Official Running Thread

[horshamite]

Re bag drop position:
Wasn't the bag drop under the arches in the past? That would be closer to the start but the arches are now fenced off.
Can I just name drop by saying I was asked for directions from the man himself, TB, before the race! He took part. Spoke to Stevie Sidwell too!

 

[lost in london]

Agree with a lot of the comments above - too many pinch points on the course and before the run, long gap between penultimate and last water station, and just rarely felt like a free flowing event. Won’t be doing it again, which is a shame as the timing of it in the year makes it a good post-xmas target.

Medal as usual straight in the bin. Never understood what the point of them are, would much prefer a mug!

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Re bag drop position:
Wasn't the bag drop under the arches in the past? That would be closer to the start but the arches are now fenced off.
Can I just name drop by saying I was asked for directions from the man himself, TB, before the race! He took part. Spoke to Stevie Sidwell too!

I saw SS at the start. I figured he couldn't be racing but maybe his kids were taking part?

On the subject of the race director, maybe the resources should be spent on organising things oon the ground, rather than sending out a booklet that gives you all sorts of useless information (IMO) about the Brighton landmarks [emoji848][emoji848]

Thanks to you and all of the volunteers, [MENTION=17707]horshamite[/MENTION] - you efforts are much appreciated.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[lost in london]

Also, why did the booklet show the bag drop as at the bottom of Arundel Road? It was nowhere near there!

 

[Mr Blobby]

Morning all. One very happy runner here. I finally dipped under 1.50 and my official time was 1.48.59

https://www.strava.com/activities/1425257621

The weather, despite the cold, was OK, not as bad as I expected, but the last three miles home were hard work as I knew my PB was on so pushed into that bitter headwind. My £1.99 red cross sweatshirt kept me warm until the start time, noticed the massive pile being collected post race, hopefully back to charity shops. The woman in the red cross shop said to me Ohhh you have a bargain there, I said well I will for 24 hours, she looked baffled until I explained what I was doing!

I have to agree about the organisation, too many runners on a narrow course, but the people running around me were a great social bunch and we made up at many points for the lack of crowds with encouragement and occasional chat. With the bitter temperature the crowds were bigger than I expected. I actually preferred the new route, and once the bottle neck in the first mile was out the way found it all OK. Where the road narrowed it was crowded, but as we were all pretty much even paced not a major problem. I still do get annoyed by people with headphones in as as many appear oblivious to runners overtaking them, also people walking after the first 1 or 2 miles when in the sub 2 hour pens is another personal annoyance.

I met up with loads of mates on the day and have to say that overall I had a brilliant day, helped by the 4-1 from Saturday and the PB. It was great that @Guiness Boy is back in the game. Next year I will definitely target Worthing for a PB as much smaller, but a few more twists and turns.

So from now on I switch back to marathon training, 7 weeks to Brighton, 8 weeks to London and 13 weeks to Edinburgh! EeeeeeekKKkkkkk

 

[Curious Orange]

Time to get [MENTION=27279]dazzer6666[/MENTION] back up the table - were there any half marathon pb's over the weekend?

