance correct
In full: As many people have mentioned issues with the distance, I thought I would add my bit to the calamity. I was trying to break 1.30 for the first time (and would have done, if it was 13.1). The distance is the fundamental part of a race, and in this day and age with technology is unforgivable. Just wish the race organisers would hold up their hands and admit it. wouldn't have been hard to spray a line across the road to indicate to the cone people where the u-turn was. Will not run again
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
2012 race reviewed by: Elliot_Worth
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Missed out on cracking PB
In full: Little more to add on the distance problems - I got 13.5 on my watch. OK, this race for me is a warm-up for VLM, but I've been trying to break my PB for nearly 3 years and felt I was on for it today; I had a great race and if the distance had been right I'd have come in just over 1:32, as it was I "officially" clocked 1:34:43 - about 15 seconds outside my PB!! How frustrating! Oh well, at least I discovered a sprint finish I never knew I had as I tried to beat my time.
Lovely weather, enthusiastic support, nice medal and thank you to all the volunteers but I won't be running this race again after such a basic organisational error.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
|
| |
denotes Subscriber-only content | 
