Hastings Lions Half-MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (739 votes). 2012 race reviewed by: Only One speed Jennie
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 1st half marathon
In full: This was my first half unfortunately run with an ankle injury. But who cares I was slow ,in pain towards the end ,but this race made me remember why I enjoy running. Forget the PB, the atmosphere was phenomal , the supporters were brilliant and I met so many nice people running on the way. Sometimes it's nice to be at the back and actually enjoy the race (. It was tough though!!!)
Date of review: March 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Vic Waite
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Definitely back next year!
In full: This was my second half marathon and my first at Hastings... and it was at the Hastings that I caught the running bug well and truly! What a fantastic day out from start to finish and I would highly recommend it to everyone. In fact, it's worth taking up running just to be part of it. Thank you to the organisers, residents, supporters and all the other runners for making it such a special day.
Date of review: March 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Joel epstein 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: First time for me
In full: Loved the course. uphill for the first half then bomb it to the finish. A great atmosphere and good to start/finish on the sea-front. Look forward to next year.
Date of review: March 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: claire davidson
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A fantastic day out with great support & atmosphere
In full: My husband and I made the trip from Cornwall for this race and it was really worth it! Beautiful sunshine added to a very well-organised race. It was very crowded at the start with well over 3,000, but the atmosphere was friendly and jovial. Loved the micro-chip in the number. So easy. good value for money too at £22 (£17 cheaper than Bath.) The steady climbs in first half and a bit followed by the downhill charge for the coast suited us Cornish hill runners down to th ground. If you think it might be a slow course, think again, as it was won in 1.06 with first female running 1.14. Best thing? The continuous support. Felt like whole town had turned out. Carnival atmosphere. Thanks, Hastings. I've already entered for 2013!
Date of review: March 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Katie Arnold 4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Even better than I thought!
In full: Really tough course, thought about walking at many points but our lovely Hastings folk kept me going. Very proud of everyone who came out to support us all, and so grateful to the lovely couple doing water at the bottom of All Saints Street I was soooo hot!!!! I found the ridge the hardest which I was not expecting as everyone says its Queensway that gets you but perhaps I went off too fast?! I will make sure it doesn't happen when I definitely do it again next year!!!!
Date of review: March 27, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: SJB64
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
Date of review: March 26, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Jimmy the Saint
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Brutal but brilliant
In full: I'd heard there were a fair few hills on this course, but having run around the hillier areas of the south-east, came unprepared! Wow, this is a monster of a course, with uphill climbs for the majority of the first nine miles. At mile two I was on top of the world, running with the first fifty of the pack, but by mile four I was being passed by all and sundry and was thinking about quitting.
What made me carry on? Well, aside from sheer determination and the desire to rid myself of the poor taste that February's Brighton Half had left in my mouth (the Brighton course was a complete fiasco this year), the crowd support was utterly tremendous. Well done, people of Hastings!
The support was often directed at the Hastings Runners in particular, and I did find myself surrounded by club runners, so I felt a bit lonesome as an unaffiliated entrant at times, but with brass bands, orange segments, jelly babies, church choirs blasting out of local buildings and people blasting music and support out of their back gardens, I just don't think the locals would let you quit.
They fib to you all the way up the nine miles of long, grueling ascents, claiming 'the worst is nearly over,' long before it actually is and then when you reach the nine mile area, the local pub at the top of the last hill are playing motivational music and shouting out support over the PA.
There's then a quad-busting downhill section for about two miles before a long, hard and hot flat along the seafront to the finish. Despite being all flat it was still utterly energy sapping after the long hills and hot weather: the finish felt like it took forever to come and I nearly stopped and walked even at mile 12!
I'm glad I didn't though as I felt a true sense of achievement as I crossed the finish line that I haven't got from other half marathons. I came in at around position 350 with a time of 01:37, which while no quite a PB, I was significantly more proud of than better times in other, similar events.
Tough race. Great race... But maybe never again...?
Date of review: March 26, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Jackie Harrison 4
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Fantastic as always!
In full: Everyone should Hastings at least once in their life. It is the best half in the country.
Date of review: March 26, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Peter Shepherd 5
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Best Half Ever
In full: The support from the crowd is what makes this race so good,this was my first year and friends had warned me about the hills, it is tough but great fun, I will be back next year for sure and to top it all I got a vets PB by four minutes! :-)
Date of review: March 26, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Catcat
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A nice course but small touches let it down
In full: A nice and challenging course with some nice views at times. Hills are tough particularly as the organisers say the significant climbs are before 5 miles, they keep going until 9. People of Hastings were very vocal and good fun, although they do lie.
The big issue for me is just how busy it is. Not on the course but the start/finish area was packed, making it very difficult to get some water at the finish, perhaps they need to extend the runner only finish enclosure further and put the water in there.
Parking was a pain, got there an hour before to find the car parks full and had a good 15 min walk from where I parked on the streets.
It does makes me question if this site can handle the number of people this brings in.
Date of review: March 26, 2012
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