Name: Dark Star River Marathon
Start: 2019-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
Location: 1 Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing BN43 5LT, UK
Rating: 4.5

Sign up for Dark Star River Marathon on Sun 27th Jan 2019. Learn how to enter, read reviews, get exclusive discounts, see photos, course maps, and results.  Running in 1 Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea, Lancing BN43 5LT, UK.

Dark Star River Marathon - Running in Shoreham-by-Sea

Marathon

Lovely course following the river and Downslink trail. Friendly atmosphere with plenty of well stocked aid stations with tasty hot food and beer to finish

Well....I certainly underestimated this event to say the least! This was my 4th trail marathon,Although a flat course it's very challenging even for more experienced runners! The slippy mud saps any energy you have!!But also achievable for first timers with grit and determination. At this time of year it's cold,wet and windy but once you get going it gets warmer and better! Lovely beautiful river route through West Sussex, I like that this event is cupless to reduce waste and stop littering the countryside. I don't understand why anyone would throw their rubbish in the countryside! But out of all the events IV done which is alot, sussex trail events do make a really good effort to keep the countryside clean and future races possible. As some races I see have been cancelled due to this issue.I often worry about taking a wrong turn as it's happened to me on a half marathon and on an ultra race But this race was very well marked with hazard tape, arrow sighns and some spray on the floor! Id say it would be hard to take a wrong turn on the dark Star River marathon.I used altra lonepeak, definitely need some shoes with more grip, deeper lugs as the mud is like nothing IV seen before! Sussex trail events I think are very well priced and affordable for the value you get from your experience.A brilliant medal too, one of the best IV earned so far and even better they do a river series where you can earn 4 medals from the 4 events throughout the year and they all join to make a big medal. Great friendly volunteers couldn't have been more helpful filling bottles for me as my hands were frozen! Another good thing about Sussex trail running is that they were able to accommodate me at the last minute, as the race was fully booked but they managed to get me in! I would highly recommend this race for anyone who wants a challenge! Nature and the element test everything you have on this race!To top it off there was free chilli,tea and coffee and some dark Star ale on tap for all finishers.I had a brilliant day and would highly recommend to anyone seeking a challenging run.Maybe not for a 1st time marathon as it's actually 28 miles, but regardless of the weather everyone turned up and most finished! Great day out and I look forward to the rest of the he races in the river series. I he next one is in may in arundul up the river arunBilly simmons

This is my second race with the wonderful Sussex Trail Events. They are brilliant! So well organised, very friendly, fabulous aid stations. Yes, the course was extremely muddy, but this didnt stop me from thoroughly enjoying the experience. Already looking forward to their next event, the Arun River Marathon in May 

Great route, easy to follow and well marshalled. Friendly atmosphere from both runners and Marshalls. Well placed and stocked aid stations, whats not to love! 

This was not a race.instead, it was hell of a torture of sliding, falling, slipping in tons to mud and slush. The fact that it rained whole evening previous day , kinda set the pitch. Legs were 5 kg heavier than normal. The additional 2 miles in the end was icing on the  of this ordeal. I would love to hate this race!!Having said that, experience was truly amazing. The comraderie among fellow runners was great. Everyone watched each other and helped to avoid injuries. I met some really great people. Hats off to volunteers and organizers who did tremendous job to man the aid stations (only 5) in remote places in cold, windy morning. Finished an HR later than what I planned for. But i underestimated this race and the muddy coarse. Easily add another hr to your marathon PB. A smiling face of Mrs at the end reduced all the pain and brought energy back. Ended the day with nice meal and couple of really nice Darkstar beer which we got along with a beautiful medal.Will I do it again? Well, definitely. I am already looking into other events organized by sussextrail in near future 

Great first time experience, could of done with slightly better signage at points, good atmosphere, tough course. 

My favourite worse race to date. Amazing people with an amazing course. But its put me off mud for life 

It was advertised as a tough muddy trail marathon plus, it certainly didnt disappoint! The weather was overcast and more importantly dry, however it had rained all weekend up until the run. After a relatively uneventful calm and not so soggy first 5km, the river trail path suddenly disappeared under mud, as did my trail shoes and feet, and so began the 11km of muddy muddy running. The middle 11km or so were a welcome break to mud and solid ground felt great on what were already tired legs. Training fail apparently! With continuous support all throughout from fellow runners who were no doubt feeling the ache, the remaining 16km in mid to the finish soon reappeared. To my delight the sun appeared and gave a welcome bout of dryness to some ground but the damage was done and nearing the airport, the wobbly path led me in to a very welcomed can of ale and a bowl of chilli, and although my first words were never again, we should know by now, never....... never means never!!!

I thoroughly recommend Dark Star! It was an excellent, challenging and exceptionally muddy race. It was also one of the friendliest races I've ever run. The selection of refreshments at the aid stations is incredible.  I've no doubt that I will sign up for more races by Sussex Trail Events.

Its a good fun race. My second time after running it in 2015

my first official ultra.  yay! im very proud to have finished what was an incredibly muddy course. Very difficult to run/walk at times and the stiles/approaches were pretty lethal. it was advertised as such though and having done a running recce i had an idea of conditions. the organisation, parking, aid stations, tea/coffee were all great. and so was the photographer*the group should have formed earlier at the start line to allow people to funnel to the back. (i found myself at the front...!)*the uneven concrete paving in the last half mile next to the airport was far from welcome and could/did cause injuries* is there a way of rating the course in those conditions? it took me over 7 hours to do 28+ miles. it had to be 35 or more equivalent in drier conditions. it might be an idea to reinforce the advertising regarding the difficulty.*finally - event t-shirt?  you'd wear that with pride!

This is a challenging run along the river out and back,which this time of year is muddy. It all starts from Shoreham scouts hut  and quickly picks up  the river heading north for around 12 miles where you then pick up the Downs Link trail up to west Grinstead old railway station. This is the turn round point back the way you came to the river. Where you cross the river and run back down. Following the river bank all the way back to the scouts hut to the finish. 28.2 miles.

A great value race,  beautiful scenery up and down the  river and the few miles of regular trail. Well spread out aid stations with a smorgasbord of refreshments including hot x buns & hot potatoes.The loose wet mud the full length of both sides of the river was exhausting mentally and physically,  and to finish off the last mile with pos & neg camber (V) paving slabs was cruel.  Many moments in the race I felt broken,  but too see the finish line,  the fantastic medal and the chilli and beer quickly made it disappear. I thought never again for at least an hour, but will be booking the other 3 races now to complete the full series.A hard but worthwhile race,  great support crew and fellow competitors and great to be a bit longer than a regular marathon. 

Very tough - great food and atmosphere - I like real food options at pit stops. Very muddy beyond belief but that's part of the challenge of course. I really think some mile markers would help - even just every 3 or 5, as I don't always trust my Garmin.

Dark Star River Marathon

Dark Star River Marathon

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Marathon

Sun, Jan 27, 2019

Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom

4.5
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Sunday, Jan 27, 2019

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Dark Star River Marathon

Dark Star River Marathon

Not quite ready to book?

Marathon

Sun, Jan 27, 2019

Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom

4.5((Reviews))

Perks of booking with Let's Do This

Sunday, Jan 27, 2019

Running in London Parks

Popular Categories

Company

Policies

Office

Follow Us

4.5
((Reviews))