Run to the Sea Brighton.
Run to the Sea Brighton is an ultra with a simple premise: 50 km from Horsham to the seafront at Brighton. Almost half the distance is close to level before the climb onto the downs begins, and that switch is what your preparation has to target.
Run to the Sea Brighton 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course is a single line from Horsham to Brighton over mixed terrain: trails, the rolling downs and, at the very end, the seafront promenade. The first 20-odd kilometres lose height slowly with only gentle undulation. The odd part is that shortly before kilometre 24 you are practically at sea level already, with the sea itself still almost half the distance away on the far side of the downs.
That is where the longest climb of the day begins, nearly 190 metres of ascent in a little over two and a half kilometres. The steepest pitches reach 15 percent. It does not settle down on top: until past kilometre 40 the course stays high and keeps trading ramps for descents. The hardest ramp comes at kilometre 32 at over 11 percent on average, and the high point follows only around kilometre 37, at just over 200 metres, after a long, gentler drag.
From there the course drops clearly for a good five kilometres before kicking up one more time at kilometre 44. This last climb gains just over 60 metres in not quite a kilometre and a half. After that it is almost entirely downhill until the race ends at the coast, on Brighton's promenade.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 23.8 | 2.7 km | 7.1 % | 15 % | +188 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 27.5 | 0.4 km | 7 % | 9.1 % | +30 m | — |
| km 29 | 0.6 km | 6.7 % | 12.4 % | +37 m | — |
| km 32.2 | 0.7 km | 11.4 % | 16.2 % | +77 m | — |
| km 35.1 | 0.7 km | 6.8 % | 9.9 % | +49 m | — |
| km 36 | 1.8 km | 4.1 % | 7.6 % | +73 m | — |
| km 39.2 | 0.6 km | 6.5 % | 9.6 % | +36 m | — |
| km 44 | 1.4 km | 4.4 % | 8.4 % | +62 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Run to the Sea Brighton.
Start under control
How you handle the level first 23 km decides what you have left for the downs. Two of the four feed stations, set roughly every 10 km, fall in this section, and you want to reach both feeling as if you have barely started. The staggered starts also take away the usual comparison: the runner beside you may have set off minutes before or after you, so run to feel and not to the field.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 24 and 38, where most of the climbs come in quick succession. Hike the steep parts of the first ascent and the ramp at kilometre 32 briskly rather than forcing a run. The aim is to get back into a run on the gentler ground between them every single time, because that is where your finish time is made.
Spend what is left
The trap sits behind the high point. The long descent feels like the road home, but let it run away from you and you pay on the climb at kilometre 44, which arrives after the last feed station. The drop to the promenade only rewards those whose quads still work.
Training plan for Run to the Sea Brighton: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes should expect around five and a half to eight hours. The day splits into two efforts: a steady aerobic run on level ground, then a far more broken mix of hard hiking, running and descending. The only real spikes come on the ramps, and walking lets you cap those yourself.
Train race pace
The key session is the long run with its hills at the end: two to three hours as flat as you can find, and only then the climbing. If you always collect your ascent on fresh legs you are training past this race, since the first real hill here comes after hours of work. Practise brisk uphill hiking on slopes of 10 to 15 percent along the way, because that is what the two hardest pitches ask for.
Rehearse the course
Descents need their own work. The course loses more height than it gains over the final third, and the way to the finish runs downhill on tired legs. So put downhill stretches at the end of long sessions, and run regularly on changing ground, from trail to firm surfaces, because the race changes underfoot too and ends on the promenade.
Arrive fresh
With the date in early May, your longest sessions fall in March and April. Use them to rehearse eating and drinking on the 10 km rhythm of the feed stations. The route arrives before race day as a GPS file, so load a course onto your watch for a long run and follow it, and navigating on the day will be nothing new.
Courses
Download the Run to the Sea Brighton course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Run to the Sea Brighton dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Run to the Sea Brighton.
How long is Run to the Sea Brighton?
Run to the Sea Brighton is 50 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Run to the Sea Brighton have?
Run to the Sea Brighton has around 770 m of elevation gain over 50 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Run to the Sea Brighton?
Run to the Sea Brighton is classified as Rolling, averaging 15.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 30% of the route is flat, 28% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 4% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Run to the Sea Brighton have?
The hardest climb of Run to the Sea Brighton starts at kilometre 23.8, runs for 2.7 km at an average of 7.1% and gains 188 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Run to the Sea Brighton a loop course?
No, Run to the Sea Brighton is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Run to the Sea Brighton course?
Yes. The Run to the Sea Brighton course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Run to the Sea Brighton?
Preparation for Run to the Sea Brighton should account for 50 km, 770 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Run to the Sea Brighton?
The pacing strategy for Run to the Sea Brighton should reflect 50 km, 770 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Run to the Sea Brighton 2027 take place?
Run to the Sea Brighton 2027 takes place on May 8, 2027.
Where does Run to the Sea Brighton 2027 take place?
Run to the Sea Brighton 2027 takes place in Horsham, United Kingdom.
How do I register for Run to the Sea Brighton?
Registration runs through the organiser: runtothesea.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
