Sussex Beacon Half MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (483 votes). 2010 race reviewed by: ian parsons 2
 | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Carnage at start, finish and through the lanes!
In full: Stupid to have us running through the narrow lanes at the start couldn't get into my pace for 3 miles due to the amount of people in a small space. Why not have the lanes section at mile 9 when people are strung out. Mile markers would help I didn't see any! Start and finish was carnage. Goody bag or Tshirt would be nice for the money! Thanks to the great marshals who stood in the rain.
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: BroxRunner
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Get the basics right and the rest follows - didn't happen last Sunday
In full: Nothing new to add to all the furious reviewers before but must vent. Finish area was carnage - too short, too narrow, too many spectators congratulating finishers (!), too few instructions. Bag collection was like the final retreat from Saigon; how ridiulous to leave the areas unmanned with people trampling over bags, getting changed amongst them with no obvious marshalls - completely unforgivable. Although I bettered pb by 10 minutes, gloss was taken off by randomness of finish, bag collection and apparent laissez-faire organisation. I didn't get into London this year, but am running the Brighton marathon........tell me that Tim Hutchings will learn from the poor Beacon organisation this year.
BTW, many thanks to the fantastic supporters and the effective volunteers who did turn out.
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Bob Parr
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Post finish organisation needs to be looked at. Other than that I enjoyed the race.
In full: I enjoyed this race despite the weather.
I second most of what has already been said. I did not see the expected finish times marked anywhere at the start and the only mile marker I saw was the 11 mile marker after I'd finished and I was walking to my lift on Marine Parade! The finish line congestion and bag collection must be looked at for future events.
The "crush" at the start and in the lanes were as I expected, awkward to get round some groups of slower runners but I've found that with most mass start races. What was not nice was actually having to stop at the start of the lane before the seafront due to a severe bottleneck. Once the pace had settled on the seafront I found it easy enough to make progress.
At the end I made it over the finish line without having to queue but then stopped just over the line in the funnel. I felt that people were not being ushered out of the funnel by marshals at all - the man on the PA system could be heard trying to move people along in the finish area as I was approaching it but who pays attention to that after you've finished? Perhaps the water and bananas should have been after the chip removal and medal collection points. Also if the chip removal people had been in two lines along with the flow of the finish rather than across the flow then that may have helped.
I will probably be back next year as I was not affected this time!
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Pizzapat
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: to many runners?
In full: i did this race last year and the course this year was better,BUT you need to look at maybe limiting the entry;even if the weather had been better,the early part of the course was to CONGESTED!!!
im assumnig the congestion at the finish was because of the INCREASED(?) entry,either way this SHOULDNT happen..
and whilst i agree with the sentiment that the race is for charity,surely it should mention on the website,that you NOT guarenteed a t-shirt?
if there were mile markers i didnt see them?
having said all that i wll be back (if i can get in!!!)
Date of review: February 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: cabates
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Reasonably flat course with one major hill (run twice), but always windy on long stretch and rainy this year!
In full: Enjoyed the run and was very close to my time goal despite a little knee niggle, so I'd say it's a forgiving course despite the coastal headwinds on the outgoing long stretch (these became following winds on the way back).
Could have done more to keep spectators away from the running lanes - there were several points at which bottlenecks occurred because of this, or where passers by were just crossing the sea of runners unmarshalled (sometimes with babies in tow!).
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Sean Gallagher
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Chaos before, during and after!
In full: The pre-race build-up promised so much with its informative website and regular e-mails.
On raceday, a totally different story!
Baggage area initially manned, but post-race free-for-all. No timing clock and invisible mile markers. I failed to see any mile markers – why were these not large, luminous and above head-height?
6,000 runners racing through The Lanes was pure stupidity. Why not include this section after 5 or 6 miles, when the field was strung out?
£24 for a small cheap medal and a banana? Yes, it was for charity, but come on, how about a decent T-shirt? A lesson could be learnt from Bexhill’s Poppy Half Marathon.
Despite my gripes, I achieved a PB and would run this again, if improvements made.
Thanks to all the marshals and supporters on-course in truly miserable weather!
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: good runner
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Shame about the rain this year
In full: Positives - attraction of a seaside city, easy to get to potentally good start/finish, flat course
Reality: confusing start area - left luggage area I thought was manned but after race was free for all - obviously not enough marshals - bags could easily get stolen/damaged.
The route had to be changed and to be fair the seafront section twice was fine but did we really need to race to the North Laines and through that in deserted streets with only runners going round the twisting streets - for the amount of runners and narrowness I would say this was dangerous.
The finish line was overcrowed and confusing - I have met this ealsewhere but this needs to be looked at as well.
I hope the Marathon, in 8 weeks time, Organisers take note of the errors that the Sussex Beacon make!!
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Pete Sherri
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 80% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Not a bad run, but needs a rethink
In full: I can only echo what some of the others have said about the race.
Had always been a bit of a favourite for me, but I was very disappointed.
No queue for me to finish, but once over the line it was chaos. Not very good, when all I wanted to do was get changed into warm dry clothes.
The non existant staff at the bag drop post race was shocking. Maderia Drive is open to anyone, so there was no security at all. Plus I did not appreciate having to search for my bag in conditions like yesterday.
Overall, I appreciate that Sussex Beacon are trying to raise as much as possible for the valuable work that they do, but they need to remember that us runners need looking after better than yesterday.
I can't help feeling this race has got too big.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: luke shields 2
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | Organisation | | 20% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 100% |
In short: Let down by the poor organisation.
In full: Guess the Beacon has been a victim of it's own success and out grown the in-house organisation.
Unfortunately sadly, poor all round.
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: GCE
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 20% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Despite all the valid grumbles, I'd still do a again!
In full: First few miles particularly tough, far too many peoples, through roads far too small, annoying amounts of dodging.
Weather was just dreadful, I mean beyond dreadful. It certainly re-defined coldness for me!
All that said, I was absolutely thrilled to achieved a new PB; my theory is this, it was so cold I dare not slow down or stop moving!
My hugest thanks & congratulations to all the poor marchals en route, you were true troopers.
No goodie bag etc etc, all as others have said, strangely I know I'll be back next year, must like pain!
Date of review: February 22, 2010
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