Beachy Head Marathon to go ahead in Eastbourne with social distancing measures

Events will be different this year, being stretched out over two weekends to help make the popular off-road runs Covid-safe.

The Beachy Head Marathon will be taking place on October 24, with its support races taking place on different days.

The Beachy Head Half Marathon will take place on October 18 and the Beachy Head 10k will take place on October 25.

It is one the biggest off-road marathons in the UK. Formerly known as the Seven Sisters Marathon, it is popular for its scenic and challenging route through the South Downs National Park countryside. The Beachy Head Half is new to the event and begins on Sunday October 18. The route will include much of the marathon route. The 10k run will loop across the Downs to Belle Tout Lighthouse and back.

The runs will all start and finish at St Andrew’s Prep in Meads Street.

Whilst the Beachy Head Marathon is a well supported event, numbers are lower than the mass participation events, where social distancing on public transport and at the event is virtually impossible to achieve.

Eastbourne Borough Council organises the event each year and says it has safety plans in place to protect participants against Covid-19.

The event will have a different feel with safety measures including a larger holding area at St Andrew’s School playing field and a new start waves procedure, which will ensure social distancing is maintained.