Race 1 - The Steyning Stinger

I love this race, I really do.... there isn't a set start time - just be ready between 8:30 and 9 and go when you like so you don't get caught up in a mad speedy start and masses of people fighting for space. The route is challenging but great and the people who run it all seem to be friendly and equally as bonkers and you get a big breakfast provided at the end.

Luckily it wasn't as cold as it had been but with the warming temperatures, melting snow and rain the night before, boy oh boy it was muddy! Rip your shoes off muddy!! and it seemed to be that all the biggest hills were the caked in thick sticky mud that made what was usually hard work even more so.

I started off pretty slowly - plodding though the muddy fields, having to stop twice to take off my shoes and hike up my new socks that would prove to be my race nemesis!!

My aim was to get under 2 hours - Last year was 2.06 and the year before that 2.01 ( all be it in perfect weather ) For once I was pretty well prepared with my marathon training so I knew the distance wouldn't cause any troubles. It was just going to be the condition of the route that would play an impact and it did.

The route has 3 big hills - hence the name “ Stinger " - the first winds through the woods and up onto the downs – thick cold mud kept everyone jumping around looking for some dry patches to try and navigate through the puddles and goo! Sometimes you just need to accept you are going to get wet and muddy and just plough through in a straight line. I passed a few runners who’d taken this option but fallen – always makes me chuckle alittle.

The next big hill is one I’d completely forgotten about, it’s long steep and hard but this time it was thick was sticky clay mud that was draining on the old legs. I managed to get myself all the way up with a slow plod but spent most of it skidding around and trying my best not to fall. Again my socks had decided to go for a walk towards my toes so it was shoes off again to pull them back on.

Up on the downs now I was on fairly familiar area, running places that I’d be training on recently between Chantonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring, finally away from the mud, but met with a big old head wind - but it was flat-ish so it was head down and get on with it while making sure to enjoy the stunning setting.

The 3rd hill is probably the longest – It goes up for just under a mile, It’s not overly steep, just quite constant in it’s uphill gradient which after 9 miles is always going to be a challenge but I felt pretty good at this point and with a time in mind tried to pick up the pace. The last 3 miles are my favourite – right up in the clouds with lovely views both way passed Chanctonbury Ring and knowing that it’s mostly heading in a downhill direction – At the 11 mile mark the race splits between the marathon and the half marathon routes – I was signed up to do the whole thing but at this point was pleased I’d decided a half was going to be plenty. Those who did the marathon, hats off to you!

Passing quite a few runners I was enjoying the run despite the continued pain my heel with every step – darn those socks!! The race does have one big downhill back through a wooded section – first year it was pretty much frozen and very slippy – this year it was just plain old muddy but I got down it quickly and passed the 13 mile mark where the final half mile is to run through muddy wind exposed fields – Sadly I missed the time I wanted but came in two minutes quicker than the year before in 2:04, in 42nd place out of just under 300 runners.

I tucked into and very much enjoyed my breakfast and a nice warm cuppa

Less than two weeks to go now till the Moyleman Marathon – It’s going to be really really hard but I’ll aim to complete it rather than get a time – It can’t be much harder than the Beachy Head Marathon… can it?....

Go back to the webiste.

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