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February 27, 2023 at 5:19 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2023
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A world record and over 10,000 runners at this year’s Brighton Half

Wow, what a day Sunday 26th February 2023 was. Thank you to everyone who came along to this year’s Brighton Half Marathon and Youth Race.

Over 10,000 runners (pre-pandemic levels) turned out for our 33rd race, organised by local HIV charity – The Sussex Beacon. It was a chilly day, but it certainly didn’t put off the runners, or the crowds!

This year’s race was jam-packed with highlights. A world record (with a fridge) was made, people ran for Ukraine, our Youth Race was back, players from University of Sussex Men’s Rugby Club ran for Grassroots Suicide Prevention and we were joined by local GB athlete – Beth Kidger!

The day started off with our Youth Race, (back after three years away) at 9AM down on Hove Lawns. This year’s official charity partner for the Youth Race was Rockinghorse Children’s Charity. Hundreds of children and teens aged 7 – 17 turned up to race along a 1-mile stretch and were cheered on by this year’s Youth Race starter – GB athlete Beth Kidger.

Next came the wheelchair race which started at 9.27am on Madeira Drive by Brighton Half mascot Beaky and Allison Ferns from BBC Radio Sussex. By 9:56 all of this year’s runners had set off, including the elites.

In the wheelchair race Gary Cooper of Coventry Godiva Harriers took first place in the men’s race with a time of 01:05:30, his personal best for the Brighton Half. The women’s wheelchair race was won by Ellie Page, also from Coventry Godiva Harriers who finished in 01:25:56.

In the men’s race, Cal Ross of Leeds City AC, took first place with a time of 01:06:37; second place went to Marshall Smith of Ashford AC, who came home in 01:06:41; third place went to Simon Heath of Brighton Phoenix, who finished in 01:07:01.

The women’s race was won by last year’s winner, Charlotte Ragan of Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, who finished in 01:18:24, followed by Ruby Whyte-Wilding of Lewes AC in 01:18:30. Third place went to Amy Harris of Brighton Phoenix in 01:19:17.

We can’t not mention that Corporal Sam Hammond, AKA Man Vs. Fridge, who ran the race in aid of SSAFA, went and only set a world record for running with a 26kg fridge on his back in 02:04:13.

Alongside the elite field, thousands of charity runners took to the streets of the city, raising money for over 20 charities, including The Sussex Beacon, Alzheimer’s Society, Macmillan, Say Apashia, Venkat Memroial Trust, Grassroots Suicide Prevention, Raystede and many more.

Thanks once again to everyone who took part in this year’s event – runners, sponsors, charity partners and volunteers.

Next year’s race will be taking place on Sunday 25th February 2024. Entries will be opening soon!

 

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February 7, 2023 at 1:29 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2023  |  Charity news
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Man Vs. Fridge goes for world record at 2023 Brighton Half

Man Vs Fridge in training for Brighton Half

Sam Hammond, 30, is a man on a mission – with his fridge! The Royal Marine, based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, is no stranger to running around the country with white goods strapped to his back to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, but this time he’s going for a world record at this year’s Brighton Half Marathon, on Sunday, 26th February.

Nicknamed ‘Fridget Jones’ Sam said: “I have been doing this for a while to raise money for charity and I just wanted to take it to the next level. I’m going to begin with the Brighton Half, with a view to breaking the full marathon record at the London Marathon this year. The current record for a half marathon with a fridge on your back is 2 hours 45 minutes and I’m confident I can beat that.

“When you regularly have to go away for long stretches, several months at a time, it really affects the family that is left behind. I have seen that SSAFA is there to help your family, in an emergency, when you aren’t able to, and I think this work is so important and I want to help.”

The minimum weight for the fridge, according to the Guinness World Records, is 25kg. Sam’s fridge currently comes in at 26kg (roughly speaking, the same weight of an average eight-year-old), but it is not the weight that is an issue.

According to Sam, “The thing with a fridge is that it’s bulky and the weight isn’t close to your back, like a backpack or bergen would be. So the physics of it means that 26kg is more difficult to carry.

