Children on the Edge Chichester Half Marathon

MILE 1 - 5 (Chichester to Lavant): the course leaves in an easterly direction towards the Westgate Roundabout and onto West Street, In just under half a mile the Cathedral can be seen on your right and the City Cross on your left. Into East Street and then to the East Walls of the City where the course turns north and the first mile mark.

The course then winds round the eastern side of Priory Park over Oaklands Way and past the Tennis courts into Oaklands Park, with a gentle uphill half a mile to the Rugby Club to the first water station.

The course then passes through Summersdale with the flint walls of the former Royal Military Police Barracks on your left. Just after the 2 mile marker the course goes down Fordwater Lane out into the country.

For three quarters of a mile the course uses public footpaths crossing the River Lavant into East Lavant village, which is at approx mile 3. Most of this part of the course is fairly flat, climbing no more than 40 metres in total. The course emerges by the local stables from where it leaves the tarmac road to wind its way up Chalk Pit Lane.

The early part of the lane is mainly flint and flat but then the course starts to climb and becomes chalky, eroded in parts. The next mile is a fairly tough climb rising by about 100 metres. From 4.5 to 5 miles the climb is gentler, and offers stunning views of the South Downs.

MILE 5 - 13 (Lavant - The Trundle - Chichester)

At 5 miles you can take a drink and prepare yourself for the sharp ascent to the top of the Trundle, an Iron Age fortification site. The course rises by about 50 metres in just under half a mile and the loose flint terrain accentuates the severity. At the top take a look at the splendid views over Chichester Harbour, the Sussex Coast and the eastern side of the Isle of Wight. Below you will see Chichester Cathedral, which you passed some five miles earlier. On the Eastern side of the Trundle you'll have a fine view of the Horse Racing circuit before taking the sharp grassy ascent to the Trundle car park and mile 6 where water again will be available.

Runners then leave the Trundle for West Dean woods – a steady downhill section of more than a mile over country footpaths arriving shortly in West Dean village. There is a short incline on the road to the Midhurst Road before runners head south along the cycle path back towards Chichester.

At Binderton the course leaves the main road and takes the footpath to the Lavant Valley and just before 9 miles the runners take to sand packed track for about a mile arriving into the residential area of Mid Lavant . This part of the course is fairly level as is the next section through the houses where there is the next water station.

The course then joins Centurion way which is followed for nearly three miles back into the City of Chichester. Here runners will find a corridor of support posters put together by local children. There is another water station in this section and with the exception of a loop around the fields the course is fully tarmacked with a fall of some 50 metres over its entire length.

The views vary from open fields to more densely residential developments until you reach Bishop Luffa School at about 12.5 miles. It is then just a short distance to the finish in the rear of the College car park for a well – earned rest and some much needed refreshments.

The course leaves in an easterly direction from the College towards the Westgate Roundabout and onto West Street, In just under half a mile the Cathedral can be seen on your right and the City Cross on your left. Into East Street and then to the East Walls of the City where the course turns north and the first mile mark.

The course then winds round the eastern side of Priory Park over Oaklands Way and past the Tennis courts into Oaklands Park, with a gentle uphill half a mile to the Rugby Club to the first water station.

The course then passes through Summersdale with the flint walls of the former Royal Military Police Barracks on your left. Just after the 2 mile marker the course goes down Fordwater Lane out into the country.

For three quarters of a mile the course uses public footpaths crossing the River Lavant into East Lavant village, which is at approx mile 3. Most of this part of the course is fairly flat, climbing no more than 40 metres in total. The course emerges by the local stables from where it leaves the tarmac road to wind its way up Chalk Pit Lane.

The early part of the lane is mainly flint and flat but then the course starts to climb and becomes chalky, eroded in parts. The next mile is a fairly tough climb rising by about 100 metres. From 4.5 to 5 miles the climb is gentler, and offers stunning views of the South Downs.

