Race Date: Sunday 16th November 2025
Apparently four hours on the train and 185 miles is what Sheffielders must endure for dry November weather in the UK.
Joel and I heard that Sheffield was to be deluged so we hopped on to the EMR service to St Pancras then onto the Thameslink, heading for the summery climes of Brighton for the Hove Promenade Parkrun on 15th Nov and Brighton 10k on 16th Nov. (We had of course planned all of this a couple of months ago!)
Both runs/races took in the scenic seafront and key seaside sights of the coastal city, like the Brighton i360, the bandstand and the silhouette of what used to be the West Pier.
The 10k on the Sunday was well organised by Brighton AC and saw about 3 000 people turn out for the race on the promenade. Most runners’ T-shirts were emblazoned with place names that we didn’t really know, like Worthing and Crawley…
As the race started, a little overcast by the channel, we headed along the flat promenade, sea breeze in the hair, past the famous Brighton Palace Pier. The route went on towards the Marina, past the trendy Sea Lanes and beach spas (one of which we were planning to visit post-race) to the turnaround point at 5k. Joel and I looked out for each other and managed a solid high five part way through!
I’ve had a back problem this year and had been struggling a bit this week, so was pleased to make it to the half way point fairly comfortably…a few stretches of the shoulders and on we go, back along the promenade towards the start, again trundling past those world famous sights like Brighton Rock Shop and the Double Tree Hilton 😉
With a couple of kms to go it did begin to feel like a bit of a straight, flat slog, so the sight of the finish line was welcome. We were given a funky bright pink and black medal and a few refreshments – it was nice to rehydrate as there hadn’t been a water station on the route. Reuniting with Joel in his Striders vest and no jacket, he was getting pretty chilly so we didn’t stay around for long.
Runners from Penistone, Goole, Hull, Leeds, Otley, Pudsey & Bramley clubs are named on the results sheet too so we weren’t the only Yorkshire tourists at the race!
All in all a great time in sunny Brighton and the seaside spa was very welcome on Monday.
Male winner: DEAN WILLIAMSON, Colchester Harriers AC 29.59
Female winner: KATE ESTLEA-MORRIS, Aldershot Farnham & District AC 33:03
Striders Results:
