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July 20, 2022 at 5:31 pm
Race news

Sessions for speed

Runners at the Brighton Half 2022

Whether you want to smash a track session or build your speed endurance for pacey runs like 5K and 10K, here are 14 speed sessions to get your heart pounding. Mix pure speed sessions with speed endurance sessions to unlock your running potential across all distances.

7 sessions for ultimate speed

If you want to boost your speed for track races or just for the love of sprinting, concentrate on shorter reps.

  1. Pyramid: Start at 100m and add 20m to each rep until you reach 200m, and then come back down to 100m. Aim for a 400m pace, with a walk-back recovery between each rep.
  2. Run easy for 5 miles then 6 x 100m sprint, with a walk recovery between each rep.
  3. 8 x 100m, running 30+m hard, easing off for 30+m, then accelerating for the final 30+m, with a walk recovery between each rep.
  4. Run 6-10 laps of a running track, alternating fast and slow 200ms, with a 90 second recovery between each lap.
  5. Run 6-10 x 200m (half a running track), starting at 800m pace and gradually pushing your pace until you run the last rep flat out. 2 minute recoveries between each rep.
  6. 6-10 x 500m, running the first 400m at your 3K pace, then the last 100m flat out, with 200m slow recovery jogs.
  7. 4 x 400m, accelerating over each 100m. Run the first 100m at your 10K pace, the second at 5K pace, the third at 1500m pace, and the fourth at 800m pace, with a slow 400m jog to recover between each rep. Follow with 6 x 200m at 800m pace, with 20-second recoveries.


7 sessions for speed endurance

Longer intervals are the perfect grounding for running longer distances faster and getting your body primed to make adaptations (and get used to discomfort of speedwork) so you can go faster for longer.

  1. Mark out a circuit of roughly 800-1000m. Run a circuit at your 5K pace, then run each subsequent circuit 3-5 seconds faster than the last for 5 circuits.
  2. 15 x 300m faster than 3-4K pace with 90 seconds rest in between reps.
  3. Pyramid: 1 x 400m, 1 x 600m, 1 x 800m, 1 x 1000m, jog 200m, then go back down the pyramid: 800m, 600m, 400m. Or try a longer distance pyramid of 1000m, 2000m, 3000m at your half-marathon race pace, with a 3-to 4-minute recovery jog between each effort.
  4. 2-3 mile tempo run followed by 4-6 x 1min hard run with 90 seconds rest in between bursts.
  5. 5-9 x 800m at a pace 10 seconds faster than your usual 5K pace. Recover between intervals for the same amount of time it takes you to run them.
  6. 4 x 1 mile faster than your 10K pace, with a 3-minute recovery jog between each rep. Finish with a 2- to 3-mile jog.
  7. 3 x 1 mile: Run the first mile about 10 seconds slower than your 10K pace, run the second miles at 10K pace, then run the final mile about 10 seconds faster than 10K pace. Jog for two minutes between each rep.

 

 

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June 22, 2022 at 9:22 am
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10 ways to tackle hayfever and stay running

Person blowing a dandelion

Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

Struck down with a streaming nose and itchy eyes? Here are ten tips to stay running when you have hayfever.

“If I don’t manage my hay fever carefully, it can seriously affect my performance on the track,” GB athlete Marlon Devonish says. Despite having symptoms on the more severe side of the scale, the sprinter explains how he hasn’t let hayfever rule his life and he highlights how, when managed carefully, sport can continue when the summer sniffles strike.

Hayfever is a type of allergic rhinitis caused by an overreaction of the body’s immune system to pollen. It causes inflammation inside the nose and it can affect the sinuses, eyes and throat too. Around 20-25% of us suffer from it in the UK, one of the highest prevalence rates in the world, and you’re more likely to suffer from it if you have a history of asthma or eczema in your family. While there are medications to alleviate the symptoms on the market, there are ways to help yourself too. Here are ten tips to keep symptoms under control.

1. Keep an eye on the pollen level
Make it part of your early morning routine to watch the pollen forecast on TV or check the pollen count online before you head outdoors. There are also pollen count apps which can warn you when it’s a particularly high pollen day in your area. Typically most people get symptoms when the pollen count is over 50, though it varies between individuals. The pollen forecast is typically calculated as:

Low: fewer than 30 grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air

Moderate: 30-49 grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air

High: 50-149 grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air

Very high: 150 or more grains of pollen in every cubic metre of air

2. Work out which pollens you’re allergic to
Different plants release their pollen into the atmosphere at different times of the year so you can sometimes work out what triggers your symptoms and take steps to avoid your nasal nemesis. The vast majority of us – 95% – are allergic to grass pollen, and 25% to tree pollens such as ash, birch and oak. Take a look at the interactive pollen timeline on the Benadryl website to see what trees and grasses pollenate when. Typically:

Tree pollen is earlier in the year, starting in March

Grass pollen is June – August

Weed pollen is released any time from early spring to late autumn.

3. Avoid busy, built-up roads
With fewer green spaces, it might seem strange that hayfever is twice as common in cities than in the country but the answer lies in air pollution. Fumes from cars can trigger or aggravate symptoms so main roads are best avoided. Parks are potent with pollen too so give these a wide berth. So where can you run if your usual stomping ground is off limits? Research shows that air pollution drops significantly 300 metres away from main roads so plan your running routes wisely and choose less built up areas. If you live in London, try running along the Thames path where lower air pollution and reduced pollen will ease symptoms.

4. Make a beeline for the beach
If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, you’re in a perfect spot to beat streaming eyes. Coastal areas typically have lower levels of air pollution because sea breezes blow the pollen inland.

5. Wash away the pollen
Pollen is pesky. It gets everywhere, sticking to your skin and hair and clinging to clothing. Get into a habit of showering and washing your running gear after every run and avoid drying your washing on a clothes-line outside.

6. Run at lunchtime
Plants release pollen early in the morning and late in the afternoon yet these are often the most common times we choose to run, so you may have to shuffle your running schedule around to suit lower pollen levels. During the daytime pollen levels are usually at their lowest from roughly 11 – 4pm so try running at lunchtime.

7. Wear sports sunglasses
If you suffer from itchy eyes, sunglasses will be prove useful, helping to prevent pollen coming into contact with the eye area while you’re running. Wrap-around designs are especially effective.

8. Apply Vaseline to other areas
Besides combating chafing, runner’s best friend Vaseline has another use in the summer by helping to combat pollen. Apply petroleum jelly or an equivalent balm around the edge of each nostril to trap or block pollens from entering your nose and preventing a reaction. Be careful of sunburn though!

9. Invest in an air filter for indoors
If you find your sleep is affected, a good air filter can help. Choose a filter which is proven to trap small particles.

