Brighton Half Marathon

So, about a year ago, after a coffee at the local Northala Fields parkrun, we got chatting about how lovely the weather was looking at the Brighton half-marathon that year and how fun it looked. That’s when the idea of having a club outing there took root. Now, fast forward to 1st March 2026, and many of us have signed up, with only a few injuries and other commitments holding us back. We’ve got over twenty club runners representing HAC on the south coast! 

A few of us thought it would be a good idea to kick off the weekend with a ‘shake-out’ run at Brighton and Hove parkrun. Because of the big race, the parkrun had more people than usual, with almost 600 runners! It was a lovely, wide tarmac course that went around three times, with a bit of a gentle hill. I think some of us were tempted to go fast, but decided to save our energy for the main event the next day! A couple of us were excited to meet British comedian and actor Joe Wilkinson, who is an advocate for the mental and physical benefits of parkrunning. 

After a delightful day filled with scavenger hunts, sightseeing, and a carb-loading group dinner at Brighton’s Shelter Hall, we decided to call it a night early, all set for the big show!

Sunday’s weather was a bit different from what was ‘advertised’ in our initial talks back last year. It was a chilly southerly wind off the coast, and we got our fair share of British drizzle! As usual, there was a bit of a scramble to get to the loo, drop off our bags, and warm up, all while trying not to freeze in our little HAC club vests!

Once the race got going, we had massive support from crowds of people, including friends and family. The course followed Brighton’s famous landmarks, including the Palace Pier, Royal Pavilion, the cliff tops, Madeira Drive, the beach huts, and promenade! With a few gentle inclines, it was the headwind when heading west that was the toughest! Not the most pleasant of conditions for almost 10,000 runners running 13.1 miles!

First across the line for Hillingdon AC was Ryan Hamdy, who finished with an incredible 40th out of nearly 10,000 runners and 4th in his category in a time of 01:15:56! Ryan said:

“I used this race to test a 5-week training block, but the weather conditions made the course challenging. Despite the wind and rain, I persevered and finished. I’m pleased with the outcome and have newfound confidence in achieving a respectable time. I look forward to racing again.”

Second in for HAC was Jack Chubb with 1hr18, followed by Nikki Penty-Alvarez, who was 64th female with a time of 1hr31. Who quoted “You know when the inside of a bin liner is your happy place, things are bad! 😆”

The second female in was Chloe Charles in 1hr35, who has been smashing her PBs recently following her recent Valencia marathon training. Chloe said: “Fab weekend in Brighton with team HAC! Despite the wind and rain, it was so lovely to see so many of the team running and spectating. Super pleased to achieve a half-marathon PB!”

Others also quoted the weekend and race as follows:

Paul McCay: “Had a fantastic weekend in Brighton. Lovely to see so many HAC people; it felt like a real club event. The weather could have been nicer, but I was really pleased with my run. Best of all, though, was sharing the experience with friends.”

Andy Murphy: “A fabulous weekend on the Brighton HAC takeover 2026. Mystery Treasure Hunts filled pre-race days with a great social meal to build the pre-race excitement. Stormy race day outlook, but when you cheer a fellow HAC racer on the switchback or receive cheers from a coach or spectator, the boost gets you to the line!”

Liz Clark: “Such a great weekend with HAC running friends. Such a cold and wet day to be running. Wonderful to run with Steph and Debbie at the start – listening to their chatter. Couldn’t keep up with them though. Super happy to have finished – even though in 21st place! Roll on next time!”

Jackie Harding: A fantastic weekend in Brighton for our HAC crew — parkrun miles, mystery-guide exploring, great company throughout, and proud to support at the Brighton Half Marathon for our brilliant HAC runners. 🏃‍♂️👏 Weekends like this are a great reminder that running is about more than results — it’s about community, fresh air, shared experiences and the positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.

Karen O’Rourke: I’m still buzzing from a weekend away with the HAC gang of like-minded runners embracing the elements of the Brighton Half Marathon! Wonderful camaraderie, support, fun and great running in challenging conditions! Well done all, and thank you.

Spencer Harding: My first half-marathon since Manchester last October is an achievement, especially considering my many current injuries, super chuffed with my result! The HAC turnout was amazing, including spectators braving the awful weather. It was a fantastic weekend and one for the memory books. ❤️🤍

And finally, Zoe Dobbs: 
In the starting pen: “Come to Brighton” Spencer said, “…it will be fun he said”. I contemplated my life choices in the starting pen, listening to the bin bags fluttering and teeth chattering of my fellow HAC runners. Kathy was either visualising her run or considering her options after killing Karen for making her sign up. Karen and Chloe were energetic and enthusiastic, ready to run, while Paul, Lynn, and I braced ourselves for the 13.1 miles ahead in wind and rain.

Mile 1-4: After dodging runners and puddles, I settled into a rhythm with Paul and Lynn. The rain and wind were forgotten; it felt good to run again with the HAC crew. Legs felt good, and I could run all day.

Mile 5-9: As we started the out-and-back, we saw the super speedy front-runners of HAC on their way back to the seafront. They shouted encouragement and secretly wondered how they could be sooo far ahead. We headed to the farthest point of the course, turned, and headed back down with the wind in our faces.

Halfway through the 2-year-old energy gel, which tasted weird, I decided to stick to water. The gurgling of my stomach took away the thoughts of my legs feeling the lack of training. Paul pushed on, Lynn eased off to have a gel, and I was on my own. It will end! A welcome sight was John on the sidelines shouting: “Look tall, work the arms, look like a runner…!”

Mile 10-Finish: As I plodded down the long road towards the fish factory, my stomach did an impression of a washing machine spin cycle. I glanced over and saw the finish line. Not long to go; only another 4 miles. I saw Ryan and Jack coming out of the bag drop, finished, warmed down, and changed. I trudged along, fearing I’d end up in Worthing.

At mile 11, we turned back towards the finish. With a tailwind and the final 2 miles ahead, I felt invigorated and pushed on. As I crossed the finish line, I was greeted by HAC supporters braving the cold, wind, and rain. I strolled back to the car, checking the results and photos of happy runners. I thought about booking again for next year.