The Grand Hotel Mini Mile Launch

The Grand Hotel Mini Mile Races were launched at Balfour Junior School on January 10^th last week, with Olympic champion and world record holder Sally Gunnell. Sally gave an inspiring talk to 50 of the pupils who were then taken for a training spin by her husband Jon Bigg. Also present for the launch were the Grand Hotel General Manager Andrew Mosley and Brighton Marathon Race Director Tim Hutchings.

The kids had a great day, and are most definitely raring to go for the big race. This is the second consecutive year for the age-related mile races, which will be staged along the seafront as part of the Brighton Marathon. It promises to be a huge success with hundreds of youngsters taking part.

The Grand Hotel Mini Mile Races are open to 8 - 17 year olds and are a fantastic opportunity for children to be a part of marathon day and to experience the thrill of running the last mile of the marathon route. There will be 8 races and the first will start at 8:30am. The Start is situated near to the Peace Statue in Hove and the finish is on Madeira Drive.

All participants receive a souvenir T-shirt, and each finisher will be presented with a Goody Bag and Medal.

To register please visit the Brighton Marathon Mini Mile web page.

New York Marathon visit

The largest of all marathons, The ING New York City Marathon, took place on 7th November and some of the Brighton team were lucky enough to pop over and run it!

Arriving on the Thursday before race day, the team checked into their town house hotel and headed straight out for long awaited cheeseburgers and beer. What a treat after a 9 hour flight! (Of course, both Sarah and Holly who were there to run the marathon, declined such sinful treats and begrudgingly tucked into a salad. Poor things.)

As well as being able to do some research, snoop around the official New York Marathon expo, chat with the organisers and take notes on race day, the team also seized the opportunity to go for a jog around Central Park. What a day for it too - crystal blue skies, autumn leaves, city views .... and about 5,000 other runners all warming up for the following day!

Marathon day came around and the nerves started to kick in. A very anxious Sarah and Holly jumped aboard the early morning marathon bus, which ferried them to the start line and the throng of runners waiting patiently in the bitter morning cold.

However, despite the temperature and some rather unappealing cold porridge that Sarah had brought with her (she doesn't recommend it!), the day was beautiful, the atmosphere electric and both girls managed to finish their first New York Marathon. An amazing experience for all of us.

The champagne flowed, smiles all round and we finished off the trip in style in the bar of the spectacular Standard Hotel, with breathtaking views right across the city. Wonderful memories.

Award Winning Team!

Party, party, party. The Brighton Marathon team have been super busy these last few weeks, with events coming out of our ears.

We've hosted a brilliant thank you party for all of our wonderful volunteers earlier this year, a charity launch party for our charity partners in 2011 and the first training day for those running Year 2.

We've also been fortunate enough to pick up some very nice awards from The Argus including Community Event of the Year! A big thank you to all those who voted for us; it makes all the hard work, sweat and tears worthwhile.

Photos for the parties and training days can all be found on our Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000939279221

Teenage Cancer Trust hosted a fantastic campaign launch on Brighton Pier last night, in order to fundraise for a new unit at The Royal Marsden hospital. The Brighton Marathon team stopped in to show their support and to encourage people to sign up and run for the charity in next year's race.

The 13-bed unit, which is due to open next June, will cost the Teenage Cancer Trust more than £3m to build.

It will mean that for the first time young cancer patients from across Kent, Sussex and Surrey will be treated with others their own age, in an environment suited to their needs.

Some very inspirational speeches were given by previous cancer patients, parents of patients and the TCT team. In true TCT style they also managed to inject some fun into the evening by way of fish and chips, bubbles and free rides on the dodgems. Needless to say the BM team had a thoroughly brilliant evening, complete with dodgem induced whiplash to prove it. I think we even spotted the new Mayor having a little fun on the dancefloor...

If you wish to run the Brighton Marathon for our Official National Charity Partner, Teenage Cancer Trust please visit here http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/get-involved/as-a-fundraiser/treks-and-challenges/brighton-marathon-2011/"

We are absolutely stunned with how well our first ever Brighton Marathon went and gather that the vast majority of you had a great day. However, we know that there are loads of things we need to work on in order to make the 2011 event bigger and better.

We’ve listened to what you’ve been saying by phone and email and of course have read comments on a variety of websites, so we are on the case! Amongst improvements and adjustments we’ll be making for the 2011 Brighton Marathon, are the following:

The Start

There will be more loos in the Start area - some will be for Runners Only!

We will have bigger signs indicating the Start Corrals.

We will have better music before the Start (sorry if you like loud Techno-funk, but the race director does not!).

We will have more catering at the Start.

The Course

We will have a sports drink station earlier in the race than 10 Miles.

We will have more music on the route generally.

We will make the Power Station loop (19-23 Miles) more interesting – more bands/music/support (but marathons are meant to be tough)!

We will make sure that the stretch along Hove Prom (23-25 miles) has separation between the runners and the spectators (this was planned, but we ran out of time to get the cones & rope in place).

We will have more crossing points for spectators on the route.

We're working on the pinch-points so you can enjoy unhindered running.

Finish

We will have easier exiting from the Repatriation Area at the Finish.

We will aim to provide transport from Repatriation to the centre of town (it’s less than a mile, but OK...you’re tired).

General

We will make sure there are no errors (as far as possible), in the Race Timing.

We will make sure there are no long queues at the Park & Ride sites.

We are planning to increase the size of the race – with caution.

We are planning to keep the entry fee the same as for 2010 for individuals.