10. On high pollen days…
All is not lost: there’s always the indoor treadmill as a last resort.

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at 9:14 am
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5 tips to stay comfortable on summer runs

Summer running


Running on cool nights and refuelling on ice-cream is what summer running is all about. Stay comfortable on the run with our running tips for the season.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
The higher the mercury level soars the more you’ll sweat, the more fluid you lose and the more you’ll need to drink to replace lost fluids. When you sweat you lose salts too and these are vital for muscle function so it’s important to hydrate with electrolytes and not just water. Electrolytes feature in isotonic sports drinks, or you can avoid extra calories from sugary carbohydrates if you choose electrolyte tabs, which you simply pop into water.

Heed overheating warning signs
Overheating can be dangerous. Be aware of the warning signs that tell you something is not right. If you feel ill with a headache or dizziness, have hot and cold flushes, feel confused or seem to be over-sweating more than you should be, stop running, find some shade, hydrate and get a lift home.

Always arm yourself with suncream
A summer essential but not an accessory we’re used to taking on runs in the UK. Buy sweat-resistant (labelled water resistant) sprays or creams to make sure it stays put and apply it liberally all over your body to avoid sun damage. The smaller sunblock sticks are great to pop into small pockets in running gear and you’ll be less likely to forget sunscreen if you keep it in there.

Watch for ticks on the trail
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infectious disease carried by animals such as mice and deer which live in woodland areas. If you run in forest, woodland or heath areas it’s wise to be cautious of areas of exposed skin where ticks could latch on. The UK Health Security Agency estimates there are 2,000 to 3,000 cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year. If you love running through longer grasses and getting in the thick of the trail it’s easy to protect yourself by choosing long tights rather than shorts or capris.

Wear cooling gear
Avoiding clammy cotton tees and picking running gear made from technical fabric is even more important in summer when you sweat more. Look for moisture-wicking, breathable fabrics that are designed to stay cool as the temperature rises.

 

Article by
May 29, 2022 at 6:30 am
All news  |  Brighton Half Marathon 2023

Make the most of the Jubilee weekend

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton

With the Queen’s Jubilee bank holiday in sight, make the most of some free time and secure an early bird place in the Brighton Half before the price increase. Our early bird pricing is the lowest pricing for the race – but it won’t last forever!

Our royal connections…

Did you know you run past a former royal residence in the Brighton Half? The Royal Pavilion, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, is a Grade I listed former royal residence. It was built as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in 1811, and King George IV in 1820. Today you can take a tour around this rather spectacular building – and you get to run past it in Mile 6 of the race.

Secure an early bird place in BHM 2023 >>

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May 25, 2022 at 12:01 pm
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Time is ticking on early bird entries…

Time is ticking on early bird entries

Keen to enter the Brighton Half 2023? Be sure to enter soon to make the most of early bird entry before it flies away!

Next year’s event is held on Sunday 26th February, and promises all the fun you’d expect from the Brighton Half, with a fast, flat course, a buzzing atmosphere and chance to run past some of the city’s great landmarks, from the cliffs of Ovingdean, The Royal Pavilion, the Band Stand and Hove Beach Huts, to the i360, Brighton Palace Pier and stunning sea views.

Our early bird offer is our lowest pricing for the race and the price increases throughout the year.

Enter now to secure an early bird place >>

 

 

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March 1, 2022 at 3:29 pm
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Thanks to everyone who took part in our 2022 race

Runners in 2022

We’d like to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part in our 2022 race on Sunday!

Thousands of runners turned out for our 32nd race, with beautiful blue skies overhead. The event started at 8.57am with the wheelchair race, which saw the biggest ever field for this event, including three Team GB athletes. The main race was started at 9am by Dame Kelly Holmes MBE (mil), who then jumped in and joined runners on their route through the city!The route took in the stunning seafront cliff tops of east Brighton, the Royal Pavilion, The Grand Brighton hotel, the i360, the colourful beach huts of Hove seafront and the iconic Brighton Palace Pier. In the wheelchair race Moatez Jomni of the Weir Archer Academy took first place in the men’s race with a time of 62 minutes and 15 seconds, with the women’s race being won by Eden Rainbow-Cooper also from the Weir Archer Academy who finished in 73 minutes and 18 seconds.  In the men’s race, Ross Skelton of HY Runners, took first place with a time of 67 minutes and 48 seconds; second place went to Marshall Smith of Ashford AC, who came home in 68 minutes and 18 seconds; third place went to Simon Heath of Brighton Phoenix who finished in 68 minutes and 58 seconds.The women’s race was won by elite runner, Charlotte Ragan of Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC, who finished in 79 minutes and 14 seconds, followed by Rachel Gifford of Birmingham Running Athletics & Triathlon Club in 79 minutes and 26 seconds. Third place went to Emma Navesey of Lewes AC in 79 minutes and 46 seconds. Alongside the elite field, thousands of charity runners took to the streets of the city, raising money for over 24 charities, including local charities The Sussex Beacon and Chestnut Tree House, and national charities including Alzheimer’s Society and Macmillan.

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

We hope to see you in our 2023 race on Sunday 26th February next year. Entries are now open at brhalfstaging.wpenginepowered.com/2023

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February 23, 2022 at 12:20 pm
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Get set for race day 2022

Get set for Sunday

We hope you’re ready and raring to run on Sunday! With just four days until race day, now’s the time to get your race kit sorted, put your name on your running top, and think about all those last-minute preparations that will help you have a smooth and enjoyable race morning. Here’s a reminder of the essential info ahead of race day…

Race day checklist
Essentials

  • Race number
  • Running top
  • Safety pins
  • Running tights / shorts
  • Running shoes
  • Running socks
  • Sports bra
  • A layer for the start
  • Race bag with a secure fastener for the baggage facility
  • QR code (if you’ve booked Park & Ride)

Extras 
  • GPS watch
  • Drinks bottle
  • Energy gels if needed
  • Electrolyte tablets
  • Drinks – water/isotonic drinks
  • Recovery bar/protein shake
  • Sun cream
  • Chafing cream
  • Gloves
  • Hat/headband
  • Sunglasses

Allow plenty of time to get to the start

With 10,000 runners signed up this year, please allow plenty of time to get to the start on Madeira Drive. The start time is 8:57am for the Wheelchair Race and 9am for runners, however we recommend that you arrive no later than 8:15am, and to go to your start pen when you have dropped off baggage.

Train works

Please do remember that there are engineering works on the London to Brighton train line this week and over race weekend. Please consider how you will travel to and from the race to help you have an enjoyable race day.

Need the helpdesk?

If your race number hasn’t turned up, you’ll be able to collect a new one from the helpdesk. Located in the first marquee as you walk down Madeira Drive from the Pier, the helpdesk will be open between 2-4pm on Saturday, and from 7am on race morning. The team in the helpdesk will also be able to assist with any other queries you have – and will also have a box of spare safety pins!

