It was a memorable day on the south coast as Ashley White and Beth Dowbiggin took on the very different challenges of the Brighton Marathon and Brighton Trail Marathon, both delivering performances that highlighted resilience, determination and a growing strength in endurance events.

For Ashley White, this was very much a step into the unknown. His last appearance in club colours came at the Boscombe Seafront 5k back in September, where he recorded 22:52, and his build-up to Brighton had been far from ideal. Injury had ruled him out of running for six weeks leading into race week, leaving preparation minimal and expectations firmly in the “get round if possible” category rather than any time-based target.

The Brighton Marathon course itself offers a mix of city streets, coastal views and crowd-lined energy. Starting in Preston Park, the opening six miles wind through the city centre before heading out towards the cliffs, with gentle undulations at miles 1, 7, 9 and 11. From miles 14 to 19 the atmosphere builds, with packed cheer zones, live music and a carnival feel, before runners pass through Hove between miles 20 and 23 and finish along the seafront promenade.

Ashley set off sensibly and looked comfortable through the early stages, ticking off the first 10 miles at a steady 9:30–9:40 pace. The effects of limited preparation began to show over the next section as his pace eased closer to 10-minute miles, and from halfway onwards it became a true test of endurance. Digging deep, he battled through the closing miles, drawing on determination more than anything else, to cross the line in 4 hours 43 minutes. Finishing 8,621st overall, this was a performance defined not by pace but by perseverance—an effort he can rightly be proud of given the circumstances.

At the sharp end, Sam Cook took victory in 2:25:00, with Ryan Deakin (2:29:48) and Aaron Hudson (2:31:59) completing the podium. Mohammed Elbayan (2:33:19) and Ben Short (2:33:25) rounded out the top five. Amy Harris led the women home in 2:49:38, ahead of Flaminia Gold (2:51:42) and Lucy Lavender (2:53:56), with Rosie Reed fourth in 2:55:25.

Meanwhile, Beth Dowbiggin was tackling the altogether tougher proposition of the Brighton Trail Marathon, a race that blends the scenic beauty of the South Downs with a demanding profile and a lively finish alongside the road marathon runners.

Primarily known as a triathlete, Beth has enjoyed considerable success across disciplines, including winning the New Forest Triple Triathlon Series and qualifying for next summer’s European Championships in Spain after topping her age category standings at the Bournemouth International Triathlon. However, since completing the Run to the Sea 50k in October, she has increasingly discovered a passion for longer distance running and endurance challenges.

Her marathon journey has not been entirely straightforward. On her debut over the distance at a Phoenix Running event on Remembrance Day, she suffered knee pain just 10k in, turning the race into a long and testing experience. Despite that, she showed real toughness to finish in 3:49:47 and secure second female—an early sign of her potential over longer distances.

The Brighton Trail Marathon would provide a very different test. Starting in the woodland of Stanmer Park, the route quickly heads into the rolling and often unforgiving terrain of the South Downs, with a total elevation gain of around 3,240 feet. It’s a course that demands strength, pacing and smart climbing, before eventually joining the main marathon route for the final 6km and that electric run-in along the seafront.

Beth handled the challenge superbly. Running strongly throughout, she judged the climbs well and maintained her effort across the demanding terrain to finish in an impressive 4:23:38. This placed her 259th overall and 40th out of 396 female finishers—an excellent result on such a tough course and further evidence of her rapid progression in endurance running.

The race itself saw a standout performance from James Baker of Chichester, who was the only athlete to break three hours, winning in remarkable fashion and securing his tenth consecutive marathon victory. Many Bournemouth AC members may remember James from his close battle with Rob McTaggart at the Marwell Zoo 10k, as well as his 7th place finish at the Run Bournemouth Half Marathon in 1:11:33, and his M45 title at the British 10k Championships in Chichester with 33:08.

Jamie Signy (3:11:19) and Dan Lawson (3:11:51) completed the men’s podium, while Alice Denning led the women home in 3:39:35, followed by Sophie Biggs (3:46:28) and Hannah Fall (3:51:12).

All in all, it was a weekend that showcased two very different but equally admirable performances. Ashley White’s determination to overcome a disrupted build-up and reach the finish line, and Beth Dowbiggin’s continued rise as an endurance athlete on a challenging trail course, both reflect the strength and spirit that define Bournemouth AC.