Sumara of Weymouth

8th March 2026

Reading Time: Two minutes

Nerdiness Quotient: Runners Only

I do a little blog about the Steyning Stinger every year so it seemed a shame to just skip last weeks run. This will be my last run before I set off for my sail to Greenland. The picture sums it up – it was foggy!

There are a few runs where a bit of fog wouldn’t really matter or may even help, but one of the joys of running up the steep hills onto the South Downs are the breathtaking views from the top, not that I ever have much breath left to be taken.

At least I can remember the lovely vistas, but young Jack and Henry joined us this year so the run is probably just a mysterious haze to them. Hopefully revealing the glorious scenery will encourage them to sign up next year. Actually I might try to persuade them to sign up by offering a little cash prize for anyone entering the half marathon* under the club name “Dangerous Waves Club” and who beats the 2 hour target. Anthony, Henry and Jack all ran over the finish line together after 2 hours and 1 minute, so the prize is achievable but only just. My best ever time in 2011 was 2 hours and 29 seconds, but this year I staggered over the line in 2 hours 44 minutes.

*It is actually 13.8 miles and those extra 700 m are a real beast

Breakfast was served as usual in the school canteen and this year Grit and I met an old friend in Steyning for a visit to the museum and a pub lunch.

Hopefully I’ll be back next year but its certainly not getting any easier.

(PS: My nephew, Alex, decide to burn off some excess energy by entering the 30 km version with an extra “sting”. Not for the faint hearted!)