NAME	SB	5K PB	AG	10K	10M	HM	M
Artie Fufkin	18:41	18:40	73.06%	38:42		1:24:18	3:12:23
Big Nuts	18:45	18:39	71.73%	39:09	1:06:45	1:28:20	3:15:59
Ninja Elephant	18:46	18:23	68.92%%	39:00	1:07:57	1:27:43	3:29:12
Blue&WhiteSea	18:53	17:05	%	36:53	1:00:09	1:22:39
Curious Orange	18:59	18:36	72.96%	38:31		1:25:24
Deletebeepbeep	19:21	19:21	67.79%			1:28:52	3:23:01
Mr Banana	19:57	19:57	65.41%
Seaford by the Sea	20:02	20:02	69.72%	46:53	1:29:21
Complete Badger	20:02	20:02	64.29%	43:32	1:17:11	1:31:01
Penny's Harmonica	20:47	20:10	70.97%	43:03		1:33:56	3:27:19
Knocky	20:59	17:45	75.14%	39:52		1:34:00	3:50:49
Dazzer	21:09	19.57	70.29%			1:36	3:43:
Simgull	21:51	20:21	68:04%	42:45	1:11:46	1:38:14	3:44:28
GNT	22:03	20:20	74.68%	40:31	1:19:12	1:31:18	4:19:55
Greg Bobkin	22:25	20:54	60.45%	42:	1:13:	1:39:	3:57:
Anchorman	22:51	21:34	69.00%
Left Back	23.04	21:02	63.95%	45:47		1:43:27
Soistes	23:35	21:53	69.19%	46:33		1:47:22
Bob!	24:06	22:41	65.42%	45.39	1:16:42	1:44:21	3:53:35
Mr Blobby	24:59	24:59	58.57%	49:31	1:23:34	1:51:01	4:28:36
Capricorn		17:23	%	36:55		1:23:20	4:41:29
Pembury		18.58		39.08		1:33:02	3:19:
Bad Ash		19:40	%	43:27		1:35:00	3:43:03
JoePrecious		19:44	%	46:19	1:24:08	1:38:13	4:04:30
St Leonard's		19.44	%			1:34:35
Hooky		19:52	%
Guinness Boy		22:04	%	46:50	01:23:27	1:46:03	4:00:06
m20gull		26:15	%	57:32		02:07:07	5:46:02
Badger				39:06		1:38:48	4:01:25
Jonny Rainbow				41:43

 

[soistes]

Time to get [MENTION=27279]dazzer6666[/MENTION] back up the table - were there any half marathon pb's over the weekend?

NAME	SB	5K PB	AG	10K	10M	HM	M
Artie Fufkin	18:41	18:40	73.06%	38:42		1:24:18	3:12:23
Big Nuts	18:45	18:39	71.73%	39:09	1:06:45	1:28:20	3:15:59
Ninja Elephant	18:46	18:23	68.92%%	39:00	1:07:57	1:27:43	3:29:12
Blue&WhiteSea	18:53	17:05	%	36:53	1:00:09	1:22:39
Curious Orange	18:59	18:36	72.96%	38:31		1:25:24
Deletebeepbeep	19:21	19:21	67.79%			1:28:52	3:23:01
Mr Banana	19:57	19:57	65.41%
Seaford by the Sea	20:02	20:02	69.72%	46:53	1:29:21
Complete Badger	20:02	20:02	64.29%	43:32	1:17:11	1:31:01
Penny's Harmonica	20:47	20:10	70.97%	43:03		1:33:56	3:27:19
Knocky	20:59	17:45	75.14%	39:52		1:34:00	3:50:49
Dazzer	21:09	19.57	70.29%			1:36	3:43:
Simgull	21:51	20:21	68:04%	42:45	1:11:46	1:38:14	3:44:28
GNT	22:03	20:20	74.68%	40:31	1:19:12	1:31:18	4:19:55
Greg Bobkin	22:25	20:54	60.45%	42:	1:13:	1:39:	3:57:
Anchorman	22:51	21:34	69.00%
Left Back	23.04	21:02	63.95%	45:47		1:43:27
Soistes	23:35	21:53	69.19%	46:33		1:47:22
Bob!	24:06	22:41	65.42%	45.39	1:16:42	1:44:21	3:53:35
Mr Blobby	24:59	24:59	58.57%	49:31	1:23:34	1:51:01	4:28:36
Capricorn		17:23	%	36:55		1:23:20	4:41:29
Pembury		18.58		39.08		1:33:02	3:19:
Bad Ash		19:40	%	43:27		1:35:00	3:43:03
JoePrecious		19:44	%	46:19	1:24:08	1:38:13	4:04:30
St Leonard's		19.44	%			1:34:35
Hooky		19:52	%
Guinness Boy		22:04	%	46:50	01:23:27	1:46:03	4:00:06
m20gull		26:15	%	57:32		02:07:07	5:46:02
Badger				39:06		1:38:48	4:01:25
Jonny Rainbow				41:43

Yes my Brighton half time was a new PB of 1:43:57, for the next time the table is updated (I still can't work out how to do it myself....)

