Brighton Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (219 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Clare Whitworth 2
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A mixed bag.
In full: Lovely medal, but otherwise rubbish 'goody bag'. People on the drinks stations did a great job, and were also encouraging which was nice. Definate potential for a pb I think as the course was very flat and the crowd thinned out quickly meaning no problems with other runners despite the numbers. (I didn't realise there had been a problem with the distance till I came on here, but it does make me feel slightly better about my time!) Would do it again.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Des Luddy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Shame about the distance error but a great day just the same
In full: Well documented error on the race distance which has obviously marred the event for many runners. I feel sorry for them if they were on for a PB or if it was their first/last half marathon. However, for those of us that just enjoy the run for a "Day out" it was a great event. From the park and ride, to the lovely sea view course and fantastic supportive crowd I thouroughly enjoyed the day.
My negative is really the general state of the road surface in the "town" section of the course which is a reflection of the Council rather than the race organiser. Would I do it again? I`ll have to, just to see what I could have done! ;-)
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: GGW
| | 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: VERY POOR COMPARED TO PREVIOUS RACES. FAR INFERIOR TO BRIGHTON MARATHON
In full: Typical good atmosphere at the start but like all the others in the area where I was we unable to see where the warm-up lady was operating from! The course was fine as were the fantastic volunteers who gave out drinks. As usual there were quite a few locals to cheer on all the runners who came in all shapes, ages and sizes. I thought the mile markers were adequate and located in fairly good positions. But and a big BUT was the very poor finish. I have always collected a useful cotton T shirt at the end of this race and actualluy needed one this year as I did chill down rapidly with the wind. Thanks to the chap dishing out the foil wraps. The goodie bag was a complete waste of time. Sorry to say this will probably be my last Beacon Half and in February 2013 I'll be looking to run a training half Marathon at another venue.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Herb
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Very enjoyable despite distance issue
In full: Great weather, atmosphere and support. Liked the fact that the small uphill was done early in the race. Shame about it being over long but the fact that I had thought I had fallen behind schedule spurred me on to a good time.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: David Ellingford
| | 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: So disappointed on distance,my watch had it at13.56miles would have got a PB at 13.1 not happy none of us were..
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: personalbest
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Would have been great if distance was correct!!??
In full: Although I got a PB it would have been better without the extra 0.4 - 0.5 miles that I, and so many other runners measured via GPS. Really disappoining that a race with such potential (great weather, scenery, atmosphere and relatively flat) was let down by such a gross error. It is fundemental to a race that the distance is correct and when you pay so much to enter you exppects the basics to be right. Perhaps we are all lucky that it was not under-measured, the outcome of which would have been much more serious?
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Dylan Beaver
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A potentially good race spoilt by bad organisation!
In full: The scenery wasn't bad and the atmosphere and support from the crowd was excellent!
The organisation was shambolic.
1) Inncorrect distance recorded (was 13.5mi not 13.1mi. This is NOT half marathon distance!
2) Lack of toilets
3) Toilets badly positioned (in front of start line, blocking passers by!)
4) A bit of a rip off. An empty carrier bag to collect at the end with just a leaflet inside it.
5) Parts of the course were to narrow and runners were bottlenecking (lots of elbowing going on) particularly in the Lanes area.
Would I do it again? Well, I ran a good race but a petty the organisation was so bad. You'd at least think that for an event with over 8000 participants, they'd at least get the distance right. Right? Wrong.
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Steve Allen 12
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: How is it possible to get it this wrong?
In full: Getting the distance so badly wrong is unforgivable in a race of this size.
As a first time runner I was very unsure of what I was doing with regards to pacing and as I was aiming for 2 hrs 30 I decided to try to follow the pace maker. I followed him for the first 2 miles and was struggling to keep up. Luckily I know the course very well as parts of it have been my regular run for the last 4 months and when I hit the 2 mile point in a sub 18 minute time I knew I could safely slow down. However this had caused me some anxiety and I struggled to compose myself over the next 2 miles. Then hitting a mile which appeared to take me over 15 minutes was another problem I was panicking about it and I wouldn't dare to think the organisers had got it wrong. I should have just trusted my training.
I was a little disheartened to have just missed out the 2hrs 30 I had trained towards but to now find out I probably had run under the time and an error on their part has caused it has left me feeling a little bitter towards my home town event.
I agree with the bag commments - pointless
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Paul Went
| | 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: An expensive joke
In full: I really dont know where to start on this!!!!
Distance - miles out (well half a mile out) whats the point having a certificate of distance and then putting turnaround cone in a different place!!!
Price was very expensive for an empty carier bag to put in the bin, no toilets, no bands, etc.
Atmosphere was good in places but on times i have had more exciting training runs, running round traffic cones.
Toilets queue was longer than the race on times (and probably better measured), and why someone gets a special parking space at the start so they can run a blinding 2:45 race (Katie P)!
Has to be one of the worst races I have run, and doubt i will be back. Shame on Brighton!
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Y not
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Too long
In full: I love this race, in February you just don’t know if it’ll be blowing a gale as it was 2 years ago or pristine blue skies as it was yesterday. It’s also a great course but…. I was expecting a half marathon and not a 13.5 mile race.
Also I’m not quite sure why they gave us a plastic bag as there was nothing in it apart from 2 pieces of paper!
I will of course come back next year but it would be nice to run 13.1 miles rather than 13.5. Luckily I’m way off pb time as if I’d been hoping to break my pb I’d have been a bit annoyed at having my chances ruined by the times being out by 3 minutes
Date of review: February 20, 2012
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