“The other problem is that, when I go out for practice runs with the fridge, I can’t go more than 10 minutes without being stopped and asked what on earth I’m doing. So, for normal training I’ll just carry weights.”

Sam has other things to worry about too. He has very recently had an operation to remove a lump from his chest.

Sam says: “It was a benign lump, so not too bad, but all the stitches are right where the straps for the fridge go. It couldn’t have been at a worst time, but I think it will be fine. I have rested up for a while, which has actually been the most difficult bit as I’m not used to being still, and am rearing to get back to training.”

If you would like to show your appreciation to Sam for his amazing exploits please give a little towards his fundraiser.

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February 2, 2023 at 4:27 pm
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Fundraising Ideas For A Half Marathon

Runner dressed as orangutan for charity

This year’s Brighton Half Marathon is only around the corner, but there’s still time to fundraise in preparation for race day.

Whether you’ve hit a brick wall with your fundraising efforts or only just started your giving journey, here’s our tips on how to raise money if you’re running for charity.

Set up a JustGiving page

One of the most important first steps to take, is to create a way in which supporters can easily donate to your charity online.

Start off by setting up a fundraising page of your choice, such as JustGiving. Make sure to add photos of yourself in training, information about the charity you’re running for, a bit about the event (such as how far you’re running) and a background story of why you’ve chosen to run for your particular charity.

Make sure to also include updates on your fundraising page, as well as social media channels. Updates act as a gentle reminder to potential donors, as well as keeping supporters informed about your half marathon training progress.

JustGiving also provide some fantastic tips and advice on how to fundraise effectively:

Two runners running for Alzheimer's Society at Brighton Half 2022

Share on social media  

Once you’ve set up your fundraising page, make sure to share the page on your social channels. Provide some more information within your post as to why you’re running for charity and who for. For example: “In 4 weeks’ time I’ll be running the Brighton Half! I’m running for @thesussexbeacon, a local charity supporting people with HIV. If you’d like to donate, I’m aiming to raise £300. Every donation, no matter how big or small counts – thank you: justgiving.com/donate.” 

In addition, many people may just post their fundraising page on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, but don’t be shy in sharing your fundraising goal with colleagues on LinkedIn too!

Check with your charity 

A majority of charities provide their own fundraising tips and advice. Once registering to run for a charity, they will usually send you a fundraising pack via email or in the post. 

Fundraising packs will typically include the following:

  • Fundraising tips
  • Guidance on how to fundraise safely 
  • Information on where donations are going to 
  • Information about how to spread the word 
  • Information about how to gather both online and offline donations 
  • Assets including branded social media templates, leaflets 
  • Frequently asked questions 

Charities will also usually provide a list of common donation ask amounts, which you could include on your fundraising page, such as £10 could go towards medical equipment and £30 could support three patients. When supporters have an idea of what the money is going towards, they are much more likely to donate. 

If you’re running for a cause close to your heart, you can usually enquire with the charity’s fundraising or events team about whether they’re open to sharing your story. Quite often fundraising teams are looking for stories to share on their social channels or in the local press. 

Woman running for Macmillan

Let your family, friends and colleagues know 

It’s an obvious one, but something that can often be missed when you’re busy preparing for a half marathon. 

Make sure to share your fundraising page with all your closest contacts by letting them know in person, over text, Whatsapp or via email. 

At your workplace you could enquire with your HR department about whether they can send a company wide email, or feature that you’re running for charity in their internal newsletter. You could even print off a poster with a QR code to your fundraising page. Make sure to stick your poster up in communal areas (with permission) in the office kitchen area or by your desk. QR codes are now really easy to create, and there are many sites where you can generate one for free such as Adobe Express.

Bake some delicious goodies 

Everybody loves some delicious treats – both at work and at home. If you work in an office, why not let your colleagues know that you’ll be bringing in some tasty homemade brownies or sausage rolls to the workplace, and ask whether they would be willing to donate a small amount to your charity. 

Fancy dress 

Fancy dress not only grabs the attention of the crowd, but it also creates a great talking point when collecting donations. 

