South Downs Marathon & 5K

So, who else has entered this then...

About 4 months out from this one, and i'm thinking about training programmes to keep some structure to training - will a regular marathon schedule suffice (with liberal dashings of hill training), or would anyone recommend something more specific?

 Looking forward to the day!

I'm intending to do a lot of off road marathons this year.  I've only done road marathons prior to that, and very little off road at all.

I'm following a basic marathon plan, but trying to do at least half of my long runs off road.

I did one leg of the South Downs Relay last year, and the terrain isn't that bad.  It was mostly well worn trails and paths rather than plowed fields or long grass.  There are hills, but most people walk some or all of them.

The kids and I are all looking forward to this one.

It will be my furthest distance yet and theirs (5k)

Hope to start upping the mileage once new shoe aches and pains subside.

Jim

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Yep - familiar with the terrain - did 100km (starting at Queen Elizabeth Park and going toward Brighton a couple of years ago).  As long as its dry, then should be ok (i wore trail shoes then, but a guy i ran with wore regular running shoes).

 There's a couple of steep bits, but walking is the way forward - trying to run up to save time is a false economy IMHO.

Need to start upping the miles (whilst I'm still grinning from the PB at Wokingham half yesterday)

*heads to marathon training schedule section of website*

how are the directions on the route - am a bit concerned with the 'point to point' comment! will i get lost on the way??? are there a lot of people that do the full marathon? was thinking of this one or the new forest half but 25 Sep not a good date for me.

No traffic appeals to me too - as long as not too off road!  Don't mind tracks like in the new forest though so should be fine!

 Doing half marthon on Sunday so should have time to up the mileage to get  me through it she says hopefully

The signs and marshalling are very good Ang B. You shouldn't get lost.
The whole thing is 'off road' but not cross country. It is tracks, trails, footpaths etc.
It's well attended enough that you will probably always be able to see another runner!

It's one of my 'locals' so I'll be doing it again this year.

Ang B - this was my first mara and I've done it every year since and it never even occurred to me to get lost It's extremely well organised and ,as Limper says ,you are rarely, if ever out of sight of any other runners.

It is very much offroad but the terrain is chalky downland which is generally hard and dry in midsummer so suitable for road shoes.Quite a lot of people do the full marathon but I believe there are three wave starts this year depending on your expected time in order to avoid congestion at the relay points.

 The things to watch out for are  heat (as it's quite exposed) and hills (which you can't avoid so be prepared to walk). It's a lovely run.

I've done it in sunshine and in rain and have always coped ok in my road shoes.
I run various sections of it for fun  and sometimes use my trail shoes. Personally I find it better suited to the roadies.

Wear a hat. It'll be useful whatever the weather!

The feed stations have adequate water and gels available.

It's an excellent event

OK on a scale of 1 - 10 how much harder is Beachy Head, or is it in fact harder.

Kinda doesn't matter cause I'm gonna sign up anyways, just though a bench mark would be nice

Beachy is harder.
South Downs has a couple of tough hills that (for the majority of folk) have to be walked up and probably compares with the 'general' part of Beachy. Nothing as daunting as the Seven Sisters though!

Hmm, I'd rate it about equal with Beachy, the hills are just in different places. I do seem to have a standard South Downs time whatever the race.  There are flattish bits in the middle but also some energy -sapping undulations  after the 20 mile point which I tend to forget about till I hit them.

As long as the weather is nice (and the chip van is there) the finish is always good as you can sit around on the grassy slopes snacking, watching everyone come in. Good for picnics if you have support crew or family.

suspect i'll need to line a willing supporter up to run that final mile, a few feet ahead of me and carrying a burger... motivation!

I love that part limper, it's slightly shaded, slightly downhill and people often look up from their picnics to cheer you on. Then you get that odd little squiggly bit through the wood with a couple of absolutely unnecessary undulations before you hit the road / car park  and turn the corner for your grand finish.
 

Thinking about this one, did Grizzly in March and loved it.......anyone done both......how do they compare (apart from South Downs being 6 miles further obviously!) ?? I have run several stages in the relays over last couple of years and every time I wish I was doing it all! Just a bit worried about the challenge....HELP

 fc x