https://www.benoconnellcoaching.com/blog daily 0.75 2026-05-15 https://www.benoconnellcoaching.com/blog/race-recap-run-to-the-sea-brighton monthly 0.5 2026-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/26267dad-d998-414e-935e-e7c715124bb1/20260509_131037.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Run to the Sea, Brighton - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/d449956c-b5ac-4e8e-a6c9-6d1364d7766c/20260509083209_DSC_4649.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Run to the Sea, Brighton - How did the race unfold? The race started in Christ’s Hospital School, Horsham at 8am with a rolling start of waves; 40 runners at a time with the last wave being 8:25. Once you start you’ve got a pretty long section that is mainly gravel and easy on foot and pretty flat. It’s also a section well sheltered by trees which was nice as it was a sunny day. There are a few little bits where you cross roads and pass through villages but otherwise mainly gravel tracks for the first half. Then just after the second aid station you turn right and go up what feels like a never ending chalk path hill onto the Downs! Getting up that hill is so worth it though - once you’re on the Downs it’s very up and down with lots of small hills. Then it’s down into Hove for the final stretch running through Hove Park along the roads which was my least favourite part as it’s busy traffic so you have to stop to cross at some of the crossings but you’re so close you just kick on before heading to Hove Lawns at the sea for the finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/54d3697d-6870-40a4-9f05-251081309708/IMG-20260511-WA0017%7E6.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Run to the Sea, Brighton - What were your race day highlights? Definitely getting up that first big hill at about 25km in, then seeing all the runners ahead of me across the Downs. I started in one of the last waves in the hope it would give my wife and son time to make the finish. I really enjoyed having loads of runners in front of me. It gave me a chance to talk to a few runners and kept me motivated. The weather was hot but the clear skies made it perfect for all the views; such good vibes; I loved every minute of being on the Downs. That was definitely my favourite section. Another highlight was seeing my wife and son at the finish. I really wasn’t sure if they would make it. My son has recently started to show an interest in running as he’s noticed the time I’ve spent training so it was so nice I could share that moment finishing my first ultra with them being there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/09430b80-b879-412d-abb7-dcfcd6f185ad/20260509100032_DSC_5247.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Run to the Sea, Brighton - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/15c62983-4f98-413f-ac05-58d7f30a5972/20260509101415_DSC_5349.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Run to the Sea, Brighton Have you got any key tips for someone thinking of doing their first ultra marathon? I would say look at the elevation of the race and what kind of terrain you will be running on and try to replicate race conditions on your long runs so your legs are used to it. Also try and figure out a fuelling plan for the race; what gels, chews or food you plan on using on the day and train with them on the long runs. Get used to training with full mandatory race kit plus anything you plan to have with you on race day. These are all things I’ve not really had to worry about in races in the past but they definitely helped me for my first ultra and going into the race I felt well prepared and confident. Find out more about the race: www.runtothesea.com/brighton https://www.benoconnellcoaching.com/blog/race-recap-devil-o-the-highlands monthly 0.5 2026-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/c11343ff-b918-4bb9-a04c-7fbf8e0b8ce3/b0db93df-9748-41c5-b37f-36c755c737d0.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Devil o’ the Highlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/027cd4e8-057e-47ff-86e2-c76b394df3d4/62fd1b0a-2fa4-497a-9561-32a7d370de23.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Devil o’ the Highlands - How did the race unfold? I didn't actually enjoy the first 15 ish miles! It was cold, the sun wasn't up from behind the mountains. My heart rate was spiking like mad and I felt really sluggish. I was determined not to get caught up in the crowd that was going faster - I wanted to hold back, I knew what was to come and I didn't want to crash and burn. I was religiously fuelling every 20 mins and keeping my pace slow. This worked really well and as we approached the Devil’s Staircase I knew I was feeling strong. This was what I had trained for, all those miles in the cold wet winter up the Wrekin, and hours in the gym! I powered up the hill, overtaking so many other runners. By now the sun was out in force and the day was quickly scorching! The long downhill into Kinlochleven really takes it out of your quads and knees, the fire road is such a steep descent. But my music carried me, and I even sang along. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/0ea6c71a-688b-47d9-b47e-1d567783da98/1000071108.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Devil o’ the Highlands The climb out of Kinlochleven was really tough and as I started along Lairig Mhor, I had to dig deep. This section was the real goal, the only thing that really mattered - I wanted to run and not walk as I had the year before. And it worked! I ran all the way to Lundavra - the final checkpoint. All the way down the fire road into Fort William, I kept thinking about my goal, to finish strong, it had never really been about a time, but wouldn't that just be the icing on the cake. Even Cow Hill, a sharp climb in the last 2 miles, didn't stop me. As I turned into the field where the finish line was set, I saw the timer and realised a PB was possible and so I picked up the pace and crossed the line with a scream! 9 years older and just short of 2 mins faster! I won't lie, I shed a few tears at the end, so unbelievably happy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/0b10e5c9-aa96-4829-a85b-c615a85885ef/edit.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Devil o’ the Highlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/de983810-b8ea-454f-892c-efa6edeedba5/b7cc312b-3f9c-4902-8dc4-1149d18db063.jpg Blog - Race Recap: Devil o’ the Highlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.benoconnellcoaching.com/blog/race-recap-the-swiss-peaks-marathon monthly 0.5 2026-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/9f8adb3a-949d-45f5-9ff9-f40a8a73c950/1000049233.jpg Blog - Race Recap: The SwissPeaks Marathon - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.benoconnellcoaching.com/blog/blog-post-title-one-mekab monthly 0.5 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/249a4d18-40c1-43ea-b126-cbe1e0118c07/1000041842.png Blog - Building Consistency - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.benoconnellcoaching.com/home daily 1.0 2026-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615225337376-36JM1AX4C0NIC32WNXXU/Rectangle+26.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615225123989-3AGGEWNOKB8XK6YRH6A9/Rectangle+25.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/42049c17-46c4-430c-a036-90a3bba958ca/ben-ultra-text.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/3e190179-eab9-40ca-ae39-e68750a14bce/12534_20240810_091520_390277264_original.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/41ce2e91-86fc-4495-a395-43f5ab975825/UESCA_ULTRARUNNING_RED.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/76f384aa-e06c-4c9c-8184-16d2a360f5aa/1000041842.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6888f2c71459194bbfe8ffc5/0d9a9d27-68ca-40e6-b866-925db12b247f/INTOUltra_logo_fin.png