Tag archives for: Brighton Half Marathon 2020

A big thank you to everyone who took part in race day 2020

Women's Race winner

Nearly 8,000 runners turned out for our special 30th anniversary edition of the Brighton Half yesterday. Whether you were running, volunteering or spectating, we’d like to say a huge thank you every single one of you for braving the elements and taking part to make race day 2020 such an extra special day.

The race klaxon was sounded at 9:30am by the original 1990 race winner, David Knight, and Brighton’s favourite resident, Norman Cook, also waved the runners off on their journey around the city’s sights.

The race field featured hundreds of runners new to the half marathon distance, plus experienced half marathoners and runners training for a full Spring marathon. Thousands of spectators lined the route to cheer on the runners and crowds were entertained with music from The Sundaes and Alex Banks playing live at The Grand Brighton, headline sponsor of the race.

In the men’s race Brighton resident Kevin Moore took first place in an amazing time of 69 minutes and 5 seconds; second place went to Neil Boniface, who came home in 69 minutes and 17 seconds; third place went to four times race winner Paul Martelletti in 69 minutes and 40 seconds.

The women’s race was won by Phillipa Williams, who absolutely stormed home in an incredible 77 minutes and 55 seconds, followed by Heather Noone in 79 minutes and 53 seconds. Third place went to Maisie Trafford in 81 minutes and 08 seconds.

The Sussex Beacon Wheelchair Race also returned, with three entrants from the Coventry Godiva Harriers. First place went to Gary Cooper, who finished in 80 minutes and 49 seconds; Rob Smith came second in 92 minutes and 25 seconds. The female winner was local girl, Ellie Page who came home in 96 minutes and 39 seconds.

Alongside the elite field, thousands of charity runners took to the streets of the city, raising around one million pounds for over 35 charities, including local charities The Sussex Beacon and Chestnut Tree House, and national charities including Alzheimer’s Society and Macmillan.

Race director Martin Harrigan commented:
“What a race we had today! We are deeply honoured that nearly 8,000 runners braved the high winds and stormy conditions to run The Grand Brighton Half Marathon this morning. So many inspiring people, running for fantastic causes. Thank you to all families, spectators and volunteers who came out today to make The Grand Brighton Half Marathon such an incredible event! We couldn’t be more grateful to you all.

“I would also like to say a huge thank you to our headline sponsor, The Grand Brighton hotel and all of the other sponsors and charities who support this fantastic event.”

Andrew Mosley, general manager at main sponsor The Grand Brighton said:
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have been headline sponsors of The Grand Brighton Half Marathon for our third year. It’s an incredible sight to see so many runners come from far and wide for such a fantastic event supporting great causes. Your contributions to The Sussex Beacon and all of the other race partners is immensely valued, particularly on this year’s 30th anniversary celebration. The race village had an amazing atmosphere once again, and it was a real privilege to greet runners at the finish line. Well done to everyone who took part in this year’s race!”


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February 20, 2020 at 6:32 pm

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Common questions ahead of race day

Help! My race number hasn’t arrived. What do I do?

You can pick up a spare race number from the Help Desk in Race Village. This is open from 2-4pm on Saturday, and from 7:30am on race morning. See our race map for the location of the Help Desk.

Can I move start pen?

You can move back a pen (into a slower predicated time), but please don’t move forward. If you think you will run faster than your predicted time we recommend you move to the front of your current start pen.

Is there an app?

There is no app for the race this year.

Can I discard clothing at the start of the race?

Yes, all discarded clothing will be collected at the start of the race, so you are welcome to bring a warm layer and leave it to the side of you pen as you start the race. Please be careful if you discard any clothing to avoid it becoming a trip hazard for other runners. All discarded clothing will be given to charity.


Weather update and race day

Weather

Update: Saturday 11:00am: The wind is looking to peak at 6am tomorrow then will gradually drop through the morning. With rain also a possibility, we recommend bringing along a warm layer for the start pens. All discarded clothing will be collected at the start of the race and given to charity. Please be careful if you do discard any clothing to avoid it becoming a trip hazard for other runners.

We will have a team of tail walkers for the final participants this year so please don’t worry about being slow!

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Update: Friday 5:00pm: We have had a few questions this afternoon about the weather on race day. We’ve been in close contact with forecasters from the Met Office throughout the week. The latest reports say that it will be windy, with strong gusts and possible rain, so we advise you to bring layers on Sunday – a windproof/waterproof jacket is ideal, plus think about bringing a hat, gloves and a wind buff, if you have them. Pack some warm clothing for when you finish too.

Please remember that if you plan to use our baggage service, please bring a waterproof, secure bag.

See you Sunday!

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Following on from the severe weather over the past few weeks, we have been advised by the Met Office that strong winds are forecast to continue in the build up to the race and on race day. While this won’t affect the race taking place on Sunday, it means that we are unable to build some of the infrastructure that you would normally see around the event. This is to keep all of our runners and spectators safe.