 

[dazzer6666]

Time to get [MENTION=27279]dazzer6666[/MENTION] back up the table - were there any half marathon pb's over the weekend?

NAME	SB	5K PB	AG	10K	10M	HM	M
Artie Fufkin	18:41	18:40	73.06%	38:42		1:24:18	3:12:23
Big Nuts	18:45	18:39	71.73%	39:09	1:06:45	1:28:20	3:15:59
Ninja Elephant	18:46	18:23	68.92%%	39:00	1:07:57	1:27:43	3:29:12
Blue&WhiteSea	18:53	17:05	%	36:53	1:00:09	1:22:39
Curious Orange	18:59	18:36	72.96%	38:31		1:25:24
Deletebeepbeep	19:21	19:21	67.79%			1:28:52	3:23:01
Mr Banana	19:57	19:57	65.41%
Seaford by the Sea	20:02	20:02	69.72%	46:53	1:29:21
Complete Badger	20:02	20:02	64.29%	43:32	1:17:11	1:31:01
Penny's Harmonica	20:47	20:10	70.97%	43:03		1:33:56	3:27:19
Knocky	20:59	17:45	75.14%	39:52		1:34:00	3:50:49
Dazzer	21:09	19.57	70.29%			1:36	3:43:
Simgull	21:51	20:21	68:04%	42:45	1:11:46	1:38:14	3:44:28
GNT	22:03	20:20	74.68%	40:31	1:19:12	1:31:18	4:19:55
Greg Bobkin	22:25	20:54	60.45%	42:	1:13:	1:39:	3:57:
Anchorman	22:51	21:34	69.00%
Left Back	23.04	21:02	63.95%	45:47		1:43:27
Soistes	23:35	21:53	69.19%	46:33		1:47:22
Bob!	24:06	22:41	65.42%	45.39	1:16:42	1:44:21	3:53:35
Mr Blobby	24:59	24:59	58.57%	49:31	1:23:34	1:51:01	4:28:36
Capricorn		17:23	%	36:55		1:23:20	4:41:29
Pembury		18.58		39.08		1:33:02	3:19:
Bad Ash		19:40	%	43:27		1:35:00	3:43:03
JoePrecious		19:44	%	46:19	1:24:08	1:38:13	4:04:30
St Leonard's		19.44	%			1:34:35
Hooky		19:52	%
Guinness Boy		22:04	%	46:50	01:23:27	1:46:03	4:00:06
m20gull		26:15	%	57:32		02:07:07	5:46:02
Badger				39:06		1:38:48	4:01:25
Jonny Rainbow				41:43

Cheers.....work to do

 

[Curious Orange]

NAME	SB	5K PB	AG	10K	10M	HM	M
Artie Fufkin	18:41	18:40	73.06%	38:42		1:24:18	3:12:23
Big Nuts	18:45	18:39	71.73%	39:09	1:06:45	1:28:20	3:15:59
Ninja Elephant	18:46	18:23	68.92%%	39:00	1:07:57	1:27:43	3:29:12
Blue&WhiteSea	18:53	17:05	%	36:53	1:00:09	1:22:39
Curious Orange	18:59	18:36	72.96%	38:31		1:25:24
Deletebeepbeep	19:21	19:21	67.79%			1:28:52	3:23:01
Mr Banana	19:57	19:57	65.41%
Seaford by the Sea	20:02	20:02	69.72%	46:53	1:29:21
Complete Badger	20:02	20:02	64.29%	43:32	1:17:11	1:31:01
Penny's Harmonica	20:47	20:10	70.97%	43:03		1:33:56	3:27:19
Knocky	20:59	17:45	75.14%	39:52		1:34:00	3:50:49
Dazzer	21:09	19.57	70.29%			1:36	3:43:
Simgull	21:51	20:21	68:04%	42:45	1:11:46	1:38:14	3:44:28
GNT	22:03	20:20	74.68%	40:31	1:19:12	1:31:18	4:19:55
Greg Bobkin	22:25	20:54	60.45%	42:	1:13:	1:39:	3:57:
Anchorman	22:51	21:34	69.00%
Left Back	23.04	21:02	63.95%	45:47		1:43:27
Soistes	23:35	21:53	69.19%	46:33		1:43:57
Bob!	24:06	22:41	65.42%	45.39	1:16:42	1:44:21	3:53:35
Mr Blobby	24:59	24:59	58.57%	49:31	1:23:34	1:51:01	4:28:36
Capricorn		17:23	%	36:55		1:23:20	4:41:29
Pembury		18.58		39.08		1:33:02	3:19:
Bad Ash		19:40	%	43:27		1:35:00	3:43:03
JoePrecious		19:44	%	46:19	1:24:08	1:38:13	4:04:30
St Leonard's		19.44	%			1:34:35
Hooky		19:52	%
Guinness Boy		22:04	%	46:50	01:23:27	1:46:03	4:00:06
m20gull		26:15	%	57:32		02:07:07	5:46:02
Badger				39:06		1:38:48	4:01:25
Jonny Rainbow				41:43