Limited merchandise on sale

We’ll have a limited number of hoodies and T-shirts on sale on race day. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to re-order stock this year, but we’ll be bringing all the remaining 2022 stock to the race, available from the helpdesk. Please note that this is cash-only. If your size isn’t available, our 2023 range will be on sale very soon!

Read the race guide (if you haven’t already)

And finally, if you haven’t downloaded our race guide yet, please do give it a read. It contains all the essential information you’ll need for the morning to help you have an enjoyable race day.

We’ll see you bright and early on Sunday. We hope you have a great run!

 

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February 6, 2022 at 6:00 am
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Discover our 2022 race starter

Race starter

We’re delighted that Dame Kelly Holmes MBE (mil) will be our race starter this year.

Double Olympic Champion Colonel Dame Kelly Holmes MBE is one of the UK’s most popular athletes. She joined the British Army at 17, serving for over 10 years as a qualified HGV driver and Physical Training Instructor. In 1988 she was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to the armed forces.

During a 12 year international career, Kelly won medals at Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic level, culminating in two Gold Medals at Athens Olympics in 2004 for the 800m and 1500m which cemented her place in history as the first women ever in Great Britain to win two gold medals at the same games. She was honoured with a Damehood in 2005 for services to sport.

Today Kelly is an inspirational speaker, an award-winning author, an entrepreneur as well as a fitness, wellness, and mental health champion. Kelly is passionate about raising awareness of mental health. Her own experience led her to learn more and to help others. A trained Mental Health First Aider she continues to be President of the charity she founded in 2008, Dame Kelly Holmes Trust – a charity which supports disadvantaged young people using the unique skills of world-class athletes to engage, enable and empower for which she won a Beacon award for philanthropy in 2017.

In 2018 she was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment. Dame Kelly became the first person to be attached to a regular regiment as an Honorary Colonel which was signed off by the Queen.

In 2020 Kelly was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of York to add to 12 others she has received since retiring

As well as starting this year’s race, Kelly will also be running it: “I am really looking forward to starting the Brighton Half Marathon this year,” says Kelly. “Seeing mass participation events back to their best is fantastic!  It has motivated me to get back training and run it too. So my plan is to start the race off, jump down and get involved. I will not be racing – just enjoying the atmosphere.”

Give Kelly a wave as you pass the start line!

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February 4, 2022 at 1:55 pm
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Volunteer stories: Dawn Paul

Dawn Paul has volunteered at the Brighton Half for a number of years. Here she tells us about her experience helping out at the race and her volunteering role with a local junior parkrun.

How did you get involved with volunteering at the Brighton Half Marathon, and what area were you involved in?

After taking part in 2011 as part of my full marathon training plan, I joined RISE’s volunteering team with the lovely Naomi and Julie (who I’d volunteered with before) at the drinks station at mile 3 near the Marina. This area is full of action, hard work but so, so much fun. To know you’re playing a huge part in making wonderful memories for the participants makes all the hard work so worthwhile, and we always gave the last runners just as much attention as we had the first runners.

 

What are your highlights of volunteering?

A definite highlight was seeing and cheering on all the runners coming back the other way and once you’ve finished pack down to quickly head down to the finish and help out there. I spent several years helping out on drinks stations, but then from 2016 I joined Holly (Brighton Half Marathon’s Event Manager) as part of the junior parkrun core team (in Preston Park). As a junior parkrun team member I absolutely loved welcoming all our juniors onto site and caring for them through to their finish – happy memories indeed.

Do you have any tips or advice for people interested in volunteering at the race?

Be prepared for whatever the weather throws at you, wear comfortable clothes and footwear, and… smile …a lot! Bring a small bag with a few snacks, notepad, pen, scissors – and throat sweets 😆

If you’re looking out for someone special, wear something bright and colourful and let them know where you are stationed so you can give that special high-five or shout out as they come past. Lastly, just enjoy yourself – it’s such a wonderful atmosphere and you are doing something absolutely amazing.

A big thank you to Dawn for volunteering with us and contributing to our blog. If you’d like to volunteer at the race on Sunday 27th February, you can register your interest on our volunteering form and we’ll be in touch.

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January 24, 2022 at 6:00 am
Brighton Half Marathon 2022  |  Charity news
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Join Team Beacon as we celebrate 30 years of The Sussex Beacon

Run for Team Beacon

Following on from last year’s record-breaking £55,000 raised for the Beacon, #teambeacon returns in February with a new price, new vest and new medal!Registration is just £30 (with a £200 fundraising commitment) and you’ll receive these great benefits:

  • Exclusive 30th medal
  • Technical running vest
  • Private toilets
  • Dedicated Team Beacon area
  • Chance to run with our celeb runners, including Zoe Lyons
  • Food & drink
  • Dedicated Team Beacon race pen – new for 2022!
  • Dedicated cheer point for families – new for 2022!

Sign up for a Team Beacon place >>

Beacon supporters at Pride

More about The Sussex Beacon

Every year, the Brighton Half Marathon is organised by The Sussex Beacon, a Brighton-based charity providing specialist care and support for people living with HIV in Sussex.Whilst medication now means that people can live long and full lives after being diagnosed with HIV, many still suffer from secondary illnesses such as dementia or cancer, or face the stigma and isolation still associated with a positive diagnosis.  Your support means that the charity can continue its vital specialist medical and community care for people living with HIV, whether recovering from treatment, getting help with a new diagnosis, or seeking mental health support.Find out more about the Beacon and the work it does.

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January 13, 2022 at 3:04 pm
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Make your miles matter by joining Team Macmillan

A Macmillan runner

At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can. And we don’t stop there. We’re going all out to find ever better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one.

If you too are passionate about supporting people with cancer, we will make every penny you raise count for something in someone’s life. We will cheer you on until we’re hoarse and shout your achievements from the rooftops. Because you’re doing something amazing; helping people with cancer live life as fully as they can. And they need everything you can give, because life with cancer has never been so tough.

Sound interested? Sign up now for a charity place >>

As soon as you’re registered, you’ll be fully supported from day one by our dedicated events team. We’ll send you a digital welcome pack and be in touch regularly to keep you updated with updates about the event and ways to fundraise for Macmillan.

In addition you’ll also receive:

  • A free Macmillan technical running top plus iron-on letters to customise your kit
  • A fundraising pack bursting with fundraising tips and tricks
  • Access to our online training materials
  • Invites to exclusive online events to support you with all elements of your training and fundraising
  • Regular e-newsletters to keep you up to date with Macmillan’s news and activities
  • The loudest and most supportive cheer points on the course!

Most importantly we’ll provide you with a reason to keep going because you’ll know that you’re helping improve the lives of people living with cancer. Donations make up 98% of our annual income so we simply couldn’t do what we do without you.

How does my support make a difference?