Our baggage service will still operate as normal but please note this area will not be under cover. If you plan to leave any belongings with us, please bring a waterproof, secure bag and be sure to attach the baggage label with your race number on to your bag. This label is attached to your race number. The start gantry will also be affected by the winds, and again, we are unable to build this structure. The start/finish line will however be clearly marked and you’ll run over a timing mat as you go over the line.

Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather. We advise bringing layers – and a windproof jacket if you have one!

See you on race day!

Charity of the Week: Alzheimer’s Society

Join Alzheimer's Society

Dementia devastates lives. It strips away memories, relationships and connections to the world. For someone with the condition, as well as their family and friends, dementia means the plans you made, and the future you thought you had, will not be so.

By 2025, over a million people will be living with the condition. Of the world’s top ten killer diseases, it’s the only one we can’t cure, prevent or even slow down. Too many people face dementia alone, finding it difficult to know who to turn to or where to go for information and support.

At Alzheimer’s Society, we know it doesn’t have to be like this. We are investing more money than ever in dementia research and until the day we find a cure, we will be here for anyone affected by dementia – wherever they are, whatever they’re going through.

Run for Team Macmillan

Alzheimer’s Society are the UK’s leading dementia charity. Every day, we work tirelessly to find new treatments and, ultimately, a cure for dementia. We provide expert information, training, and support services to all those who need our help. And we are creating a more dementia friendly society so people with the condition can live without fear and prejudice.

How you can help

We want to stop dementia in its tracks through research. We’re committed to spending £150 million on cutting-edge research over the next decade but can only do this with the support of people like you. By joining Team Alzheimer’s Society at the Brighton Half Marathon, you can help us continue investing in our researchers and get us closer to our vision of a world without dementia.

£75 can pay for 20 microtome blades, used to create slices of the brain the thickness of a human hair. This enables researchers to study the intricate detail of brain cells, and the toxic proteins that cause dementia.

£100 covers Alzheimer’s Society’s cost of supporting one patient with early stage Alzheimer’s for three months on one of our vital trials. Their time and dedication provide us with the potential to treat symptoms and slow the progression of dementia.

£250 can pay for 100 microlitres of a special chemical that is applied to brain tissue, allowing researchers to study how brain cells are affected by the disease.

The benefits of joining Team Alzheimer’s Society

In return we’ll support you every step of the way, and provide you with some fantastic benefits:

  • A fundraising pack with advice and inspiration to help you smash your target
  • An Alzheimer’s Society running top to wear with pride on the day
  • 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
  • The most incredible race-day experience with the loudest cheer points on the course and a hero’s welcome at our post-race marquee where you can pick up some refreshments
  • Most importantly, the knowledge that you are helping Alzheimer’s Society get one step closer to beating dementia

Join Team Alzheimer’s Society at the Brighton Half Marathon and you miles can help us beat dementia.

Run for Team Macmillan


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December 29, 2019 at 7:41 pm

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Charity of the Week: Macmillan

Team Macmillan runners

Being told ‘you have cancer’ can affect so much more than your health – it can also affect your familyyour job, even your ability to pay the bills. But you’re still you. We get that. And, after over 100 years of helping people through cancer, we get what’s most important: that you’re treated as a person, not just a patient. Through better treatment we have added years to life but now we need to add life to years.

Run for Team Macmillan

Macmillan is the UK’s leading cancer supporter charity giving personal, one to one care and support to thousands of people every day. We are the only charity supporting anyone, no matter their age, where they live or their cancer diagnosis. It’s why we’ll take the time to understand what matters. We help people make sense of their diagnosis and guide them through treatment, so we can help get the support needed to take care of their health, protect their personal relationships and deal with money and work worries.

In Brighton and Hove an average of 1,365 people are diagnosed with cancer each year. In 2018, Macmillan had 10 professionals working in Brighton and Hove and they gave out 100 grants totalling £38,500 to help cancer patients in the local area. This was only possible due to the amazing fundraising efforts of people like you!

How you can help

Without our amazing fundraisers we wouldn’t be able to provide the vital services and support that people living with cancer need. Join Team Macmillan for the Brighton Half Marathon and help us reach our goal of being with everyone from their point of diagnosis:

  • £52 could help run a large Macmillan Information & Support Centre for 1 hour
  • £100 could pay for a person affected by cancer to attend a Health and Wellbeing event, providing them with skills to improve the management of these areas in their lives
  • £145 could pay for a Macmillan Grant that would make a significant contribution to the cost of a person’s travel to hospital for cancer treatment.
  • £221 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for 1 day, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support
  • £500 could pay for a Macmillan professional to attend an advanced course in pain and symptom control. This would help the professional provide better advice to people with cancer on how to control their symptoms and deal with the pain caused by treatment.

Macmillan runners at the finish lineHow 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
  • The loudest applause from our world-famous Macmillan cheer points who will give you the encouragement to finish in your best time
  • Exclusive access to our hospitality marquee on race day, which will be full of refreshments and a lot of camaraderie from your fellow runners

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.

