The first ever Brighton Marathon took place today. A gloriously sunny day (when did I stop finding the sun horrible to run in?) and another new PB for me – 3:40:54.  Yes, that’s ten minutes quicker than at Paris last week. It’s the first time I’ve decided to try to run a PB and actually been successful too (I tried it a couple of times before, but gave up after the first few miles of trying too hard). Running between Paris and Brighton consisted of five 10-mile runs, two of which were on my hilly route. Makes me wonder if that tapering lark really is really necessary. 
The course was rather nice and after a few mildly lumpy bits int he first half, it flattened out for the second. The start was delayed quarter of an hour and the T shirt is cotton, but otherwise a top notch event. Great marshaling, loads of support, plenty of water, fantastic atmosphere. I reckon I might have to pop back next year to do it again.

(At this point I thought – but she’s just got a Good For Age entry for London if she wants it!… and then remembered that of course she might just do Brighton and London, because this is Anna…. Ed)

I managed to meet one fellow VRUK member in the starting pen, though I caught a glimpse of a couple more on the way round.

After the event, we went to the Fortune of War pub down on the seafront, where I met up with Jim, plus my big brother and two nieces, as well as several 100 Club folk and Fetchies. Roger Biggs presented me with my 100 Marathon Club medal. It’s shiny. I wore the 100 club vest today, but I’ll be back in VRUK attire at Shakespeare next week.