We’ll hold your hand through treatment. Help you pay the fares to hospital and fight for fair treatment for you. If you can’t work, we’ll help you with the bills, if you can’t sleep, we’ll find someone you can talk to, if you need a voice we will speak out for you.

It’s never not our problem. If there’s a way to help we will find it and we will see it through. And we never let anything stand still. We are a force for change, pioneering new and ever better ways to support people with cancer.

We’re on a mission to bring forward the day when everyone with cancer gets life-transforming standards of care from diagnosis on.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today, put on that green t-shirt and support people living with cancer.

Got your own place already?

You can still run for Macmillan. Let us know that you would like to join Team Macmillan by completing this form and we’ll organise a fundraising pack for you. You’ll still receive the same level of support as a charity place runner, all we ask in return is for you to raise as much as you can for Macmillan.

Volunteering

We need an army of cheerers to make this event special. If running is not your thing or you have any family and friends who’d like to come and support you on the day, we’d love them to join our volunteer team! The cheer point locations will be based at a few locations throughout the race’s course, but they will be easily accessible from the Brighton city centre.

Visit our volunteer website to find out more and to register as a volunteer.

If you have any questions about running or volunteering for Macmillan, you can email us at running@macmillan.org.uk or call on 0300 1000 200.

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January 6, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2022  |  Charity news
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Dementia isn’t slowing down. Neither can you.

Alzheimer's Society

Every three minutes someone develops dementia. It’s the UK’s biggest killer. But with your running, we know we can beat it.

We need your miles, your energy and your determination. We need you to help put an end to dementia. Turn your training runs into life-changing research. Your race day nerves into ground-breaking studies. Your finish line thrill into hope for future generations.

It won’t be easy. There will be mornings when you’d rather press snooze than pound the pavements. When the rain and the wind will make you want to turn back; when the end looks too far away.

We’ve been there too. That’s why we know you won’t give up. There’s a long road ahead to find a cure, but together we will break through the wall.

Currently there is no cure, but Alzheimer’s Society has invested £70 million into dementia research since 1990. Run for us and no matter how long it takes, we will beat dementia

Sign up now >>

 

How you can help

£50 means 312 people can access Talking Point, our online safe space, where a trouble shared can become a trouble halved. People accessing Talking Point can learn from each other’s experiences, share their frustrations and their knowledge of local services.

£200 brings together a person with dementia and a Side by Side volunteer for six months in our Side by Side service. This crucial offering is helping to combat the isolation and loneliness that too often accompanies a diagnosis of dementia. Something as simple as getting out to visit the garden centre or a natter over a coffee can help combat loneliness.

£300 could support one of our Research Network Volunteers for six months. These volunteers are dementia experts by experience. After training, they read every research application that comes to Alzheimer’s Society for funding to ensure that our research stays relevant, impactful and life changing for people affected by dementia.

The benefits of joining Team Alzheimer’s Society

Join us to unite against dementia and in return we’ll support you every step of the way. Some of the benefits you will receive are:

  • We’ll set you up in style on race day with your own Alzheimer’s Society running top
  • A fundraising pack and support from our dedicated events team to help you smash your fundraising target
  • Access to our training zone, with training guides for all abilities as well as information from our professional coaches on everything you need to get you race-ready, including nutrition and tapering
  • Access to a Facebook group so you can chat to other runners
  • The biggest cheers on the course and motivational support on the big day

Join the race. Beat dementia. Run the 2022 Brighton Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Society.

Sign up now >>

 

Article by
December 23, 2021 at 2:07 pm
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General entry closing 31st December

 

A heads up that if you’re keen to run in the 2022 race on Sunday 27th February, general entry places will be closing on New Year’s Eve, 31st December. You can enter on our registration page here.

After this date, you’ll still be able to enter via a charity place with one of our charity partners. General entries will not reopen. See all of our wonderful charity partners on our charity page.

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October 26, 2021 at 5:20 pm
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Early bird pricing for 2022 ends soon

Early bird ending

Our early bird pricing for the Brighton Half Marathon 2022 will be ending very soon – get your spot on the start line for our 2022 event on Sunday 27th February next year.

Back to our usual springtime slot, the race is perfectly placed if you’re gearing up for a spring marathon – or just to clear the cobwebs after Christmas!

You can enter the 2022 event on our registration site.

 

 

 

 

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September 29, 2021 at 10:33 am
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Travel on race day

 

There are planned engineering works on some train lines into Brighton on the 2021 race weekend. If you are planning to travel to the event by train, please do check your travel arrangements before the day.

The engineering works will affect some train lines on both the Saturday and Sunday (the 9th and 10th October 2021), and bus replacement services will be able to get you to Brighton. Please do check services before you travel to help you have an enjoyable race day – this link to planned works may be useful.

The following is a provisional timetable for rail replacement services that we have been provided with – fast bus services are on the left-hand side of the table. Please do check services before the day as we don’t receive up-to-minute information from the train networks.

Provisional rail replacement timetable

 

 

Article by
September 21, 2021 at 4:47 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2021  |  Race news

Volunteers wanted!

Volunteers at the 2019 event

With race day 2021 just around the corner on Sunday 10th October, we’re on the hunt for willing hands to help us stage the event.

There are a variety of volunteer roles available on the morning, including road marshalling and helping with drinks stations out on course, plus baggage, medals and fulfilment in our start and finish area on Madeira Drive.

Our volunteers really do make the event each year – runners always feed back about how our volunteer army made the day extra special for them.

No experience is needed – just a smile and a helpful attitude. Lunch will be provided for you.

To sign up, simply complete our volunteer registration form and we’ll soon be in touch.

For more more information please contact brightonhalf.volunteers@sussexbeacon.org.uk.

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September 16, 2021 at 10:57 am
All news  |  Brighton Half Marathon 2021

How cryotherapy can help you recover

Heard of cryotherapy? Hove’s new wellness and recovery clinic CryoBright explains more about the treatment and how it can aid recovery.

Whether you want to gain muscle, run faster, perform better or simply get through your first half marathon, there are two things you need to do: train and then recover from that training.

For some, particularly new runners, you will be pushing your body in ways it has never been pushed before. The training plan for any type of event you are not used to doing can be intense, both physically and mentally.

Often overlooked but, as any professional athlete, trainer, coach, physio or sports therapist will tell you, rest and recovery are just as important as the exercise itself. Why?

  • Recovery not only allows for improved performance, but more importantly, it permits time for your body to heal itself in preparation for the next training session and decreases the risk of injury, over training and burn out.
  • Recovery is essential for muscle growth by repairing tissue and replenishing glycogen (energy stores).
  • Recovery promotes better performance, endurance, agility and reaction time.
  • Recovery reduces muscle fatigue and soreness.

Rapid technological developments over recent years have led to significant improvements in sports injury prevention and athletic recovery methods, both in terms of efficiency and speed of healing.