MILE 5 - 10 (Lavant - Chichester)

At 5 miles you can give yourself a pat on the back – you are halfway! With the hardest bit behind you, take a drink and prepare yourself to return to Chichester. A left turn (don't follow the half marathoners who are climbing the Trundle!) takes you to footpath in front of the large flint house, take the left hand fork along the side of the field on your left hand side. At the end of the field pass through a gate and take a steep descent down the grassy bank to the Lavant Valley below. Then take a hard left onto the Lavant Valley footpath re-joining the half marathon course.

The runners then take to sand packed track for about a mile arriving into the residential area of Mid Lavant. This part of the course is fairly level as is the next section through the houses where there is the next water station.

The course then joins Centurion way which is followed for nearly three miles back into the City of Chichester. Here runners will find a corridor of support posters put together by local children. There is another water station at the beginning of Centurion way and then the ten milers DO NOT do the loop around the field. This part of the course is fully tarmacked with a fall of some 50 metres over its entire length. The views vary from open fields, sporadic housing to more densely residential developments until one reaches Bishop Luffa School at just over 9 miles. It is then just a short distance to the finish in the rear of the College car park for a well – earned rest and some much needed refreshments.

LEG ONE (approximately 3.6 miles)

The course leaves in an easterly direction towards the Westgate Roundabout and then into West Street, In just under half a mile the Cathedral can be seen on your right and the City Cross on your left. Into East Street and then to the East Walls of the City where the course turns north and shortly afterwards the first mile is completed. The course then winds round the eastern side of Priory Park over Oaklands Way and past the Tennis courts into Oaklands Park keeping the Festival Theatre on your left. The course across Oaklands Park is about half a mile on a gentle uphill grassy slope to the Rugby Club where there is the first water station.

The course then passes through the residential area of Summersdale with the grounds of the Graylingwell Hospital on your right and the flint walls of the former Royal Military Police Barracks on your left. Just after the 2 mile marker the course leaves the residential area and goes down Fordwater Lane out into the country.

For three quarters of a mile the courses uses public footpaths through agricultural land crossing the River Lavant to the village of East Lavant, which is at approximately 3 miles. Much of this part of the course is fairly flat climbing no more than 40 metres in total. As you turn into Lower Road on the east side of East Lavant, you will be approaching the first HANDOVER POINT which is 250 metres just below the Royal Oak pub (Lower Road).

LEG TWO (approximately 3.8 miles)

The course continues past the local stables from where it leaves the tarmac road to wind its way up Chalk Pit Lane.

The early part of the lane is mainly flint and flat but then the course starts to climb and the terrain is mainly chalk, heavily eroded in parts. Over the next mile the lane is a fairly tough climb rising by about 100 metres – a rifle range is passed on your right at approximately 4 miles. From 4.5 to 5 miles the climb is gentler giving the runner time to take in the splendid views of the rolling South Downs.

At 5 miles you can take a drink and prepare yourself for the sharp ascent to the top of the Trundle, which is an Iron Age fortification site. The course rises by about 50 metres in just under half a mile and the loose flint terrain accentuates the severity. Once nearing the top take a look at the splendid views over Chichester Harbour, the Sussex Coast and the eastern side of the Isle of Wight. Below you will see Chichester Cathedral, which you passed some five miles earlier. On the Eastern side of the Trundle you will have a fine view of the Horse Racing circuit before taking the sharp grassy ascent to the Trundle car park and mile 6 where water again will be available.

Runners then leave the Trundle for West Dean woods – a steady downhill section of more than a mile over country footpaths with the usual terrain this brings arriving shortly in West Dean village for the SECOND HANDOVER near The Dean pub, just before the third water station and prior to turning left on to the cycle track beside the Midhurst road.

LEG THREE (approximately 5.9 miles)

There is a short incline on the road to the Midhurst road before runners head southerly along the cycle path back towards Chichester. The course then joins Centurion way, which is followed for nearly three miles back into the City of Chichester. Here runners will find a corridor of motivational and support posters put together by local children. There is another water station in this section and with the exception of a loop around the fields the course is fully tarmacked with a fall of some 50 metres over its entire length. The views vary from open fields, sporadic housing to more densely residential developments until you reache Bishop Luffa School at about 12.5 miles.

​It is then just a short distance to the finish in the rear of the College car park where the rest of your team will greet you and you can get a well – earned rest and some much needed refreshments.