Eastbourne is a local race to me and handily placed in the calendar a few weeks before Hastings Half. That said I’ve only ran it a few times and found it somewhat underwhelming on both occasions.

Logistically it’s quite easy to get to with parking nearby and the start and finish located at Princes Park to the East of the town. However that does provide it’s own problems at the start as you begin on grass and there is a gated exit onto the road which is narrow and not ideal.

The race then heads along the seafront meaning it’s quite exposed to the weather. The real challenge is the climb up towards Beachy Head Road which gets tougher the further you progress. It’s the only hill on the route but I’ve found the majority of the field are left to walk towards the end.

That is followed by a nice quick downhill section and often the wind is then behind once you hit the seafront. The crowds have always been a disappointment in comparison to Hastings and it’s a rather subdued atmosphere.

There are new organisers in 2024 so hopefully the race will go from strength to strength. I was a big gutted I wasn’t there when Dan Lawson took the win at the age of 50. Amazing.

The problem this year is that Eastbourne clashes with the popular Paddock Wood half marathon, a much bigger event on a flatter course, a race which I’ve chosen to enter in preference.