At CryoBright, a new wellness and recovery clinic in Hove, we specialise in treatments specifically designed to support recovery from injury, as well as, speed up your recovery times between training sessions.

We utilise technology that was previously only accessible to professional athletes and sports clubs, to help you recover faster and boost your performance.

Treatments that can support your recovery:

Cryotherapy

For years, Cryotherapy has been helping athletes push themselves to achieve optimum performance and maintain a competitive edge. Whether you’re a season athlete targeting your next PB or someone that’s new to running, Cryotherapy can help you train longer and harder, as well as dramatically reduce your recovery time.

Whole body cryotherapy

Whole Body Cryotherapy involves exposing your entire body to extremely cold temperatures (-85 degrees C) for 3-4 minutes in our state-of-the-art Cryotherapy chamber. During this time, your skin temperature rapidly cools and your body’s natural ‘fight or flight’ response is initiated.  This process stimulates a number of powerful physiological reactions that can help your body repair, recover and reinvigorate as well as elevate your mood and boost your energy levels.

Localised cryotherapy

Localised Cryotherapy is a fast, effective, targeted cold therapy designed to aid pain relief, reduce inflammation and swelling and support recovery from injuries, as well as, ease discomfort from niggly aches, pains and strains. We use a revolutionary localised cryotherapy device and with its unique treatment applicators, almost any part of the body can be treated.

Localised cryotherapy can help with common runner injuries such as: Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprain, Shin splints, Runners knee, Stress fracture recovery, as well as, hamstring and back problems.

Compression therapy

This relaxing therapy is perfect for anyone seeking faster recovery after an intense week of training or a long run as well as those struggling with muscle fatigue, swelling and soreness.  Compression Therapy is administered by a professional, medical grade, leg compression system called RecoveryPump®.  A 20-minute session increases blood circulation, clears metabolic waste build-up and restores the natural delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscle. It helps flush out aches, pain and soreness by massaging your legs and mobilising fluid, shortening the time needed for recovery.

Assised stretch therapy

This is a pain-free therapy that can form part of your overall training plan to improve mobility and performance, reduce the risk of injury and help you recover more quickly between training sessions. Assisted stretch is a technique where a trained therapist helps you to stretch, through gentle pulls of the arms, legs, spine and neck through varying planes of movement. This helps to realign your body, increase mobility and flexibility, reduce stress and relieve achy joints.

Therapeutic massage

Whether you run for fun, competition or stress relief, massage therapy can significantly improve your running potential:

  • Reduced muscle pain and fatigue – massage helps athletes and runners maintain overall muscle health by identifying areas of tension, relieving trigger points and addressing them before an injury.
  • Increases circulation and blood flow.
  • Increased tissue flexibility and muscle relaxation for increased range of motion.
  • Relaxation and reset.

Exclusive discount for Brighton Half Marathon 2021 participants:

Cryobright is are offering all Brighton Half Marathon Participants a 25% discount on your first booking:

  • Offer valid between 1st Sept – Oct 31st
  • Discount can only be used once per customer.
  • Discount is valid on single session treatments only – does not apply to packs/treatment courses or memberships.

To redeem your discount simply bring proof of race registration or your finisher medal with you to your first appointment.

If you’re interested to find out more about Cryobright’s services and how they can help, visit www.cryobright.co.uk, call 01273 777 474 or follow on social @cryobright

Clinic location: 197-199 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 4QG    

 

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June 6, 2021 at 2:30 pm
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Taper tactics

Runner on seafront

Mike Bannister, founder of our training partner RunBrighton, explains the taper and why it’s important at the end of a half-marathon training programme.

Tapering your training is typically done over the couple of weeks preceding race day.

It refers to the gradual reduction of your overall weekly mileage (or time on feet), rather than reduction in speed.

Throughout the weeks or months prior to race day, you will hopefully have gradually progressed, in terms of your weekly mileage (or time on feet), and will have been training fairly consistently. With your total volume of training peaking with about a fortnight to go, you should have got used to such a level of training, to the extent that your body is expecting to continue to train at that level.

It is when you have got used to this training that bringing it down will enable aches, pains and tightness to go away. And the additional rest that you factor in will allow your body to properly recover and store the invaluable energy required for optimum race performance.

As long as you have trained properly and consistently, winding down your training on approach to race day won’t cause you to lose any of the endurance that you have developed.

Continue with speedwork

As regards your midweek speed work, this can continue through to race week, as stopping this too soon will reduce some of the speed in your legs. Just don’t overdo it in the last few days and unnecessarily risk injury.

By race day, having reduced your training, as well as having continued to consume a healthy and balanced diet, you should find yourself in tiptop condition on the start line, well rested, with heaps of energy, and fully ready to perform.

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May 11, 2021 at 8:49 am
All news  |  Brighton Half Marathon 2021  |  Charity news

Run for SayAphasia in June

Colin LyallAphasia affects around 350,000 people in the UK, yet not many people have heard of it. It is a communication disability which occurs when the communication centres of the brain are damaged. The fact that the condition is rarely heard of, contributes to the loneliness that those with aphasia experience.

Colin, the founder of charity SayAphasia, had a stroke nearly six years ago, and none of his friends and family had heard of the condition aphasia before his stroke. This made it a struggle for everyone around him to work out how best to help him.

Our society is made aware of what a stroke is, and how to identify the signs if someone is having a stroke, but we are not as educated about what happens after.

After Colin came out of hospital and was given physiotherapy and speech therapy, there was a period of time of ‘what now?’

Colin was 50 when he had his stroke, and could no longer continue his career as a director of a commercially designed building services solution company. An extremely positive and determined man, Colin took it upon himself to set up the charity to help others just like him. The charity has given him purpose, goals to achieve and a new sense of success. He hopes that this charity will become that life line for others too.

Colin’s experience is the first thing that drives the charity – to support people who have just been diagnosed with aphasia, to stop them feeling lonely, confused, and helpless; especially after the nurses and therapists have done their part. As soon as patients leave the hospital, the charity want them to be informed straight away about the support that SayAphasia can offer them, to avoid prolonged feelings of confusion and loneliness.

The second thing that drives the charity is to offer the best service, is to provide a continuous, supportive place for people with aphasia to socialise, make friends, and practise their communication skills with like-minded people.

SayAphasia runners
Runners wanted for June!

The charity is looking for runners to take part in the 2021 event on Sunday 27th June. Could that be you, or someone you know? Find out more and contact the SayAphasia team.

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May 10, 2021 at 5:07 pm
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Volunteer stories: Lisa Smith-Wallace

Lisa Smith-Wallace has volunteered at the Brighton Half for a number of years. Here she tells us about her experience helping out at the race.