Many potential donors will view wearing fancy dress whilst running a half marathon as an additional accomplishment (running while dressed as a rhino or even carrying a fridge is no easy feat!)

Man running as Captain America

Fundraise after running

Haven’t reached your target? Don’t sweat it! You can still fundraise after completing your race. In fact, a large amount of donations are made to fundraisers after they’ve completed a half marathon. 

Make sure to post an update and reminder on your fundraising page and social channels that supporters can still donate. When people can see you have completed an impressive milestone, they are much more likely to click on the “donate now” button.

From all of us at the Brighton Half, good luck with your fundraising efforts, we know you can achieve your goal! If you’re still yet to register on behalf of a charity, you can do so by visiting all our charity partners here.

Two runners running for Grassroots Suicide Prevention celebrating completing the Brighton Half

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at 12:22 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2023  |  Youth Race

GB Athlete Beth Kidger announced as 2023 Youth Race Starter

Beth Kidger Race Starter at Brighton Youth Races

We’re delighted to announce Team GB distance runner and athlete Beth Kidger as this year’s Youth Race starter. Not only is Beth an accomplished athlete, but she’s also a Brighton local!

After a three-year break for the Brighton Youth Races, we’re ecstatic to announce they’re back for 2023 and Beth is able to join us on the day.

On starting the Youth Race, Beth told us: “As a child I was heavily into gymnastics with my twin sister Megan. Then when we were about 12, we decided to go along to Crawley AC once a week as my brother Joel trained there and I just fell in love with athletics. I love the sense of freedom running gives you. There’s no better sense of achievement than when you cross that finish line, so I am looking forward to cheering on all the young runners on the day.”

Taking place on the same day as the Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday, 26th February 2023, the Youth Races are open to all abilities, aged between 7 and 17.

Starting at Hove Prom and split into five different age categories, youngsters can choose to either run or jog the 1-mile race.

The event gives youngsters a unique opportunity to experience the buzz of race day. All entries will receive a chip-timed, technical T-shirt and medal, plus prizes for the first three runners in each of the five age categories.

Youngsters (and family members) may well get the chance to grab a selfie with Beth before the Youth Races start! Make sure to give her a wave at the start line.

Take part in the 2023 Brighton Youth Races

The first Youth Race starts at 9am and places are available now. Rockinghorse Children’s Charity is the official charity partner of the Brighton Half Marathon Youth Race.

By running in the Youth Races, you’ll be supporting a charity which provides life-saving medical equipment for children in Sussex.

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January 19, 2023 at 6:10 pm
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Sussex University Men’s Rugby run Brighton Half Marathon

The University of Sussex Men’s Rugby to run The Brighton Half Marathon to support Mental Health Charity GrassRoots Suicide Prevention

The University of Sussex Men’s Rugby Club is made up of more than 100 boys studying at Sussex Uni aged 18-23 who actively play competitive rugby union against other universities. However, the club is more than just this – one of the fundamental beliefs of the group, is to give back to those less fortunate than themselves. Every year they commit to several charity efforts including Movember, and the Brighton Half Marathon, typically raising upwards of £15,000 for various charities.

In the past, the club ran the Brighton Half Marathon, which returns to Brighton seafront on Sunday, February 26, for the RFU IPF, a rugby charity helping rugby players with spinal and brain injuries, an outstanding charity the club holds truly dear to its heart, as it cared for one of the club’s alumni years ago. However, this year the club expressed an interest in fundraising for a new cause and decided on mental health.

Finn Urmston, Vice President, University of Sussex Men’s Rugby Club explains more:

“We debated whether to run for an environmental, physical health or mental health-based charity, and the overwhelming response was mental health. Being young men, we are aware of the hardships that struggling men are going through, particularly with our huge dedication to Movember (for which we raised >£4,300 this year), which is why I believe the uptake and interest for a mental health charity was so welcomed.“I searched for the best fitting charity related to combating mental health issues, and came across GrassRoots Suicide Prevention. They are local to Brighton and are tackling some of the most sensitive and important issues that are going on in not only our community, but the whole of the UK (and rest of the world). These things made GrassRoots such a great fit for us.”

