Sea If You Can PB

Almost 3,000 runners enjoyed fast running in Worthing…

A cheeky seagull, the work of local artist HORACE, was both the event mascot and medal inspiration for Worthing Run-Fest where there were 2,834 finishers in the three-race programme on Sunday 28 April 2024. This was welcome inflation on the 1,984 finishers last year when the medals were ice cream themed – as reported here at runABC South.

Worthing Half Marathon starts and finishes in Steyne Gardens, where the Race HQ is situated, and follows a fully road-closed route that hugs Worthing Promenade. There are 37 metres of elevation gain in the 13.1 miles, so this is one of the flattest and fastest courses in the south.

The weather may have been disappointing but spirits were high as 1,413 finished the half in 3:36:15 to collect their seagull medals that doubled as bottle openers. First past the post, as he so often is, was Chichester Runners' race machine James Baker (M45, 1:11:20) – winner of more than 1,100 races and parkruns. Patrick Maher (Brighton Phoenix, 1:13:06) and Charlie Baldwin (Worthing & District Harriers, 1:13:37) tussled for the other podium places.

The 2024 women's half marathon champion was W35 Georgie Bruinvels (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC) who finished in a rapid 1:17:37. The runners-up were Kate Natkiel (Brighton Phoenix, 1:25:21) and W40 Ellen Brookes (Lewes AC, 1:25:34). Just over 100 finished inside 90 minutes.

In the 10K, there were 1,191 finishers in 1:47:04 and the winners were M35 Andrew McCaskill (unattached, 32:46) and W35 Becky Morrish (Paddock Wood AC, 38:30) – one of six females among the 56 athletes inside 40 minutes.

The Guild Care Worthing Family Mile is an important feature at Run-Fest and this year's run was enjoyed by 230 runners who recorded times from 6:06 to 25:17.

The atmosphere at Worthing RUN-FEST is captured in this short video.....