Run for Team Macmillan


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December 15, 2019 at 6:00 am

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Make a difference with every step for Chestnut Tree House

Join Team Chestnut

 

Become a half marathon hero with Team Chestnut whilst helping children and young people with life-shortening conditions across Sussex and South East Hampshire.

Amazing people like you help so many families every year. You help families create precious memories together at Chestnut Tree House, help care for children in their own homes, help give carers time to recharge their batteries, and help parents through the most difficult time of saying goodbye.

 

Whether you’re a running rookie or distance dynamo, we’re here for every step of your journey. As a Chestnut Tree House runner you’ll be invited to our coffee catch ups and training runs, plus we’ll be there to cheer you along on the day and welcome you home with well-deserved refreshments.

You’ll also get a bespoke Chestnut Tree House running vest to wear with pride during training runs and on the day. All we ask for joining Team Chestnut is that you commit to raising £200.

 

The money you raise helps in so many ways and really does make a huge difference in the lives of children and families across Sussex. Here are just a few ways it helps…

  • £150: Allows a family of four to stay overnight together at Chestnut Tree House knowing their child is cared for all night.
  • £220: Gives carers a few hours respite and time together as their child is cared for in their own home.
  • £230: Puts on a ‘Stay & Play’ session at Chestnut Tree House for children to enjoy a range of activities and make precious memories.
  • £268: Means 5 families and their children can enjoy time together and feel free in the hydrotherapy pool at Chestnut Tree House.
  • £285: Covers the cost of all care services provided at Chestnut Tree House for one hour.

Join Team Chestnut. For yourself. For local families. For making precious memories. For the Now.

If you have any questions about joining Team Chestnut or your fundraising, please feel free to call us anytime on 01903 706355, we are here to help you throughout your fundraising journey with us.


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November 7, 2019 at 3:39 pm

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The Active for Life Running Challenge youth programme

The Sussex Beacon, the charity behind the Brighton Half Marathon, have been working in partnership with Active for Life on their annual Running Challenge programme for several years. The programme offers reduced entry into our Brighton Half Youth Races, a fun, one-mile race aimed at children of all abilities aged 7-17.

The Active for Life Running Challenge programme supports children in Y3-Y6 to train and participate in The Brighton Half Youth Race and the Mini Mile; two prestigious local running events.

The goal is to set yourself a challenge to run your personal best at both races.

The Active for Life team work with local schools to target those children who are the least active and /or would like the opportunity to get involved with the Running Challenge to help boost their confidence and self-esteem through physical activity. It also helps with getting the young people active and achieving their Active 60 Minutes a day and hopefully also inspiring their families to get involved too.

The project is run by Brighton & Hove City Council, Healthy Lifestyles team, to support people in the city to lead active lifestyles. Active for Life has grown into a city-wide initiative which reaches out to thousands of Brighton & Hove residents every year, supporting them to become more active, more often.

To find out more about Running Challenge email Vanessa.lynham@brighton-hove.gov.uk

“My grandson joined Active for Life after discussions with school and his physiotherapist at Seaside view. He suffers from DCD and his mobility is challenging for him at times. He had little confidence to join in sports as he had low self-esteem around his size and ‘clumsiness’ as he described it. We encouraged him to give it a go and see how he felt after a couple of sessions.

“You have all been very supportive with encouraging him that it’s all about the taking part and not the competitiveness.  He has achieved so much more self-esteem since he began, although it’s a work in progress. He was so proud of himself after completing his Youth Race and didn’t stop telling everyone and showing his medal off. He is really looking forward to completing his next run in April and getting another medal for his collection.”

 

“My daughter’s participation in the AFL Running Challenge has hugely raised her self-confidence and self-esteem. Being able to find a platform where her skills and abilities are rewarded and acknowledged away from academic success, has undoubtedly built on her own self-worth and her understanding that we all have skills in different areas.

“The running challenge enables her to shine, and challenge herself, away from the pressures of academia. For all learners, like my daughter, I think this is vital in building their resilience and self-confidence at a time when pressures on young people from social media etc are at an all-time high. 

“I also feel that the team spirit involved in the training and on the day of events is a wonderful and rewarding experience for all of them. They are able to bond over their experiences, positive and negative and support each other’s involvement. It’s not just about winning but about taking part and supporting each other, regardless of ability.”


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April 18, 2019 at 2:40 pm

Brighton Half Marathon 2020  |  Race news

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2020 registration now open!

 

Drumroll please… We’re excited to say that entry to The Grand Brighton Half Marathon 2020 is now open! Whether you’ve run with us before or this will be your first half marathon, we hope you’ll join us for a very special race day next year…

Celebrating 30 years

2020 will be a particularly special race as we’ll be celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the event. We have lots of plans up our sleeves to celebrate our big birthday, so this is a year not to be missed! The date for your calendar is Sunday 23rd February 2020.

Early bird entry

Early bird entry is now open for a limited time so enter soon to take advantage of the pricing – be sure to tell your running friends and family too.