“We all play a sport that we love, not only for the physical benefits but also for the mental benefits that come with socialising, exercise and being active. We are also aware of those who are not as fortunate as us and see no other way out, so we are just trying to do what we can to help change the landscape of suicide today – as a tightly-knit club, it is in our nature to believe that there is always a way through whatever you might be dealing with.”

“Around 60 of the boys will be running the Brighton Half Marathon on February 26, 2023, to support them visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/universty-of-sussex-mens-rugby-grassroots or come and cheer us on on the day!”

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November 27, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Race news

Why RunPals love Brighton Half Marathon

Each February, Brighton plays host to one of the most popular half marathon running races in the UK – the Brighton Half Marathon.

With its scenic city and coastal views and incredible atmosphere, it’s no wonder this race attracts so many runners. Whether you’re an experienced half marathon runner or this may be your first, Brighton Half Marathon is the perfect opportunity for a personal challenge or an unforgettable experience with friends – there is nothing quite like crossing the finishing line with a RunPal in tow.

With a course that takes advantage of Brighton’s beachfront and crowd-packed city streets, runners are treated to amazing views as they forge ahead towards victory – crossing that finishing line on Madeira Drive. Put all that together with Brighton’s abundant energy, and you have got yourself one truly unique running event that’s sure to please both newbies and veteran runners alike.

The Brighton Half Marathon – come for the challenge, stay for the adventure!

Be prepared…to have some fun!

It’s no secret that half marathons are intimidating, especially if it’s your first one. After all, completing a half marathon is no small feat—it requires dedication, time and most of all a little bit of endurance.

But don’t worry: if half marathon-running sounds like an impossible task, don’t lose hope just yet! While half marathons may be daunting, with the right preparation you can rest easy knowing that you have the confidence and strength to get across the finish line.

To start, find yourself some RunPals; while half marathons can of course be completed solo, having a pal along for the journey can help to motivate you and keep you accountable. They can help support you when the going gets tough and there’s no better feeling than hugging your pal as you cross the finish line, reveling in what you’ve accomplished together!

If you’ve completed the race before, you’ll probably have noticed our RunPals in a selection of fancy dress; from Frozen characters (it was the most challenging year wearing a Princess Anna dress!) to superheroes, cheerleaders, and just about everything in between, out having fun throughout the half marathon course.

The Brighton Half Marathon is our favourite event on the race calendar. Not only is it local to us, but seeing the smiles as you tick off the miles through the city is an unmatched feeling. Plus, who will you share that finishing line selfie with if you run alone?

The camaraderie, the views, and the sense of accomplishment

There’s nothing quite like run race day. Joining forces with running pals that share your passion, pushing yourself to reach your personal best, or heading out and enjoy the crowds and the views – there are many amazing reasons to run the Brighton Half.

The camaraderie fostered by these events is truly remarkable and post-covid, this one is a welcome return to the race calendar.

Nothing beats the positive vibes you’ll experience after crossing that finish line and achieving something you may have never thought possible.

What are you waiting for – sign up today!

Are you ready for the challenge?

Picture yourself at the starting line surrounded by bright the sun coming up over the sea, a crowd full of energy and optimism to make it to the finish line. Imagine the bright blue sky (and possibly wind, maybe some rain, potentially some cloud cover…)overlooking the finishing line, that awaits you at the end of your momentous journey.

Sign up now for next year’s race and prepare to be swept away on an epic journey and join us in Brighton, where life-long memories await this February.

Brighten up your start to 2023 with a Brighton half marathon place – signup today. Enter here

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November 11, 2022 at 11:20 am
Race news

Brighton Half Marathon – Official Statement

“Like many of you we have seen the recent news about the Brighton Marathon. We want to reassure you all that the Brighton Half Marathon is an independent race run by local HIV Charity the Sussex Beacon.

Our race is not connected to the Brighton Marathon in any way. The Brighton Half Marathon is now in its 33rd year, and is firmly established as one of the most popular half marathons in the UK.

We are looking forward to seeing you at next year’s race on Sunday February 26, 2023.”

Martin Harrigan, Race Director