Sussex Beacon Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (483 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Shiny
 | | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fortunately fast enough to miss most of the issues so can't really comment further
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: SuperGuruKhan
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: over priced and after 20 years still too many organisational problems
In full: Organisers had a tough job, cliff falls led the Council to close part of the route and plan B had to go into place, which wasn't without some problems, especially runners mixing with traffic near the SeaLife centre, but from what I saw the marshalls did eventually get a grip
Biggest probllem was the finish. I had to queue for 5 minutes to cross the line, by which time all the gains I'd made in the last 2 miles were lost. I was particularly irritated to be overtaken in the queue by somoene who had been 400 yards behind me
Its an expensive race for a half marathon and the fact there were no goody bags(left) and medal was a bit too dinky this year.
I've had enough of this race. last year they didn't have enough water and I had a run in with a marshall over the fact that 1/3 cup wouldn't really suffice; still at least the torrential rain got rid of that problem this year.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Robo916
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: good for those doing the Brighton marathon- horrid weather, a good tester.
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: WindBehind
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The organisers need to get their act together
In full: I can only concur with all the comments about the baggage area disorganisation, the lack of organisation for starting line up, the highly congested first few miles (add to that lots of street furniture like bins, posts, benches and cafe boards to negotiate), the lack of mile markers, and the finish line queues.
If they insist on using The Lanes as part of the course they must be later on in the race when the field has spread. The present course cannot support 6000+ runners.
People having to queue to get across the finish line in a race is inexcusable and just very poor organisation.
This could be a very good race but it needs to be better organised. I won't be doing this race again unless I can see evidence that they have sorted out all these problems.
I notice that all the reviews rate the organisation between 20 and 40% but the overall rating for this seems to have ended up as 60%. How does this work?
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Amanda Steenkamp
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great pre-marathon race (especially if weather is good)
In full: Pros: Relatively flat run so good chance of PB.
Lots of enthusiastic supporters along the way.
Dedicated and encouraging marshalls and volunteers.
Beautiful scenery - despite yukky weather today (I loved the stormy, wind-whipped sea).
Plenty of drinks available.
Cons: Serious shortage of toilets at the start. Please do something about this organisers.
Lack of mile markers made pacing difficult.
Overall: A really good race. Well orgainsed in my opinion and, as a fun runner in the back half of the pack, I didn't experience any of the bottle-necking mentioned by others on this site. I recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxed, scenic and friendly pre-marathon race.
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Hackett
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race - Poor Weather - Poor organisation - Brave Marshalls.
In full: Second time , I have run the Sussex Beacon and last year I found this a great race.
Sadly the organisation ruined that potential. The baggage area was carnage. A lack of segregation of slower runners meant the first 2 miles in the Lanes was a wall of people. I seem to have missed the bottle necks and queue to get over the finish. Such a shame because the support from the local people and marshalls who braved the monsoon like weather and Brighton sea front has the potential to make the perfect venue for a long run.
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Doylie in Disguise
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Bad start, bad finish, first 3m too crowded, feel ripped off and very disappointed
In full: Whilst most of the postings have reflected my views I really object to being ripped off in races that try to squeeze too many people onto an unsuitable course, it was not as criminally overfilled or expensive as Bath but wasn't far behind.
It is no fun to organise a race in these conditions, or indeed to marshall it. But the mistakes are basic.
The amount of people made the first 3 miles a nightmare, reason - too many people on an unsuitable course, too much money from the race??. a line of people across the finish area, taking off chips was unbelievable. Glad I jumped out of the way and sorted it myself.
Relatively few mile markers, sorry guys, put them in place securely, we are looking for a measure of where we are, this ruined pacing for many.
As for receiving bugger all for my £22 totally unacceptable.
Suffice to say I won't be back
Doylie
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Zaz96
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Potentially such a great race in a fantastic town - sadly organisation ruined that potential
In full: I'd got lack of segregation of runners running in opposite directions, lack of loos at the start, lack of mile markers and chaotic organisation in the funnel after the finish (missed out on drink and banana, had to go back to get a space blanket and tripped over the chip remover) on my list of complaints. But having read the rest of the ratings, I realise the organisation was even more shambolic than I imagined - I seem to have missed the bottle necks, queue to get over the finish and baggage drop fiasco. Such a shame because the support from the local people who braved hideous weather was wonderful and Brighton sea front has the potential to make the perfect venue for a long run. Must do better Beacon to keep this one on the 'must do' calendar.
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Steven Hawkswell
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Looked like an attempt to sabotage the future of the race - just awful
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: ITC
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 40% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: It's all been said by others. Quite frankly disgracefully organised.
In full: A new experience to have to queue for 2 minutes to cross finishing line.
Date of review: February 21, 2010
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