I got involved in volunteering for Brighton Half Marathon in 2014 when I joined the committee at my running club. My first ‘job’ was to recruit 20 marshals from the club and I decided to join the team. Myself and the club chair came to The Sussex Beacon office to meet David, Martin and others to find out what our role would be on the day so we could relay that back to our willing club volunteers. Apart from the years that I have run the event I have volunteered every year.

On race day, we meet at our allocated zone and are road marshals for the day. We are briefed, given our hi-vis and security lanyards and then each of us is allocated a road closure to manage. The barriers are already set up so we are there to prevent traffic from getting access on to the course, to answer questions from nervous runners at the start and also questions from the public. At the end of the shift, we wait until we are given permission from security that the roads can be reopened.

Highlights

The best highlight for me at such a high-profile local race is that as a road marshal, we are in a premium position to see friends, family members, fellow club members and others from the local running community as they race past. The BHWRC club volunteers come armed with whistles and cowbells and we look out for our jade and black club vests with pride to give our members a massive cheer to support them on their way along the route.

Tips for would-be volunteers

Tips and advice that I would give relates to the usual February race date. Wear lots of layers and bring more layers with you. It is an early start and the road closures are in place an hour before the race starts so it can be really cold.

Bring a flask and snacks too! We are provided with a packed lunch but staying warm takes up a lot of energy. Also, even in February you should consider wearing sun cream as some of us have been sun burnt in the past and not been aware until later in the day. Have fun and enjoy!

Keep your spare layers in a comfortable back pack that you can wear under your hi-vis, unfortunately there are some opportunists about – sad advice but it is something we tell our volunteers each year.

Lisa Smith-Wallace

Volunteer at the 2022 event!

Fancy volunteering with us on race day 2022? Sign up on our volunteering registration form and we’ll be in touch with more information.

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May 3, 2021 at 11:06 am
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2022 entry now open!

2022 entry now open

Calendars at the ready: entry to our 2022 event opens today! The date for your calendar next year is Sunday 27th February. After a turbulent 2020/21, why not kick-start your running year with the Brighton Half.

Back in its regular slot at the end of February, the race is perfectly placed if you’re training for a spring marathon. If you’ve caught the running bug over lockdown, it also makes a great first half marathon, with a flat, fast course and fantastic crowd support. 

Charity places in 2021

If you can’t wait until next year, there are still charity places available for our 2021 on Sunday 27th June. The event was postponed from our usual month of February so we’re excited to be able to hold a unique midsummer half. See all our charity partners here and contact them directly about running in June.

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May 2, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2021  |  Charity news  |  Race news
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Run for You Raise Me Up this June

You Raise Me Up logoFancy putting your lockdown running to good use this summer? The local charity You Raise Me Up provides vital support to families after the death of a child aged 16–25, and is looking for runners to run the Brighton Half on June 27th. 

2021 marks the charity’s 10-year anniversary and it has set itself a fundraising target of £100k to enable them to continue to provide free specialist emotional and mental health support to bereaved families without the need of referrals or waiting lists at a time when just breathing is hard enough.

In the beginning

Polegate-based charity You Raise Me Up was founded 10 years ago by Jane and Fraser Brooks after the tragic loss of their daughter Megan in May 2011. They found themselves in desperate need of comfort from those that had experienced the same loss. They soon realised that there was not anything out there, so they started You Raise Me Up. It was created with love and care for all those that needed it in a time of the most unimaginable pain and grief.

The charity has grown enormously in the last ten years with people still getting the same personal care, compassion and support that is needed. You Raise Me Up offers one-to-one counselling from experienced counsellors, peer support groups for mums and dads and a sign-posting service. It also has a drop-in centre/coffee shop in Polegate, with staff that are trained to support the mental wellbeing of those that need it. The charity runs a 24-hour crisis helpline.

Continued support

It costs the charity an average of £3,500 a year to support a family and the need for this service is ever growing. They are keen to ensure the charity can continue to give that level of support to more families.

Personal challenge

Using a personal challenge to raise funds for YRMU is an amazing thing. Like all charities, it has faced large losses from the impact of COVID-19, so in 2021 they need the help of fundraising from challenge events just like the Brighton Half Marathon. However, it’s not just about money, but awareness, too. As a part of Team YRMU you can wear a charity vest provided by the charity and share your journey on your social media channels. For every person who sees your challenge, someone is learning about the charity and its important cause.

Find out more about the charity and how to run the Brighton Half for YRMU in June.

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April 27, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2021
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Speedwork and half marathon training

 

Mike Bannister, founder of our training partner RunBrighton, explains speedwork and why building in some faster-paced sessions are key to a half-marathon training programme.

While the purpose of the long slow run is predominantly to build endurance, speedwork is done to help you run faster.

Speedwork sessions are typically done during the week.

They are normally done by way of ‘interval’ training. This basically means running hard (faster than your half-marathon pace) for a short period, followed by rest or very easy running for a short period, then repeating this a number of times.

A couple of simple examples include: 12 x 400m (with 1-minute recoveries), or 5 x 1 mile (with 2-minute recoveries).

The shorter the effort (e.g. 400m in the above examples), the faster you should run. The pace of these shorter efforts should be broadly similar to your 5k race pace. (Think of the speed at which you would run parkrun.)

Longer efforts, such as your mile reps, should be at closer to your 10k race pace.

And a further key session is longer, ‘threshold’ efforts. These would still be run faster than half-marathon race pace, but not as fast as your 10k race pace.

This way, we train at different paces and use different energy systems.

The talk test

If you’re relatively new to speedwork, think in terms of a ‘talk test’.

We’ve already mentioned in our previous blog post that the long slow run should be done at a relaxed, conversational pace. When running short efforts of speed (like 400m), you should find it difficult to string more than a few words together, without getting breathless. On the longer efforts, you should just about be able to utter a short sentence, but you shouldn’t be capable of holding a fluid conversation. This is just a rough guide, but will help you if you don’t know what your current 5k / 10k race pace is.

Also, if you’re new to interval training, you wouldn’t begin with the kind of sessions listed above; rather you would gradually build up, over the weeks, to these examples. So, each week, you might increase the number of efforts or the effort duration, for example: 6 x 200m… 8 x 200m… 8 x 300m… 8 x 400m. And you could start with longer recoveries and gradually reduce that recovery time each week.

(Don’t forget, significantly stepping up the volume or intensity of your training will increase the risk of getting injured, so always build up gradually.)

Don’t forget the warm up

As with all training runs, a good warm-up at the start is essential to avoid injury, but this is much more important ahead of speedwork sessions. And be sure to include drills that help activate the big running muscles, such as your glutes.

The sessions listed are a simple overview. However, there are plenty of variations. You could do speedwork sessions that include efforts of varying duration and pace, such as ‘pyramid’ sessions (e.g. 1 min, 2 mins, 3 mins, 4 mins, 5 mins, 4 mins, 3 mins, 2 mins, 1 min).

