Mid Sussex marathon to return for sixth successive year

The Mid Sussex marathon weekend will be returning for its sixth successive year over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Peter Chittenden. Picture: Place for People LeisurePeter Chittenden. Picture: Place for People Leisure
Peter Chittenden. Picture: Place for People Leisure

The weekend aims to demonstrate how running can be challenging, rewarding, beneficial to health, life changing and awe-inspiring.

Here we profile a number of people running the marathon who might just persuade you to register for this year’s event held from May 27 to May 29.

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Peter Chittenden, 79, took up running at the age of 42 and will be running the marathon.

Steph Turley in 2015. Picture: Place for People LeisureSteph Turley in 2015. Picture: Place for People Leisure
Steph Turley in 2015. Picture: Place for People Leisure

He said: “I watched the first London Marathon in 1981 and thought I would give running a go, so got fit and ran the second London Marathon in 1982.

“Since then I have been hooked.”

Peter was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2012, which had spread to his bones, but decided to continue his running.

He added: “With medical permission I carried on running to get back at my cancer.

Runners set off at the Mid Sussex marathon. Picture: Place for People LeisureRunners set off at the Mid Sussex marathon. Picture: Place for People Leisure
Runners set off at the Mid Sussex marathon. Picture: Place for People Leisure

“I am still fighting but it won’t step me running.

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“I have run four Mid Sussex marathons since 2012 and all being well will do so again this year.”

Steph Turley, 29, said she took up running in 2010.

“I remember my first run so vividly” she said.

Steph Turley in 2015. Picture: Place for People LeisureSteph Turley in 2015. Picture: Place for People Leisure
Steph Turley in 2015. Picture: Place for People Leisure

“My (now) husband took me to Victoria Park in Haywards Heath but I couldn’t even run around the park once without slowing to a walk and I hated every minute of it.

“Slowly but surely I got better.”

Seven years later and Steph has set herself a challenge of ‘30 before 30’.

She said: “I am running 30 races before I am 30 this years for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) as last year my best friend was diagnosed with the condition.

Runners set off at the Mid Sussex marathon. Picture: Place for People LeisureRunners set off at the Mid Sussex marathon. Picture: Place for People Leisure
Runners set off at the Mid Sussex marathon. Picture: Place for People Leisure
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“I am raising money to support their continued operation and raise awareness for them and the condition.”

Carol Hayes, David Jago and Jim Vidler developed a group friendship at the 2013 Mid Sussex marathon.

Carol said: Jim and David had race numbers 11 and 12 and I was 10 so we said ‘hi’ whenever we passed each other and then started referring to each other by our numbers throughout the three days.”

A few months later at the Bewl 15, the three friends were reunited.

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David said: “It was then that we swapped numbers, connected on Facebook and have been friends ever since.

“We meet up at different running events and still refer to each other as 10,11 and 12.”

The stories of friendship, overcoming personal adversity and improving health and fitness are just a few benefits that running can offer anyone.

Whether you have considered running a gentle mile, a testing 10km, a challenging 10 mile or the ultimate marathon then why not complete a registration form for the marathon weekend 2017?

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More information including how to sign up can be found at www.midsussexmarathonweekend.co.uk.

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