Having been the first man home in last year’s marathon, our eminence of elevation, Stuart Backhouse was back this year to tackle the half.
Billed as “The Tough One” this is no walk in the park. Over 1555ft of ascent faced Stu over the 13.1 miles of rough tracks peppered with tricky stiles.
Starting at the Recreational Ground in Hill Barn Lane Worthing, a 2 mile uphill start took Stu and the 332 other competitors up to the first of the 3 forts, Cissbury Ring, an Iron Age Hill Fort with a rich history.
It is here that the course splits from the marathon and takes a loop toward the Steyning Bowl and along the South Downs Way to the 2nd fort of Chanctonbury Ring.
This hill top vantage point is steeped in mystery. Legend has it that the devil can be summoned here by running around the ring backwards 6 times! No time for that on Sunday though, as Stuart powered his way past the landmark and onward toward Findon before returning back to the Cissbury Ring and the relief of running 2 miles of descent back to Hill Barn Lane and the finish in a very tidy 1.38.50.
“I am pleased with that” he tells me later in the day “I’ve still got London in my legs. It was very hot, my heart rate was going mad! But I managed some good mile splits. That last hill was a killer though”
And pleased he should be, that cracking time bagged him 6th place overall – Well done Stu!