Above all, make your sessions fun! Whatever speedwork you do, if you don’t currently do any speedwork, this is sure to make you run your half marathon faster.

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March 29, 2021 at 4:18 pm
Brighton Half Marathon 2021  |  Charity news
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Charity in focus: The Sussex Beacon

The Sussex Beacon has continued to provide care and support for people living with HIV in Brighton and Sussex during the pandemic. This often meant working even more closely with NHS providers and ensuring that appointments and treatments were provided to diverse groups during an exceptionally challenging time.  

The pressure of coronavirus on the Beacon’s services means that they need the help of their fundraisers more than ever. With limited funds available from Government, the Beacon is reliant on its runners and participants to help provide needed funds. 

Luckily, the Sussex Beacon fields one of the largest groups of runners each year at the Brighton Half Marathon. Under the banner of Team Beacon, these dedicated runners raise money for the Brighton-based charity and ensure that those living with HIV in the area are visible.  

Join us! 

The Brighton Half Marathon is organised and led by the Sussex Beacon on behalf of its service users and also those looked after by other charities. By joining Team Beacon, you’ll ensure that the impact of your fundraising stays local, positively impacting those with the greatest need. 

How we’ll support you 

As the organising charity for the Brighton Half Marathon, the Sussex Beacon has exclusive perks for this event. These include: 

  • A special, dedicated area exclusive to Team Beacon runners. This is located near the race start line. 
  • Private toilets for Team Beacon runners.  
  • A race exclusive medal. 
  • Help with your fundraising from an expert fundraising team. 
  • A Sussex Beacon technical running vest 
  • Invite to a private Team Beacon Facebook group and support from Team Beacon.

Sign up now! 

We’d love you to join Team Beacon and help those living with HIV in Brighton. You can join the fundraising efforts by choosing ‘Team Beacon entry’ on the registration form. 

If you’re interested in discovering more about Team Beacon, visit sussexbeacon.org.uk/team-beacon for more information and updates.  

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at 1:42 pm
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All about the Long Slow Run (LSR)

Mike Bannister, founder of our training partner RunBrighton, explains the long slow run (LSR). Find out why this session is crucial in a half-marathon training programme.

Why is the long, slow run important for half-marathon training?

By ‘slow’, we mean slower than half-marathon race pace.

When we run, we use different energy systems. A long-distance race, such as a half marathon, mainly uses our aerobic system (as opposed to, say, sprinting over a short distance like 100m, which is predominantly anaerobic).

In fact, running a half marathon is approximately 97% aerobic. It’s therefore really important that we train our aerobic capacity, and gradually increasing the duration of the long run will help you achieve this. This is typically the Sunday run in most half-marathon training schedules.

A common error, with many runners, is to run too hard on the long, Sunday run – maybe training at half-marathon race pace for most of the run. Don’t forget, this long training run is principally about developing your aerobic capacity, gradually increasing time on feet, and building endurance. It’s not about improving your speed.

From time to time, half-marathon race pace is incorporated into the long run. But certainly not for the whole of every long run.

Sessions to improve speed are done differently, and they typically form part of your midweek training.

One of the problems with running too hard on the long, Sunday run, is that you’re unlikely to recover sufficiently to properly execute your midweek speed-training sessions. There can then become an imbalance, as regards your whole week’s training. The long run is essential for half-marathon training and, if it is done too fast, not only can it be an inefficient way to train, you also increase the risk of developing an injury.

As a rough guide, the long run should normally be done at approximately 10-15% slower than half-marathon race-day pace (circa 1 minute-per-mile slower than race pace).

As an example, if a realistic target time for your half marathon is 2 hours (an average pace of approximately 9 minutes-per-mile), the pace of your long run should be approximately 10 minutes-per-mile. A tip, to ensure your long run is done at the correct pace, is to keep it conversational. You should be capable of holding a fluid conversation throughout your training run. If you find yourself becoming breathless and you struggle to string a sentence together, you’re probably training too hard.

So, keep it easy, have a nice chat, enjoy the scenery, improve your endurance and develop your aerobic capacity!

Membership with RunBrighton

You can now sign up for membership with our training partner, RunBrighton, for their build-up to the Brighton Half Marathon. But be quick as places are limited. Membership revolves around a group run every Sunday, alongside a range of associated benefits. Find out more at RunBrighton.com.

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March 17, 2021 at 10:50 am
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March 2021 event update

In light of the Government’s recent publication of the UK’s roadmap out of lockdown and with less than 4 months to go until race day (or 3.5 weeks if you prefer!), we wanted to update you on our planning around this year’s event.

The roadmap sets out steps, with timelines, for moving out of lockdown and has clear implications for the delivery of outdoor events such as ours.

The good news is of course is that the timescales identified would place our event beyond the current date by which restrictions will have ended.

Whilst we welcome the announcement, we are realistic about the implications for our planning if there is any slippage in the timescales identified by the Government, and for that reason we believe it is still sensible to continue to plan on the basis of delivering a COVID secure event, namely:

  • Halving the number of general registration places to this year’s event
  • Introducing social distancing measures at the start/finish area
  • Staggered start lines based on race pen allocation
  • Race village restricted to runner-only entry
  • Reducing or removing potential touch points at the event – including baggage, goody bags and drinks stations
  • Increased sanitation points around the event
  • Removing the Youth Races from our program

There are areas of detail that the Government will update over the coming weeks and we are in regular contact with the local authority to ensure that we are aware of any developments locally in Brighton & Hove and on a more national scale that might affect delivery of the event in June.

We will continue to keep you updated.

The Brighton Half Marathon team

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March 15, 2021 at 12:32 pm
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Don’t let cancer become the forgotten ‘C’ during this pandemic

When coronavirus hit, thousands of vital cancer treatments, appointments and care were postponed or cancelled. Now, during the third wave, the consequences of continued disruption to cancer services are impossible to ignore. Again, people aren’t able to get the timely support they need, and the emotional impact of the outbreak is continuing to take its toll on people already struggling.

Cancer cannot become the forgotten ‘C’ during this pandemic. We need to see national and local action to deliver on cancer recovery plans, clear the backlog and get cancer services back on track.

How you can help

Join Team Macmillan for the Brighton Half Marathon and help us reach our goal of providing everyone with support from day one.

How we’ll support you

In return we’ll support you every step of the way, and provide you with these resources free of charge:

  • A fundraising pack which will have all the help you’ll need to absolutely smash your fundraising target
  • A Macmillan technical T-shirt or running vest, plus iron on letters to customise your kit
  • Access to the Macmillan training zone to make sure you’re ready for race day
  • Invited to a private Team Macmillan Facebook group

Plus, much more!

So, what are you waiting for? Get the support you need to get to the finish line whilst raising money to help people living with cancer. Find out more information here.

