Hastings Half Marathon

Race Location
Grosvenor Gardens, Sea Road, Grosvenor Crescent, Saint Leonards on Sea, TN38 0BX

Race HQ
Race HQ will be located next to the bowls lawn at West Marina Gardens just off of Sea Road.

Timings on race day
Race HQ & Registration opens: 08:00
Race Director's Briefing on the start line: 10:20
Race Start: 10:30
Mini Run Start: 10:45

Bag Drop
You are welcome to leave your bag at the Race HQ baggage drop (in the marquee), however, this is done at your own risk and discretion. Staff will not handle your baggage and we ask that you label them clearly.

Facilities
There are limited changing facilities available in the marquee so we recommend arriving ready to run!

Parking
We strongly advise you to car share, organise a drop off through a friend or family member or use public transport where possible as the roads surrounding the race are likely to fill up incredibly quickly.

The Park & Walk will be situated at St. Leonards Academy, Edinburgh Road, St Leonards, TN38 8HH and is approximately an eight minute walk from the race. Signage will direct you from the Park & Walk to the start/finish area. Please note, this car park only has space for 200 cars, after this you will need to find alternative parking.

There are a number of car parks around the town of Hastings. If you do park in one of them, please remember to pay the correct fee. Please make sure you have allowed yourself the time to do this as most of the car parks in Hastings are a significant distance from the race start.

The car park off of Cinque Ports Way will not be available for parking. The event toilets will be lined up by the beach huts so cars will not be allowed to access the car park.  Also, please do not park on the race route, please allow plenty of time to park and make your way to the start.

Toilets
Portable toilets and a urinal bay will be available by the cycle path in between Cinque Ports Way and Sea Road. Public toilets are available at Marina Gardens. We will have portable toilets available at the Park & Walk.

Toilets on the Course
The Comet Pub (approx. 1.5 miles)
The Harrow Pub (approx. 5.5 miles)
Premier Travel (approx. 5.6 miles)
Helenswood Sports Centre (approx. 6.2 miles)
Shell Garage (approx. 6.8 miles)
Old King John Pub (approx. 9 miles)
Public Toilets (approx. 11 miles)

Headphones
Only bone conducting headphones are permitted at this event.

 

The start & finish
The  start and finish is in the same location and this is close to the Race HQ on Sea Road.

About the course
The Hastings Half Marathon will be closed to traffic (until 13:00), fully signposted and well marshalled. This course is a single loop starting at Sea Road and heading up to Queensway for a challenging incline before turning onto The Ridge, where crowds often gather to cheer and show their support. The route then heads out to Ore before turning back towards the Old Town and finally down along the seafront to enjoy the final leg of this iconic race. 

All significant climbs are in the first five miles and the last third of the race is either downhill or on the level. Mile posts will be displayed. 

Other route users
The majority of the Race will be run on roads which are closed to traffic, but the final stretch will be run on along the Promenade along Hastings seafront which is not closed to the general public so please be aware of other around you and remain courteous at all times.

 

 

Recommended Kit & Footwear
We recommend road shoes for this event. However, your favourite running shoes will also be fine for this race. Please keep an eye on the forecast and dress appropriately for the conditions, bringing a spare set of clothes (and socks!) if needed.

Litter
Please do NOT drop litter. Bins will be provided, so please dispose of any litter correctly or take it home with you.

Water Stations
There will be water stations at approximately 3, 6, 9, and 12 miles. Some of these water stations will also carry sugary sweets. The finish line will also be well stocked.  Whilst we will ensure that water stations are well supplied, runners should ensure they are fully hydrated and also consider carrying their own water.

Going Green
To help reduce the carbon footprint of this race, we would like to encourage all our runners to bring their own camel packs or reusable cups for this race. Our teams at the water stations will be happy to fill any receptacle that you might bring with you so that you stay hydrated and racing fit! If you are able to car share, then this would be wonderful!

Your route & marshals...
Your course will be clearly marked using large route arrows and directional cones, as well as being marshalled throughout. Please listen and obey all marshal instructions given. There will be a sweep marshal which will follow the last runner to make sure that no one is left on the route. All marshals will remain in place until stood down by the sweep marshal.

Spectators
We always welcome anyone that would like to cheer on our runners and join the good spirit of the race by lending their encouragement and support. Spectators will find great vantage points from which to watch the race along the route and within the start & finish area. On course there will be crowds of spectators forming at the Wishing Tree Roundabout, at the top of Queensway in Ore Village and along the Seafront.

 

We are proud to invite our junior racers to the start line for their very own dedicated event so that they can experience the thrill of race day for themselves.

The race will take place at 10:45, after the main race start.

The race will start on the upper promenade level with breakwater 29, opposite Moreton Mansions, approximately 200m west of Hastings Pier and the race will finish at the main Half Marathon finish (on Sea Road).

This race will be chip timed and all runners will receive a finishers medal.

Parents are responsible for collecting their children at the finish line. 

We hope that you will join us in supporting our young runners with uproarious cheers as they cross the finish line!

 

 

Medals & Prizes
There will be a bespoke brass awarded to all finishers and prizes as stated on the website. Weather permitting, the presentation will take place approximately 45 - 60 minutes after the first runner has crossed the finish line and when all the prize winners have arrived home.

Please listen for announcements from your Race Director.

Results
Live and provisional results will be available on the Nice Work website asap after the race. If you have any questions regarding the live results, please ensure that you have emailed this through to us by midday on the following Thursday. Any changes submitted after this time will not be included in the final results.