Hastings Seafront 10K

Race Description

Organised by Running and Riding, who've been putting on races along the Sussex coast since 2007, this is a pancake-flat out-and-back along Hastings seafront - about as straightforward and honest a 10k as the county offers. The route starts and finishes near the Beach Retreat on Marine Parade, heads out past the parkrun start and the wreck of the Amsterdam at the 5k turnaround, then retraces the same stretch of promenade back to the finish, so there's no ambiguity about pacing: whatever the wind and tide are doing on the way out, they'll be doing the opposite on the way back.

The flat profile makes it a genuine PB course for anyone in form, and just as suited to someone attempting their first 10k with no hills to worry about - a rare race that works equally well as a serious time trial or a low-stress starting point. It's well looked after for a coastal road race of this size: proper marshalling and signage along the whole route, bag storage and refreshments at HQ, and medals for every finisher alongside trophies for the top three men and women, age-category placings and the leading team. With the sea on one side for the entire distance, it also has more scenery than most flat 10ks manage.