01 / KNOW THE ROUTE
What the course asks of you
Downland and the South Downs
The routes run between Eastbourne and Seaford on the eastern edge of the South Downs National Park. Expect rolling chalk downland and forest trail, which the organiser sums up as a few ups and downs. Chalk can be slick in March, so grip matters.
The Seven Sisters
The headline is the Seven Sisters, the run of white chalk cliffs over the English Channel that the organiser puts at the heart of this event. Coastal chalk like this means short, steep climbs and drops, and they add up quickly in the legs. The village of East Dean sits on the marathon route and is the organiser’s favourite spot for supporters.
What 4,196 ft means
That much climbing makes this far slower than a road marathon. The course records are 3:14:49 for men and 3:49:58 for women. Judge your target time by effort and by previous hilly trail races, not by your road PB.
02 / BUILD THE BLOCK
How to prepare
Short, steep hills
The climbing comes in lots of short, sharp hits rather than one big mountain. Hill reps of one to three minutes, and long runs on rolling downland or any hilly trail you can reach, are the best preparation.
A winter trail build
Your training falls in December, January and February, so get used to mud, wind and short days. Run your long runs off-road where you can, in the shoes you plan to race in.
Practise the downhills
Steep chalk descents punish tired quads. Add some controlled downhill running each week, so your legs and your confidence are ready for the drops along the cliffs.
Keep your running and strength work in one place. Explore MaxMile for your Sussex trail marathon preparation, or compare the levels of personal coaching.
03 / PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Pace the race you have trained for
Forget your road marathon pace. Run by effort, hike the steepest climbs from the start, and keep something back for the second half, because overcooking the early hills is the easiest way to have a miserable last hour.
Fuel little and often from the first hour, as you would in a longer race. A trail marathon with this much climbing takes much longer than your road marathon time, and that changes how much you need to eat.
04 / MAKE ROOM FOR TRAINING
When should your block start?
The Endurancelife Sussex Marathon is on Saturday 6 March 2027, about 16 weeks from early November 2026. A 16-week block starts now, which suits runners who already have a road or trail marathon behind them. If this is your first marathon, start straight away and build carefully.
Christmas and New Year fall in weeks seven and eight, so plan one of them as a lighter week. Your longest hilly runs belong in late January and early February, then taper through the last two weeks. Online check-in, including the mandatory safety video, opens about two weeks before the race.
05 / SORT THE PRACTICAL BITS
Kit and race-weekend planning
The event base is Helen Gardens in Eastbourne. Check the organiser’s Participant Manual for the kit list, start times and parking, since charges may apply. The organiser sells an optional Event Safety Kit for £12 containing a whistle, foil blanket, sterile dressing, wipe and plasters, collected on race morning.
Endurancelife offers a full refund if you change your mind within 30 days of booking (for bookings made more than three months before the event), switching to another event more than 30 days out, and transfer to a friend up to 14 days before. The course is fully marked.