 

[knocky1]

Good weekends running everyone.

Tried to do a table change tutorial but failed..............

 

[Guinness Boy]

Re bag drop position:
Wasn't the bag drop under the arches in the past? That would be closer to the start but the arches are now fenced off.
Can I just name drop by saying I was asked for directions from the man himself, TB, before the race! He took part. Spoke to Stevie Sidwell too!

Chip time of 1hr 59 as well so he would have been running in the same pack as [MENTION=457]sheebo[/MENTION] and me. Didn't see him at all!

The ideal thing for the bag drop would be to have a mini village on the beach with a bag drop and a few more loos, closer to the start. Not on the scale of the full marathon one but just built so that there is less of a trek to the pens. I think the bottom line is that this race is where Sussex Beacon get most of their funding from so any additional cost disadvantages the charity and maybe there'd be a cost issue with going on to the beach?.

 

[Artie Fufkin]

Well done to all the Brighton HM runners & volunteers, and to all that got their runs in this weekend! I took part in a low-key local half yesterday pacing a friend in her first half marathon. Target time was 1:45 which we did (very proud of her!) but the course seemed a tad short. Plus it wasn't closed roads so it was all on pavements and we had to negotiate traffic when crossing the roads a couple of times. Marshalls were brilliant, doing their best to stop traffic at the crossing points. I have the London 'Big Half' on Sunday. Anyone else in for this one?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Morning all. One very happy runner here. I finally dipped under 1.50 and my official time was 1.48.59

https://www.strava.com/activities/1425257621

The weather, despite the cold, was OK, not as bad as I expected, but the last three miles home were hard work as I knew my PB was on so pushed into that bitter headwind. My £1.99 red cross sweatshirt kept me warm until the start time, noticed the massive pile being collected post race, hopefully back to charity shops. The woman in the red cross shop said to me Ohhh you have a bargain there, I said well I will for 24 hours, she looked baffled until I explained what I was doing!

I have to agree about the organisation, too many runners on a narrow course, but the people running around me were a great social bunch and we made up at many points for the lack of crowds with encouragement and occasional chat. With the bitter temperature the crowds were bigger than I expected. I actually preferred the new route, and once the bottle neck in the first mile was out the way found it all OK. Where the road narrowed it was crowded, but as we were all pretty much even paced not a major problem. I still do get annoyed by people with headphones in as as many appear oblivious to runners overtaking them, also people walking after the first 1 or 2 miles when in the sub 2 hour pens is another personal annoyance.

I met up with loads of mates on the day and have to say that overall I had a brilliant day, helped by the 4-1 from Saturday and the PB. It was great that @Guiness Boy is back in the game. Next year I will definitely target Worthing for a PB as much smaller, but a few more twists and turns.

