Steyning Stinger.
The Steyning Stinger marathon is a mid-March trail loop from Steyning, run by Steyning Athletic Club. Its 896 metres of climbing matter less than the way they are spread out: a short wall past km 8, two long climbs, then a string of smaller rises that carries on as far as km 37.
Steyning Stinger 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The loop gets to work early. The first climb starts just before km 3 and stays moderate for almost a kilometre, but past km 8 comes the steepest of the big ascents: 750 metres at nearly twelve percent on average, peaking at around 20 percent. The longest stretch uphill follows from km 13.6. It lasts a little over two and a half kilometres at just above five percent and asks for rhythm more than strength.
The second half breaks the climbing into smaller pieces. Just before km 25 the course rises for another kilometre and a half, touching almost 15 percent. That is the last big climb but not the end of the work: four more rises follow between km 29 and 37, and only about a seventh of the whole loop is flat.
The route links points such as Wiston House, Chanctonbury Ring, Sullington Hill and Cissbury Ring. Drinks are served at Washington and North Farm, both on the A24, then at Cissbury Ring, Bostal Road, Upper Beeches and the finish. The race is licensed by the Trail Running Association, held under UK Athletics rules and registered as a UTMB Index event.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.9 | 1 km | 4.9 % | 12 % | +46 m | — |
| km 8.5 | 0.8 km | 11.7 % | 20.1 % | +88 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 13.6 | 2.7 km | 5.4 % | 11.1 % | +145 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 24.9 | 1.6 km | 6.4 % | 14.7 % | +101 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 28.7 | 0.7 km | 5.5 % | 12.3 % | +36 m | — |
| km 33.3 | 0.9 km | 4.2 % | 6.1 % | +37 m | — |
| km 36 | 1 km | 7 % | 10.8 % | +72 m | — |
| km 37.3 | 0.9 km | 4.7 % | 10.1 % | +40 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 Steyning Stinger.
Start under control
At around 21 metres of ascent per kilometre the Stinger never settles, yet it is no mountain marathon: most of it moves moderately up and down, and only about a seventh of the distance is steep. A fixed kilometre split means nothing here, so pace by effort.
Hold your rhythm
The trap sits past km 8. That ramp arrives on fresh legs, and running all of it gets billed on the long climb from km 13.6. On slopes of up to 20 percent a brisk walk costs little time and saves a lot of strength.
Spend what is left
The marathon is decided between km 25 and 37. The last big climb needs patience once more, and after it the only question is whether you can keep running the smaller rises and stay fluid on the descents between them. Use the drinks stations from the very start, because whatever is missing at km 30 cannot be recovered on this ground.
Training plan for Steyning Stinger: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners spend roughly four and a half to six and a half hours on the Stinger, depending on form. That is a long aerobic effort broken up again and again by the switch between climbing and descending: short spikes on the steep pieces, and recovery only where you can stay relaxed going down.
Train race pace
Two abilities carry this race. You need strength for very steep ground, because the wall past km 8 cannot be solved by running alone. And you need to be able to jog uphill late on, since the rises from km 29 meet legs that have already been working for hours.
Rehearse the course
So build your long runs with the load at the end: put the hills in the second half, ideally several short climbs after two to three hours on your feet. Add a weekly session of repeats on a very steep slope, mixing fast walking and running. Downhill running on tired legs matters just as much, since the loop descends as far as it climbs and your quads decide whether the closing kilometres are still a run.
Arrive fresh
The 14 March date puts the whole build in winter, with the longest sessions falling in January and February. Use them to practise drinking and eating on the move, especially around steep sections, and find out what your stomach still accepts after four hours of up and down.
Courses
Download the Steyning Stinger course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Steyning Stinger dynamically
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Everything about Steyning Stinger.
How long is Steyning Stinger?
Steyning Stinger is 42.2 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 Steyning Stinger have?
Steyning Stinger has around 896 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Steyning Stinger?
Steyning Stinger is classified as Hilly, averaging 21.3 vertical metres per kilometre. 15% of the route is flat, 34% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 8% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Steyning Stinger have?
The hardest climb of Steyning Stinger starts at kilometre 13.6, runs for 2.7 km at an average of 5.4% and gains 145 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Steyning Stinger a loop course?
Yes, Steyning Stinger is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Steyning Stinger course?
Yes. The Steyning Stinger 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 Steyning Stinger?
Preparation for Steyning Stinger should account for 42.2 km, 896 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 Steyning Stinger?
The pacing strategy for Steyning Stinger should reflect 42.2 km, 896 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 Steyning Stinger take place?
Steyning Stinger takes place on March 14, 2027.
Where does Steyning Stinger take place?
Steyning Stinger takes place in Steyning, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Steyning Stinger offer?
Steyning Stinger offers 3 distances — Marathon: 42.2 km; 30K: 30 km; Half Marathon: 21.1 km.
How do I register for Steyning Stinger?
Registration runs through the organiser: steyningac.co.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
