Sussex Beacon Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (483 votes). | 11 to 20 of 51 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
2008 race reviewed by: HellyBoos
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: lovely race, and very well organised, but some evil little hills at the end.
Date of review: February 21, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Pete Sherri
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: My favourite race
In full: 3rd time now I've done this race and it keeps on getting better.
The weather was lovely ,and there is nothing better than running by the sea.
Yes, there is a bit of uphill towards the end, but nothing too bad. Infact, I was faster in the 2nd half.
The goody bag was better last year, but noce this year. It even contained a Finger of Fudge, when was the last time you saw one of those?
Date of review: February 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: SonyaB
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Good, friendly race helped by the sea breeze and sunny weather
In full: This was only my second half-marathon and I was worried it would be all club runners, but there was a great mix of runners with friendly crowds. I especially enjoyed the last mile back along the seafront and even though the run up the cliffs near the end was a bit of shock there was a beautiful view to make up for it!
Date of review: February 20, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Dips
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Good well established event - right on my doorstep!
In full: Apart from the medal shortage and a few timing mix ups there were no big problems. Any big event is going to have a few gliches.
Not sure what all the fuss about goody bags is about. Immediate needs were served, banana, choccy bar and water. Marshalls were friendly and encouraging. Course is in the main flat...with a couple of short sharpish climbs but nothing to worry about.
Date of review: February 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Turbo-vet
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Potential for a good race but organisation could be a lot better
In full: I dropped out of this race due to injury and spectated for my wife, who was in training for her first marathon.
This could and should be a good race but a number of things let it down:
1 - where were the medals for the later finishers? We were aware of at least 108 people (those who deserved it most) not getting a medal. The organisers were clear about numbers in advance.
2 - One choccy bar does not a goody bag make!
3 - What happened to the miles markers? The rather erratic positioning (especially 1 and 2) really doesn't help for those trying to pace their race.
4 - What about a course profile in the race instructions? It looks flat until you try and run it. Runners will usually still run a challenging course, but beter to be up-front about it.
5 - Why did the marshal just before the 8 mile markers tell runners they were near the finish. Yes, technically they were about half a mile or so away as the crow flies, but over 5 miles from finishing.
Don't get me wrong, there was a lot f good organisation in this race and I take my hat off to anyone who takes time out in the Winter weather to marshal a race, especially a long one. The thing is marshals should have a better idea of where they are on the course, where the next water station is etc.
Maybe this is a feature of a race not organised by runners, but with such excellent competition these days, these details can really make the difference between coming back again and again and never repeating or recommending the experience.
Date of review: February 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Snapstinget
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A race that gets even better every year
In full: My fourth or fifth attempt, a nightmare for me but this couldn't detract from what really is a fab run. Yes, the start is a bit crowded. Yes, my Garmin was slightly long (13.2) but that is probably because I took the long route? I quite liked the medal. I forgot to pick up a goody bag. But there were lots of water stations, the marshals were friendly especially towards the end, and the Jog Shop had some great bargains. 3714 runners completed the race. I like the way the course loops back and forth; I enjoy watching the faster runners :-) The little slopes at the end are great for breaking the monotony and the final stretch is genuinely fast, great for a sprint finish to impress the family. The flow of email newsletters was a nice touch and the website has got to be one of the best race websites anywhere, easily navigated and without the clutter of ads you get elsewhere.
Date of review: February 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Crutterz
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great event this year and helped by the weather!
In full: This race seems to improve every year despite getting bigger every year. The start is prompt and water stations are adequate. There is good support but still feel that it could be advertised better to generate bigger crowds. No-one knew it was taking place in the hotel we stayed in or in the shops after the race!
Date of review: February 19, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Roobarb
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Great one!
In full: This was a good one made even better by the weather! I don't do a race for the goody bag and like others prefer the money to go to the charity. However, I was really disappointed not to get a medal.
The scenery is lovely and I just loved running along the seafront, something I have never done before.
Hopefully I will be back next year.
Date of review: February 18, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Matt Hood
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Great race, with a sting in the tail!
In full: Great day for a race - very little wind along the coast (for a change) was a definite relief. The sunshine was glorious and definitely helped the experience.
Really good support from the crowds lining the route helped spur everyone on.
I had forgotten how high those cliffs are round the marina though - felt like they went on forever! Really tough, but contributed to a sense of achievement.
No complaints about the goody bag - personally I prefer more of the money to go to charity. I thought they covered the right things though - food (inc free banana!), water and space blanket (my kids were fascinated with them!).
One request, like an earlier contributor, is please could we have places calculated by chip time as well as gun time?
My first half marathon, but not my last I suspect!
Date of review: February 18, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Devon Red
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: The second time travelled from Devon for this one in the last two years... already booked my hotel for the hat-trick in 2009!
In full: Interesting feedback from others and agree with
very poor medal (same as last year i.e.no year stamped on it, just a different colour ribbon!) and marshalls need to be stricter at the start. i was going for a PB and in the first pen which is correct for me and people leaping over with less than a minute to go is just wrong... send them to the back for being poorly organised. I thought the excellent live band were playing at the start last year about an hour before the go, but not so this year. For that reason I thought the atmosphere at the start was a bit lessadrenalin pumping than before. All that aside, hey... what weather! Not a cloud in the sky and absolutely glorious. How can you criticise the view, town, promanade, sea, marina, white cliffs fabulous!
Missed my PB slightly and recognise my Garmin had a 13.3 mile distance recording too but not enough to of got me home on a PB I was 180 seconds adrift!
No complaints with the marshalls, helpers, band etc, start was well organised apart from the later arrivals.
There are far bigger and worse prepared halfs
and this is not one of them. Well done to all. If you want a badly organised half get yourself over to Taunton, 2,500 runners and the start is complete chaos!
See you next year Brighton, loved it!
Date of review: February 18, 2008
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