The Steyning Stinger MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race (181 votes). | 1 to 10 of 26 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 |
| The big picture 2012 (26 votes) | | Overall score | | 95% | | How many would do it again? | | 92% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 88% | | PB potential | | 38% | | Atmosphere | | 87% | | Organisation | | 95% | | Value | | 88% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 68% |
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2012 race reviewed by: Danger Prone
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough challenge in the mud! Great organisation and marshals, great race.
In full: Never seen so much mud, making downhill running impossible in my road shoes! Had to concentrate hard to avoid falling. Staggared start and walkers adds interesting dimension to this spectacular race. New personal worst half marathon but loved every minute!!
Date of review: March 7, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: ultraBobban
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Mud Sweat and cheers!
In full: Wet, horizontal rain and bonkers mud.....This is what XC marathons are about. humans vs weather! perfect. as was the fry up at the end!
See you next year
Date of review: March 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Deborah Pitt
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Bejeezus - tough Marathon thanks to the great British weather
In full: Very well organised, great value for money and the marshalls really spurred me on.
Even though it was horrific weather with a mixture of heavy rain, sleet, a bit of hail and gale force winds...The route was muddy, slippy and my time was a lot slower than I had planned for the marathon.....But I loved it and would do it all again.
Date of review: March 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Krissie Stiles
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Grimmer than The Grim but worth every step!
In full: This was my first Stinger Half and I have my mate Michael to thank for this pleasurable torture. I'm a road runner through and through and this was baptism by mud, hill, wind and icepick sharp rain - ouch, this was a toughie! Glad I wore the right kit, although atop the Downs we were all rather exposed, wind-swept and cold regardless. The staggered start was blissful - a bit like turning up as a VIP to your own race start. Everyone involved with this race - it was so nice to see your smiling faces around the course, at the start and at the finish especially. I stopped at the water station just after 10 mile mark and the ladies there looked soaked through and colder than I was, yet still offering me chocolate biscuits with a smile. I cherished the road sections although few, the "Not this way" sign made me giggle, good clear course markers and of course having so many friendly photographers at some of the trickier parts of the course made me run when I would've wanted to weaken and walk. The free photos were an extremely nice surprise - thank you so much Sussex Sport Photography! The Digestives at the finish line brought me back to life and the tea and free breakfast were just superb! Despite the mud trying to suction off my shoes, and making me grip onto trees when I was descending down the mud slides, the toughest climbs I have ever known, I managed a very decent time considering and earned a little injury to remember the event by, but I think I may be back to improve my performance next year! Oh and, please, could we have medals next year?
Date of review: March 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Southdownsman
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 60% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In full: I've done this event nearly every year since it started - including in the infamous horizontal sleet in 2007 - but have never known conditions like they were on Sunday. It took a major effort just to keep upright and the downhills were absolutely treacherous. I have never been so cold and wet that I couldn't open my gels or re-tie my laces - many thanks to the kind marshals - heroes one and all - who did both for me!
Was very tempted to just do the half, but didn't want to wimp out and eventually finished in around 5 hours - much slower than usual, but feeling good at the end
Date of review: March 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: SkiSpeedQueen
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Muddy, windy, incessant rain/sleet, hills to give you chills FULL MARATHON- Loved it
In full: Slow full marathon female runner.
If you took part in it, you will never be able to forget the experience. The conditions were chillingly hypothermic. I Feel really proud to be one of the 164 ish people to complete the full marathon course in such treacherous conditions of slippery, greasy, tacky mud and punishing incessant onslaught of rain/sleet.
The marshalling were smiling angels, organisers were superb and faultless, scenery was inspiring even though visibility was poor, the course was unforgiving - a great marathon challenge. Full breakfast at the finish invaluable and went down like a treat.
Special thanks to marshals at mile 24 and those back at base for helping thru my slightly hypothermic condition at the end.
Free digital photos from Sussex Sport Photography icing on the cake.
So I didn't have the right kit,
but so be it,
I still completed it and
loved every minute of it.
I now have a stinger shot glass, a stinger cup, but please please please with a cherry on the top, can I next time have a medal!
Date of review: March 6, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Mev
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: What a difference a year makes....
In full: My third but definitely not my last Stinger, a great atmosphere as always. Last year was bone dry earth paths baked into tough ridges which were very hard on the ankles, this year was treacle although the Inov8's were brilliant, didn't slip once. Huge thanks to the children on breakfast duty who did brilliantly and especially to the heroic marshals on the coursse - I thanked a fair few on the way round but was too tired to thank all so here it is, fantastic job.
Date of review: March 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Ed Bailey
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Superb well organised race
In full: Fantastically well organised.
Confirmation received through the post within a week of entering.
Car parking well run and organised.
Adequate changing facilities.
Very quick regristation.
Onto the course - tough, challenging, muddy. It's not easy especially in such shocking weather conditions. I guess with nice weather on the day and a dry course this would be amazing - however we were not so lucky with incessent rain and strong winds for most of the race.
Despite being cold, wet and muddy at the end. I loved it. Loved the fact the heroes of the day - the marshalls and those on the water stations were so cheerful and offered encouragement throughout the race.
Free breakfast at the end and hot drink was needed. Free photos too from Sussex photography one of the best race photographers around.
Disappointing no medal after the gruelling run but I don't have a mug to show off my marathon accomplishments so shouldn't complain!
Highly recommend to all runners but expect a tough challenge and if the weather is bad - wrap up warm!
Date of review: March 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Peet Denny
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 80% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Had my behind handed to me...loved it
In full: Really really fun. Awesome atmosphere, with loads of camaraderie. Again, I can't praise the marshals highly enough.
Although the weather was abominable, practically everyone I spoke to loved the experience;
Thanks to the kids who volunteered in the canteen. Thanks to the French class who gave up their classroom for hundreds of smelly men to get changed in :)
Date of review: March 5, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: kate sippetts
| | 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: Unless you did it you could not conceive
In full: I felt like a newborn foal or bambi sliding everywhere,a baptism of mud, never thought once of stopping. Fell over twice, once covered in mud I was quite warm, the warming properties of mud certainly work and got a free facial! Fabulously friendly. A huge thanks to the marshals who were the real heros. Usually out mountain biking so was so glad I was not pushing my bike up the hills! Will be back next year!
Date of review: March 5, 2012
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