Sign up now

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March 2, 2021 at 10:11 am
Brighton Half Marathon 2021
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Our event director chats to Sally Gunnell in new podcast

Lots of people had a lockdown project in 2020, and our Event Director David Hill was no exception. Together with the team at E3, which produces the Brighton Half Marathon on behalf of charity The Sussex Beacon, last year he transformed his E3 offices in Hove into state-of-the-art digital studios for photographic and video shoots, podcast recordings and more. ‘Twelve A Studios’ was born, and with the studios complete, the team at Twelve A just needed their first show!

Schmoozing is David’s new podcast, which sees David in conversation with his friends from TV, film, light entertainment, comedy, politics and sport.

The first podcast sees David chat to Sally Gunnell OBE. David talks to Sally about her incredible career in sport, which saw her crowned Olympic champion in the hurdles at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Sally is also the only woman to hold the World, Olympic, European and Commonwealth gold medals at the same time. With Sally an ambassador for the Brighton Half, the pair also talk the ins and outs of training, and how to keep motivated to continue running after lockdown is lifted.

It’s a fascinating listen – and a podcast to listen to while running! You can listen and subscribe on Spotify, YouTube and Buzzsprout.

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March 1, 2021 at 11:12 am
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Run for Alzheimer’s Society in June

Alzheimer's SocietyRun the 2021 Brighton Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Society

By 2025, one million people will be living with the condition in the UK. But dementia won’t win. Until the day we find a cure, Alzheimer’s Society will be there for anyone affected by dementia – wherever they are, whatever they’re going through.

We know we can beat dementia, but we can’t do it alone. We need you to run for us with the support of our dedicated team. We need your miles, your energy and your determination. We need you to help put an end to dementia.

Sign up now

Reasons to run for us:

  • We know training is tough, but you’re tougher. We’ll make sure you have expert knowledge from our professional coaches at your fingertips.
  • We’ll send you an Alzheimer’s Society running top to represent the team on the day.
  • We’ll work with you to fundraise as much as you can. We’ll send you newsletters full of top tips and are always at the end of the phone to talk ideas.
  • You’ll have access to our Alzheimer’s Society Running Team Facebook group where you can chat to your fellow runners and share tips and ideas.

By running the Brighton Half Marathon for us, we can continue to deliver ground-breaking research. Alzheimer’s Society is the only UK charity funding research into prevention and a cure for dementia, whilst also caring for people affected today.

£50 could turn 13 ordinary citizens into superhero Dementia Friends! There is a stigma attached to living with dementia that is both deeply hurtful, and overwhelmingly unfair. Dementia Friends is at its core an instrument for societal change, waking people up to the truth about dementia and helping them understand the impact on people’s lives.

£300 could support one of our Research Network Volunteers for six months. These volunteers are dementia experts by experience. After training, they read every research application that comes to Alzheimer’s Society for funding to ensure that our research stays relevant, impactful and life   changing for people affected by dementia.

£500 could begin the Dementia Connect journey for 50 people with a call from one of our telephone-based Dementia Advisors. This first contact with a person living with dementia, their carer, or family member is the initial step in understanding how we can best support them.

Join the race. Beat dementia. Run the 2021 Brighton Half Marathon for Alzheimer’s Society.

Sign up now

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February 16, 2021 at 3:24 pm
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Could a personal trainer help with your half marathon training?

You’ve done it: your registration for the Brighton Half Marathon has gone through! You begin telling people that you are running the half marathon when all of a sudden, you realise you seriously need to train…Where do you start!? Whether this is a bucket list one-off, you are running for a charity or you are a seasoned pro looking to achieve a PB, who can help you train for what will inevitably be a hugely tough challenge?

The answer to this question is slightly more complex than you think and fully depends on your personal situation. As a Personal Trainer with 10 years in the industry and founder of The Fitness Movement, a local Fitness-based education provider, it may surprise you that I would not necessarily advocate hiring a Personal Trainer to help you prepare.

That is, if you are an experienced marathon runner, perhaps chasing your personal best time and looking to arrive at this year’s starting line in a more conditioned state, a Personal Trainer is probably not for you. In such circumstances, you would benefit more from specialist support – with either a Run Coach, a Strength and Conditioning Specialist or a Nutritionist. You may even want to combine all three depending on your budget and competitive standard. Try looking for a local run club, or visiting the UK Strength and Conditioning Association’s Find a Coach section on their website or searching on the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register for a qualified Nutritionist.

Who would benefit from a Personal Trainer?

However, if you are a relative beginner to running or entering on a less competitive basis, then working with a Personal Trainer may be the best thing you could do. Aside from providing general support and structure to your training, two key areas where a Personal Trainer could excel are general overall fitness and fat loss.

At the start of your training journey, you may feel not only as though you are lacking the fitness required to run a half marathon (which let’s face it, is no mean feat), but daunted or even entirely overwhelmed at the challenge of getting to the finish line. Knowing where to begin in structuring a programme that will take you from your current state to a position of feeling fitter and, most importantly, confident in your ability to run for a sustained period of time is very important. A Personal Trainer could certainly offer you this: 12 weeks of structured programming to follow which is progressive towards your goal and the accountability to keep you on track alongside it.

Lose excess body fat

The second key focus which could aid your pending marathon success is losing any excess body fat*. Carrying excess body fat is not only bad for our health and demanding on our bodies, but essentially corresponds to carrying extra weight whilst running! Consider it this way: imagine wearing a weighted 10kg backpack for your next run – not only would your run feel much tougher, but this could place a lot more pressure on your knees. Take that backpack off again however, and you would find your run a lot easier.

*Remember we are talking about excess body fat. If you are already at a healthy body fat percentage (again, something a Personal Trainer could assist you in determining) then ignore this – and remember fat is also the primary source of fuel for long duration activity!

In conclusion, if you are relatively new to marathon running, do not know where to start, need some kind of structure to your training, want to improve fitness and/or possibly lose some body fat then a Personal Trainer would be a great option.

What to look for in a PT

You can expect to pay anywhere from £30-£50 per session for Personal Training, but make sure whoever you choose has a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training as a minimum and is fully insured. Included in your session price should be a progressive programme tailored especially to your goals and current fitness level. Don’t feel afraid to question any trainers you approach on their experience and discuss how they would set about helping you – if you are looking to invest in a trainer, it is important to make the right choice.

Remember that having a training partner can also be a great way to keep motivated and stay accountable. This could involve training with your run buddy, or even asking a Personal Trainer if they would be willing to offer a deal for two people training together. This could be a more cost-effective way to get professional help without breaking the bank.

Finally, enjoy the process and do not forget to book in that post-race massage – you will most definitely have earnt it.

If you need any further help with anything discussed in this article, feel free to contact us at info@thefitnessmovement.co.uk and we will be more than happy to help.

The Fitness Movement are a fitness education provider based in Brighton and Hove offering Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer qualifications. Visit them at: www.thefitnessmovement.co.uk.