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England > Seaford Half Marathon
Seaford,
England, UK
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Date
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Event
Details
Runners will need to be ready for some seriously challenging hills in
the first four miles of Britain's Seaford Half Marathon, a 13.1-mile
romp that's run mostly on off-road surfaces around the town of the same
name and features gorgeous and spectacular views of the pebble-beach
coastline, the waters of the English Channel, the Weald and the South
Downs as well as the village of Alfriston and the surrounding River
Cuckmere Valley, which participants will run through in the second half
of the race.
The Seaford Half begins at the town's Rugby Club, just off its Salts
Recreation Ground on the Marine Parade road. From there, runners follow
a clockwise out-and-back loop course, running first out of Seaford
through the village of Bishopstone, on their way past the Seaford Golf
Club. These first few miles of the race are perhaps its toughest
section, as the course rises from just above sea level near the
starting line to nearly 180 meters (roughly 590 feet) above sea level
by the time runners reach the mile 4 marker, or the 7-km marker. Past
participants report that the stretch between miles 3 and 4 is quite
challenging; mile 3 appears at first to be the biggest hill, but around
the bend lies the long, steady incline up to the mile 4 marker.
From there, the course turns east and begins a long, steep and steady
downhill toward the village of Alfriston, where runners will have the
chance to run along actual roads once again for a bit. After the turns
through Alfriston, from Kings Ride onto High Street, runners head back
onto another off-road section, this time along often muddy and slick
terrain that runs alongside the River Cuckmere. Runners follow the many
bends and turns in the river as it winds its way southward toward the
Seaford Head, a point of land just southeast of town that juts out into
the channel.
After heading south for a stretch and passing the Golden Galleon
between the 8th and 9th mile markers, runners hit a second major hilly
stretch, which takes them up to a peak called the Seventh Sister around
mile 11. From there, the course drops once again steeply as the natural
surface can be tough going, with plenty of mud and rocks, though the
views are breathtaking of the English Channel and the nearby beach over
your shoulder.
The last mile or so of the race is thankfully flat as it unfolds along
the coastline, bringing runners back in to the Rugby Club's Salts
Recreation Area. Race organizers add that the event is open to runners,
joggers and walkers, though all participants who plan to run the course
must be over the age of
18.
Race
Weather & Climate
Nestled along the coastline of eastern southern England, across the
English Channel from France and roughly 107 kilometers south of London,
the town of Seaford generally much warmer and milder weather conditions
for longer periods of time throughout the year than areas further
north, though of course the areas sees plenty of rainfall. In June, the
town's average monthly temperatures range between 18°C and
12°C.
Fees
£9 if registered by May 18, 2009
£10 on the day of the race
Registration
To reserve your spot in the summer 2009 running of England's
Seaford Half Marathon, register online at the event website.
Website
www.npslions.co.uk
Course Map
View Larger Map
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Your Race Story
Ever run in England's annual Seaford Half Marathon?
Share
your impressions and read fellow runners' stories
and tips for the event.
Post your comments in Runner Reviews for the Seaford Half Marathon
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