The first major event of the year in Brighton and Hove will come to the city this weekend and it promises to be the biggest in its history. GARETH DAVIES brings you all you need to know on the 25th Vitality Brighton Half Marathon

This year, the race has joined the Vitality Run Series, which features the most prestigious half marathons across the country.

The race has grown from the 200 people from local running clubs that took part in the inaugural race in 1990 to the 12,500 who have registered from all over the world to take part tomorrow.

The Argus’s involvement in the race dates back 25 years too, because in the first ever race, the paper’s famous A-boards were used as mile-markers for the runners.

It’s one of the longest-standing half marathons in the country and has grown in popularity every year for two and a half decades.

In order to build on the event’s success, race director Martin Harrigan has promised a few surprises along the way.

He said: “The team here at The Sussex Beacon are really excited about delivering what will be our biggest ever Vitality Brighton Half Marathon.

“Twenty-five years is an incredible landmark for the race and we’re looking forward to welcoming runners to celebrate a very special year.

“We’ll be celebrating at the start of this year’s race with one or two surprises and all finishers will receive a commemorative 25th anniversary medal.

“Obviously the event would not be possible without the incredible support our runners receive out on the course and we really do believe that it’s the atmosphere that the city generates that makes the race so special and keeps runners returning year after year – here’s to the next 25 years.”

Ten years ago the race was transformed when electronic timing was introduced, and it has evolved into a tech-savvy, professional race.

Tomorrow’s race is seen by a number of the elite runners as the perfect training ground for the spring marathons, but the vast majority of those strapping on their trainers are amateur runners raising money for charity.

Five hundred volunteers from local running clubs, schools and charities will be scattered across the 13.1 mile course to make sure the race runs smoothly.

Despite there being a big chance of rain tomorrow, it will not dampen the spirits of the tens of thousands involved in the event.

Series set to headline in UK

Featuring seven of the UK’s most prestigious half-marathons and one 10k event during 2014/15, the Vitality Run Series will help to reinforce the Brighton Half Marathon as one of the country’s headline running events.

Expected to feature over 100,000 runners in its inaugural year, the series aims to encourage participation for all runners, experienced and beginners, and to create a vibrant community based around many of the nation’s best-loved running events.

Road closures:

The following roads will be closed (timings are approximate):

4am – 6pm: Madeira Drive

8.15am – 10am: Old Steine, Marlborough Place, Gloucester Place, Grand Parade, Pavilion Parade 8.15am – 11.15am: Marine Parade, Marine Drive

8.15am – 1pm: King’s Road to West Street (Westbound and Eastbound lanes)

9.15am – 1pm: King’s Road, Kingsway (Westbound lane only)

Youth races

The Youth Races are sponsored by Nick Rivett Sport.

Four hundred young runners are registered for the one-mile youth races, aimed at the following age groups who will be dressed in corresponding tops:

15-17 years old: Red

13-14 years old: Orange

11-12 years old: Yellow

7-10 years old: Green

ELITE RUNNERS

The 2013 and 2014 winner Paul Martelletti is back to defend his title. In 2014 Paul finished in 65.52 – the fastest time in the history of the race to date. Last year’s women’s winner Sarah Hill is also looking to bag gold again after she finished in 78.43 in 2014.

Elite lineup: Paul Whittaker

Sarah Kingston

Bel Levene

Clare Elms

Darryl Hards

Ismail Ssenyange

Tom Lau

Bob Page

Emily Collinge

Lewis Chalk

Andrew Leveson

Phil Gale

Tom Griffiths

Kevin Rojas

Maxwell Dumbrell

Emily Proto

Pete Woodward

Lesley Locks

Julia Davis

Matthew Spencer

Oliver Nokes

Deirdre McDermot

John Kettle

Robert Affleck

Daniel O’Boyle

James Baker

Andrea Holt

Matt Adcock

Euan Brown

Finn McNally

Simon Gill

Sarah Hill

Paul Martelletti

Karen Harris

Kev Mason

Neil Boniface

Notable runners: George Frogley: Celebrating his 80th birthday today and running with his daughter.

