The early city and eastern coastal sections contain the main climbs; later you work along the seafront and through Hove to the finish. This rewards patience much more than an aggressive first ten miles.
01 Know what you are taking on
What is the race like?
The course, section by section
Open a section for the terrain and a practical pacing cue.
Miles 1–6Preston Park · Royal Pavilion · The Level
The official breakdown includes the opening rise and broadly flatter city stretches.
How to approach it Keep the first climb deliberately uneventful. Reduce pace a little, keep your steps light and let breathing settle on the descent. The aim is to arrive at the coast feeling as though you have resisted something, rather than celebrated several fast early splits.
Miles 7–13Marine Parade · Ovingdean turn · Brighton Marina
Rolling coastal roads with an uphill approach to the turn.
How to approach it Do not try to match an inland pace when wind or the climb changes the effort. Use the outward and return directions to observe conditions, then settle into a sustainable rhythm. A view of the city is encouragement, not an invitation to start racing the second half early.
Miles 14–19Madeira Drive · Brighton Pier · i360
The published description includes a flatter out-and-back section.
How to approach it Let the atmosphere help you concentrate on your routine: fuel, drink, then relax your shoulders. Avoid surging through a cheer zone just to slow afterwards. If you are starting to work harder, choose the effort you can repeat between the next few official markers.
Miles 20–23Grand Avenue · Church Road
Later urban section after the main early climbs.
How to approach it This is where an honest early effort pays off. Work with a small set of cues rather than repeatedly checking the whole predicted finish time. If you need a brief walk to drink, move aside safely and restart smoothly instead of stopping suddenly among other runners.
Miles 23–26.2Kingsway · Hove beach huts · Hove Lawns
Official final section follows the promenade towards Hove Lawns.
How to approach it Save your finishing push for the actual approach rather than the first sight of the sea. Keep your stride compact when tired and focus on moving forwards smoothly. After crossing, continue through the finish process before stopping for a photograph or waiting for a companion.
Official maps & course details
- Terrain and ascent
- Road marathon with 477 feet of advertised elevation gain.
- Finish
- Hove Lawns, reached along Kingsway and Hove Promenade.
- Main climbs
- The organiser places the four main climbs at miles 1, 7, 9 and 11.
- Surface
- Tarmac, with approximately 200 metres of block paving at mile 4.5.
- Course sequence
- City streets lead to the Ovingdean coastal turn, then Madeira Drive, Brighton seafront and Hove.
Use the official map for the full route. The route overview helps you prepare; use the official map or GPX for full navigation details.
02 Choose your approach
Find your race strategy.
Choose your goal. These are our pacing suggestions, based on the published course, rather than organiser instructions.
My first finish
Start easier than the crowd makes you want to.
Allow the early climbs to slow your pace and keep your fuel routine.
Break the later coast and Hove section into landmarks, saving enough for the final promenade approach.
A PB or time goal
Do not try to bank time in the first ten miles.
Use the profile to protect effort early, then assess a steadier target after the climbs.
Keep a reserve for the coastal wind and the final Hove running.
If the weather or your pace changes
The outward and return coastline can feel like different races in a wind. Adjust pace to keep effort sensible and avoid a large early acceleration with a tailwind. In sun, use the same tested clothing and sun protection you would choose on a long training run. If rain makes the paved city section slippery, prioritise secure foot placement. Check the latest forecast after travelling rather than packing solely for the weather you had at home, and keep warm clothes accessible after the finish.
03 Know what is on the course
Drinks, fuel & toilets.
- Water
- Cups at miles 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.5, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24.
- Bottle refills
- Refill points at miles 4, 7.5, 12, 16.5 and 20.
2027 station information
- Sports drink and gels
- HIGH5 Zero in cups at miles 7, 15, 21 and 23; HIGH5 Energy Gel Aqua at miles 15 and 21.
- Bottle refill points
- Water refills at miles 4, 7.5, 12, 16.5 and 20.
Toilet locations: a confirmed location list is not available here. Check the official course or runner map before race day; a drinks table does not automatically mean there is a toilet beside it.
Turn the station list into your plan
Mark the stops you expect to use and the fuel you will carry. If you use a gel that needs water, pair it with a published water point. Practise the products and cup or bottle format before race day; you do not have to try every item offered.
04 Before the start
Your race morning.
Times are local to the event. Work back from your own wave, allowing for the walk, toilets and bag drop.
Before your wave
Baggage and facilities
Free bag drop, accessible toilets, bike parking and a beach village are advertised.
The start
Start location
Preston Park; the 2027 start time will be published about five weeks before race day.
Start & finish access
- Energy products
- HIGH5 Zero at miles 7, 15, 21 and 23; HIGH5 Energy Gel Aqua at miles 15 and 21.
- Quiet and family spaces
- A Sensory Calm Space, Parent and Child Space and Multi Faith Prayer Space are advertised.
Pacers & course cut-offs
- Pacers
- Published target times run from 3:00 to 7:00.
- Cutoff
- Seven hours.
Kit rules & accessibility
- Disability support
- Assisted wheelchairs are accepted; eligible participants can request a free Support Runner place.
Your allocated wave, event emails and final runner instructions take priority. Read the guide for your distance before travelling.
05 Make the day work together
Supporters & getting around.
Plan your support
A seafront base can offer easier walking between viewing opportunities than following the entire course. Check which side of the route you need and meet beyond the Hove finish exit, not back at Preston Park.
The places below are viewing ideas from the linked route or spectator guide. Use your edition’s access map for barriers, permitted crossings and any crew restrictions.
Madeira Drive
The organiser’s published spectator guide identifies a charity-cheer area here. Confirm the new edition’s position and access.
Hove Lawns surroundings
A finish-area base after the coastal return. Preston Park’s published start arrangements are participant-only.
Published spectator guidance; confirm 2027 arrangements
Official spectator or route informationMake the cheer easy to find
Agree a named point, the side of the road and your likely arrival window. Share your bib number for official tracking. Pick a separate reunion beyond the finish exit and a backup if the phone signal is poor.
06 Before you book
Entry, fees & time limits.
See the organiser for the latest entry options and availability.
Check official entry optionsTransfers, refunds & deferrals
- Entry changes
- The FAQ provides no standard refund, transfer or deferral option; individual conditions apply.
Can you finish inside the time limit?
- Cutoff
- Seven hours.
Stay in the loop
Email me event updates.
Spend more time training and less time checking. Get the key updates for your race, straight to your inbox.
07 Make your training relevant
Practise for this course.
One thing to rehearse
Include controlled hills early in a longer training run, followed by steady running on flatter ground. Practise cups: the published water provision is cupped.
08 Put your plan together
Useful before race day.
Plan your pre-run fuel
Explore meals and snacks around the time you have before running.
Explore the fuel plannerMake race fuel feel familiar
Understand how to practise taking carbohydrate during longer runs.
Read the guideArrive ready, not worn out
Understand what changes in the final weeks before a marathon.
Read the guideA plan that fits your life.
Running, strength or both, with feedback and adjustments as your training develops.
Official race information
Use the organiser’s information for current entry terms, the published route and your final runner instructions. Course resources show their edition where it is known. Pacing and training suggestions are The Runner’s Journal’s guidance and should fit your experience, health and conditions.