Steyning Stinger Mararthon - 2011

Steyning Stinger Marathon - 6/3/2011

Not sure why I keep choosing to do this marathon. Always seems like a good idea when taping your credit card details in and this year I should have known better.

The Stinger is so called because of the 4 stings. The stings in are the 4 massive up hills you do. It is also off road on a combination of country lanes, farm tracks, paths and tracks. Starting in Steyning, West Sussex. It climbs up and down the south downs, then almost into Worthing before heading back to the start.

It is an early start. The mass marathon start is at 8:30am. However, they ask you to be there an 1 hour before. I arrived in plenty of time so no queue as the registration desk. I got my number and got my kit together.

The start opened at 8:00am for walkers, and you can go off at any point after that and before the mass start. So at 8:10 I made my way to the start. Quick chat with the starter and off, I went.

Run around a field and out onto a country lane. Through Wiston House and onto the 2 mile mark. Then into the woods and a small step climb, so I walked (as was everyone else). Steep drop out of the wood and across a field. I was wondering why everyone was not taking the most direct route across the field. Then I found out why. It was almost flooded. I ploughed through, cross country style. Over the style into Washington Village to the first drinks station. I had a camelbak so avoid the station and continued on.

Between the 4.5 and 6 mile mark, you hit the South Downs Way and climb from 263ft to 657ft. You then take advantage of the next few miles, which are flat or downhill as you drop from 657ft to the 8 mile mark at 300ft. Then comes a tough climb from 8.5 miles to the highest part of the course at 10 miles a total climb of nearly 400ft. Worth the climb as the views are amazing.

It is then downhill for the next few miles to the half way point. You then run past the Cissbury Ring and down to Worthing Golf Club. Through the golf course and onto a chalk path at the 15 mile mark. Then another climb from 148ft to 545ft as you go back to Cissbury ring.

That loop done you head down hill around an undulating loop around Steep Down and head towards the 21 mile mark. At this point, I was really starting to feel it, so when I saw my wife and kids, I used it an  opportunity to dump of  the stuff I was carrying, I would not need (and did not need) so out went to the hat, spare gloves and jackets.

From 21 miles to 24 miles is the most soul destroying climb of all. Your tired, you ache, you want to get this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible. Let there is a 460ft continuous climb for the next 3 miles. This is where you have to call on every bit of mental strength you have to keep pushing forward, all you can see ahead of you is a hill. When you reach the 24 mile mark it is downhill.

However, not a nice easy downhill. This a half mile suicide run through the woods, with tree roots, mud pools and massive lumps of flint there to trip you up, then you have to avoid the walkers and dogs enjoying there day out. Concentration is key. You have to pick your route carefully. Out to the woods it is back along farm tracks to Wiston House, to the last little climb before hitting the 26 mile mark and the final push home.

Pleased with the time of 4:47 which is a massive lump off last years time.