Fat Boy Slim: Norman Cook is running for Young Epilepsy Key partners: The Sussex Beacon, Vitality, Lucozade Sport, Nick Rivett Sport, Studio57 Clinic, Russell New, Visit Brighton and Brighton and Hove City Council.

Media partners: Heart FM, The Daily Telegraph and The Argus.

Key supporters: Frosts (providing the lead car) and FlipBelt (providing some of the prizes)

Headline charity: The Sussex Beacon Vitality Run

Series charity: Laureus

International charity: WaterAid

National charities: Scope and Rise

Associated charities: Chestnut Tree House, Chailey Heritage Foundation, Target TB, Prostrate Cancer UK, Young Epilepsy, Winstons Wish, JDRF, St Catherine’s Hospice, Teach First, Albion in the Community, Sussex Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Centre, The Early Birth Association, Wheels for Wellbeing, Impact Initiatives, Terrence Higgins Trust, The Grace Eyre Foundation, Blind Veterans UK, Amaze, The Lily Foundation, Home-Start, The Bhopal Medical Appeal, Friends of Brighton and Hove Hospitals, The Cairn Trust, BHT, The Sussex Heart Charity, Leukaemia Cancer Society, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund, Farm Africa, Joshua Hayday, St Barnabas Hospice and Rockinghorse.

Stats

36,000 water bottles will be used in this year’s race

30,000 Lucozade bottles will be used 

500 volunteers will help on race day

12,500 runners

Route for half-marathon

Starting on Madeira Drive, on the seafront between the Palace Pier and Brighton Marina, the race heads north past the grandeur of the Royal Pavilion towards the majesty of St Peter’s Church.

Turning at Gloucester Place, runners head south back down Grand Parade to the Old Steine before turning left on to Marine Parade.

The race then heads out on the road towards Ovingdean, past the regal Royal and Lewes Crescent architecture.

Continuing on Marine Drive and the bracing clifftops, the race will head towards the Blind Veterans UK centre, where a sharp turn on the road before the Greenways Roundabout will bring runners back west towards Brighton, enjoying the wonderful cliff top and panoramic city views.

Picking up pace runners then pass the iconic blue railings on Marine Parade, past the Palace Pier and the West Pier on the horizon.

Once past the piers runners will head into Hove along King’s Road.

Past the King Alfred Leisure Centre, runners then head to Hove Lagoon before turning left onto the seafront.

A great two-mile run past the colourful beach huts of Hove brings runners back to the Peace Statue, where the race rejoins the road for the last dash past cheering crowds to the finish on Madeira Drive.

The Vitality Brighton Half Marathon is organised by and is the main fundraising event for The Sussex Beacon, a Brighton HIV charity working to improve health, reduce stigma and prevent premature death.

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, they support men, women and families affected by HIV to manage this lifelong condition that has no cure through inpatient and outpatient services.

The Sussex Beacon’s Inpatient Unit helps people recovering from serious HIV related illnesses, initiating new drug therapies or struggling with some of the extreme side effects of anti-retroviral drug regimes.

They provide emotional and health support along with physiotherapy and occupational therapy. They also offer end of life care.

The Sussex Beacon supports the whole person’s health – physical and emotional.

Top tips for keeping safe on day

Elle Phillips, the director at Studio57 Clinic, gives us the four top dos and don’ts for staying injury free for the Brighton Half Marathon.

1. Don’t start off too fast. It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement. Stay focused and keep to your race pace to avoid injury and burn out.

2. Don’t eat or drink anything you’re not used to. You don’t want food poisoning, an upset tummy or indigestion for race day – do what you have practiced on your long runs.

3. Get ready. Get your kit, compression gear, foot salve, gels and race number ready. Don’t try anything you haven’t tested before as this is a recipe for blisters, chafing or injury.

4. Get a pre and post race massage. We’ll be there on race day to support you. It’s a great motivator for after or for a great warm up and leg loosener beforehand. We’ll have them feeling as good as new again.

Timings 

6.30am: Park and Ride opens at Brighton Racecourse (£10 per car) 

7am: Helpdesk opens to the east of the Palace Pier 

8.15am: Road closures start 

8.30am: Runners proceed to start pens 

9am: Start horn goes off to mark the start of the 2015 race

9.20am: Start of Youth Races 

11am Prize presentations 

2pm: Race village closes