Sussex Beacon Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (483 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: Bomble Boo
 | | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: It's all been previously noted
In full: Main gripes were parking fiasco, bad marshalling and lack of mile markers
Date of review: February 25, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Marianne Gibson
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Friendly, scenic, good crowd support. A great day out.
Date of review: February 25, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: John Henington
| | Overall score | | 20% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Fine weather and some organisation would make this a good event
In full: The weather on the day meant this wouldn't be the best of runs but it was worse because of all the mentioned organisational issues. I was slowed down by the fiasco of bottleneck, footpath running and pedestrians- even at 10 miles and I also didn't see many mile markers. I heard someone behind me run into a parking meter! All in all a disappointing event- wouldn't do it again.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Boy Arden
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Wet and windy
In full: Thankfully I managed to skip around all of the issues that everyone else seemed to have. I had a personal baggage handler in my girlfriend and a personal mile marker in my GPS so I didn't even notice these issues. As per every race ever there was a lack of toilets. I can't think of one big race I have done where this hasn't been an issue. I also couldn't work out where I should have been for my predicted finishing time. Clearly the slower people I had to weave in and out of didn't know either. The race also had the same issues as the Brooks 10K on The stretch of Madiera Drive where you had the hairpin turn before heading to the finish line. There was nothing to separate the runners going in opposite directions. Common sense would dictate that you stay on your side of the road with the white lines as a guide. This dictatorial common sense was lacking and I had to dodge runners that were running towards the marina as they crowded over to our side of the road. Some fencing, cones or a marshal or two might have helped. The space blankets were a must and were very welcome and it's always nice to get a medal (even if it is pretty generic).
Other than this the weather was terrible but Brighton is always a great city to be in! I would do it again just for the excuse to go to Brighton.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Kirst2
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: This was my first Half Marathon race and although I thoroughly enjoyed it I was extremely disapointed with the organisation.
In full: Obviously feeling a little anxious as this was my first I found the lack of organisation just added to my anxiety. I felt the following could have been avoidable:
*Massive que to the bag drop and bag drop not manned so free for all!
*Lack of ladies toilets; not enough toilets provided before the start of the race for the sheer volume of people and once into the race we found the ladies loo's were locked along the course!!
*No mile markers....what's that about.
*Far far too many runners, very dangerous at times, especially with pedestrians
*Terrible finish. Sudden stop due to the build up of runners and had to wait to cross finish line. Added 3 mins to my time and more importantly, not able to cool down or stretch!
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Pixelette
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: I wasn't given a chip time - I might as well not have been there
In full: Looks like I'm not the only one not to get a chip time or be recorded in the finishers list. It was very depressing not to be included in the Argus list as this was my first half marathon. No point repeating what others have said. Here are some other things that I'm not sure have been mentioned...I couldn't see the race clock at the start/finish line - what with not getting a chip time, i now have no idea of what my time was. It was very unclear where we should be regarding our predicted times at the start of the race. I'm sure slower and faster runners were totally mixed up at the beginning which is annoying and dangerous. I'm still waiting for a response about what happened about my chip.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: PMilsom
| | 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: Scenic, even better in the wind and rain!!
In full: Everything was perfect apart from one major issue, no mile or km markers. I was fortunate enough to have a GPS tracker on me so I was aware the distance I'd covered. Otherwise a cracking course, well marshalled, brilliantly supported. Definitely on my list for next year.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Possum hopper
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: Agree with most of before posts. My 3rd year and wow, what a change !! the organisation was non-existant. Horrendous bag drop, no markers...blah blah...all been said before. The one thing that struck me this year that I did not feel on past 2 years was the sheer volumn of runners !!! Way, way too congested through the streets..positively dangerous. Pedestrians all over the shop. Madness at times. Am very surprised someone wasn't hurt. Last year people moaned about no medals...this year pretty o.k. medals but the rest appears to have gone downhill.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Emily Prater
| | 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: Badley organised however lots of fuel stops which was good
In full: Too many runners for the race, massive bottleneck at the end of the race so we could not run over the mats so minutes were being added to our time and we were just stood there looking at the finishing mats unable to pass over them, very frustrating. Baggage store was a free for all, finished the race to find everyone just trampelling over my bag, saw about 1 mile marker around the whole race so had no idea what distance i had done.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Nick Bush
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: great event let down by sub-standard organisation
In full: My first half marathon so the pleasure I got from it makes the negative points less negative BUT for an event that has been going for a few years now I would not have expected crowding at the finish, poor mile markings, congestion and massive loo queues.
Date of review: February 24, 2010
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