So from now on I switch back to marathon training, 7 weeks to Brighton, 8 weeks to London and 13 weeks to Edinburgh! EeeeeeekKKkkkkk

Great work, Mr B. However, if everyone (in general, not just us lot) decides to go for Worthing, not Brighton, it's gonna become as congested as it was yesterday...

 

[Badger]

Sounds like some good times were set yesterday. Congrats all. I'm surprised it's so badly organised given how the Brighton Marathon seems to be done so well (at least it was 7 years ago). How much does it cost to enter? Races in North America seem to be really expensive so I'm curious to know if it's heading that way in the UK.

I did a decent 25K run yesterday, the sun was out and it was about 5 degrees, perfect. I actually broke my half marathon PB with a 1.36, which suggests I might need to slow my long runs down a bit

 

[knocky1]

This is the best half Marathon I've ever done. www.hastings-half.co.uk seems that the whole of Hastings and St Leonard's gets involved and top runners have it on their to do list.

It's in 3 weeks time and entries still open. I'd smash it this year but have the Moyleman that day. Regret missing it. Course is 6.5 miles uphill followed by 4 miles downhill and 2.5 miles flat to the finish. The climb usually seems massive to me but is only a paltry 425'.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

I'm fairly new to races so I don't claim to be an expert, but my impression is that Worthing is a runner's event. You have to be properly into running to do it. The course is good for running/times but there are no frills. No crowds, no goodie bags, no radio presenters on the start line, no major advertising, no 'glamour'. Brighton, on the other hand, seemed to attract more part-timers, more charity runners, more people taking on the 'challenge' of a HM rather than experienced people going all out for time. I'm not criticising that at all, it all adds to the atmosphere of the day, but for serious runners (like everyone on this thread) I can see why Worthing ticks a lot more boxes. However, I think the majority of the Brighton crowd don't want to tick those same boxes, so the masses will continue to stick with Brighton in future.

I could be talking rubbish, but that's just my impression of both events based on one visit to each!

Edit: I finished 10% of the way down the field at Worthing but inside the top 5% at Brighton yesterday running an almost identical time, which I guess backs up my post.

Good point. My impression is that Worthing attracts PB hunters = 'serious runners'.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I'm fairly new to races so I don't claim to be an expert, but my impression is that Worthing is a runner's event. You have to be properly into running to do it. The course is good for running/times but there are no frills. No crowds, no goodie bags, no radio presenters on the start line, no major advertising, no 'glamour'. Brighton, on the other hand, seemed to attract more part-timers, more charity runners, more people taking on the 'challenge' of a HM rather than experienced people going all out for time. I'm not criticising that at all, it all adds to the atmosphere of the day, but for serious runners (like everyone on this thread) I can see why Worthing ticks a lot more boxes. However, I think the majority of the Brighton crowd don't want to tick those same boxes, so the masses will continue to stick with Brighton in future.

I could be talking rubbish, but that's just my impression of both events based on one visit to each!

Edit: I finished 10% of the way down the field at Worthing but inside the top 5% at Brighton yesterday running an almost identical time, which I guess backs up my post.

Don't worry, I was only joking, but yes – you've pretty much got it spot on. As I was running home (and I took my time) there were still people coming around the corner of the Lagoon with over three miles to go. They would have been nearer four hours than three, I'm guessing. Not that there's anything wrong with that at all, but you don't get much of that in Worthing. As the Knockster says, Hastings Half all the way – although it's NOT a PB course by any stretch of the imagination

This is the best half Marathon I've ever done. www.hastings-half.co.uk

It's in 3 weeks time and entries still open. I'd smash it this year but have the Moyleman that day. Course is 6.5 miles uphill followed by 4 miles downhill and 2.5 miles flat to the finish.

Ah, I'm glad you mentioned that – I just checked and 4:52 is the time to beat from last year...

 

[Blue&WhiteSea]

Prices vary a lot depending on who organises it. Local club organised races can be as cheap as £10-15 but big commercially organised races (like the royal parks half) can be upwards of £40.
I tend to prefer the club organised stuff but can see why some people might be put off by the higher ratio of quicker runners in these races.