2027 Steyning Stinger Marathon - Mar 14 Countdown

Q: What is the Steyning Stinger Marathon route?

The Steyning Stinger starts and finishes at Steyning Grammar School in West Sussex and runs a multi-terrain loop over the South Downs between Steyning, Storrington and Shoreham-by-Sea. The course climbs the chalk escarpment four times - the four 'stings' - taking in the iron-age Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring hill forts, on a mix of grassland, woodland trail, sections of the South Downs Way and a little country road. First run in 2002, it covers roughly 42.5km.

Q: How much climbing does the Steyning Stinger have?

The full marathon packs in roughly 900m of total elevation gain (about 2,900ft), concentrated in four big climbs - the 'stings' - up the South Downs escarpment rather than spread evenly. UTMB logs the 2025 edition at 902m of ascent over 42.5km. There is no single mountain, but the repeated steep chalk climbs make it a genuinely difficult trail marathon.

Q: What surface is the Steyning Stinger and what shoes should I wear?

The Stinger is an off-road, multi-terrain course - chalk tracks, grassland, springy woodland trail and short stretches of country road. The chalk Downs become muddy, sticky and slippery when wet, especially on the lower woodland return. Trail shoes are strongly recommended for grip on the steep climbs and descents; road shoes will struggle in the typical early-March mud.

Q: How do I enter the Steyning Stinger 2027, and is there a cut-off?

Entry is open to the public online via Steyning Athletic Club (steyningac.co.uk), with no ballot. Recent fees have been around 40 GBP unaffiliated / 38 GBP for affiliated club runners, with entries closing a few days before and no entries on the day. It is a walker-friendly event - walkers get an earlier start - so the overall time allowance is generous (around 8 hours); check the official site for the exact 2027 cut-off.

Q: What time does the Steyning Stinger start?

The marathon sets off at 08:30 from Steyning Grammar School, on the second Sunday of March (projected Sunday 14 March 2027 - confirm with the organizer). Starts are staggered: walkers at 08:00, the marathon at 08:30 and the half marathon at 09:00. There are eight drinks stations on the full route, roughly every three miles.

Q: Is the Steyning Stinger a Boston Qualifier?

No. Because it is an off-road, multi-terrain trail marathon (a UTMB Index trail event) rather than a UK Athletics road-certified, accurately measured road race, a Steyning Stinger finish is not valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) or a London Good For Age (GFA) entry. Come for the Downs, the challenge and the post-race cooked breakfast, not a PB. If a qualifying time is your goal, check the standards with our Good For Age tool and pick a fast road race instead.

Q: How do I get to the Steyning Stinger, and what is the finish like?

Steyning sits in rural West Sussex below the South Downs, with no railway station in the village - most runners drive (nearest mainline stations are at Shoreham-by-Sea and Worthing, then a short taxi or bus). The big draw at the finish is the famous cooked breakfast at Steyning Grammar School - bacon, sausage, eggs and more - plus a shower and a wooden medal, making it a well-loved local trail classic.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Steyning Stinger Marathon - Mar 14
City	Steyning
Date	2027-03-14 at 08:30
Time Limit	8 hours
Cutoff pace	11:23/km
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	Steyning Athletic Club
Registration	Register · 40 GBP

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	6.7°C / 44°F
Humidity	89%
Wind	26.3 km/h
Rain Chance	34%
Typical Conditions	Early-spring South Downs morning in West Sussex, often raw and breezy. Expect around 6-8C (43-46F) at the 08:30 marathon start, climbing only to about 10-11C (50F) by midday, with a real chance of rain or mud underfoot. The exposed ridge tops catch the wind.

What to Prepare: Dress for single-digit Celsius with a light waterproof, and accept you will get muddy - the chalk Downs turn slick when wet. Wear trail shoes for grip on the climbs and descents. Run by effort, not pace: four steep 'stings' and around 900m of ascent will slow you well below your road-marathon time.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 26.3 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

	Cooler	Typical	Warmer
Temperature	3.5°C	7.1°C	9.7°C
Dew point	0.9°C	5.2°C	8.4°C

Wet-day chance: 34% Runnability: 63/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course Type	Multi-terrain out-and-back over the South Downs from Steyning
Elevation Gain	900m
Terrain	Trail
Profile	Genuinely tough and hilly, not flat. The route climbs the chalk escarpment four times - the four 'stings' - taking in the Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring hill forts, with roughly 900m of total ascent across 42.5km. Expect to finish well outside your road-marathon time.

Prepare for 2027 Steyning Stinger Marathon - Mar 14

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Steyning Stinger Marathon route?

The Steyning Stinger starts and finishes at Steyning Grammar School in West Sussex and runs a multi-terrain loop over the South Downs between Steyning, Storrington and Shoreham-by-Sea. The course climbs the chalk escarpment four times - the four 'stings' - taking in the iron-age Chanctonbury Ring and Cissbury Ring hill forts, on a mix of grassland, woodland trail, sections of the South Downs Way and a little country road. First run in 2002, it covers roughly 42.5km.

Is the Steyning Stinger flat? How hard is it?

It is the opposite of flat - the name is a warning. The course delivers four steep 'stings' up onto the Downs with around 900m of total ascent across the marathon. Combined with chalk that turns muddy and slippery when wet, most runners finish well outside their road-marathon time. Plan a realistic effort with our pace calculator and study the climbs on our elevation profile tool.

How much climbing does the Steyning Stinger have?

The full marathon packs in roughly 900m of total elevation gain (about 2,900ft), concentrated in four big climbs - the 'stings' - up the South Downs escarpment rather than spread evenly. UTMB logs the 2025 edition at 902m of ascent over 42.5km. There is no single mountain, but the repeated steep chalk climbs make it a genuinely difficult trail marathon.

What surface is the Steyning Stinger and what shoes should I wear?

The Stinger is an off-road, multi-terrain course - chalk tracks, grassland, springy woodland trail and short stretches of country road. The chalk Downs become muddy, sticky and slippery when wet, especially on the lower woodland return. Trail shoes are strongly recommended for grip on the steep climbs and descents; road shoes will struggle in the typical early-March mud.

How do I enter the Steyning Stinger 2027, and is there a cut-off?

Entry is open to the public online via Steyning Athletic Club (steyningac.co.uk), with no ballot. Recent fees have been around 40 GBP unaffiliated / 38 GBP for affiliated club runners, with entries closing a few days before and no entries on the day. It is a walker-friendly event - walkers get an earlier start - so the overall time allowance is generous (around 8 hours); check the official site for the exact 2027 cut-off.

What time does the Steyning Stinger start?

The marathon sets off at 08:30 from Steyning Grammar School, on the second Sunday of March (projected Sunday 14 March 2027 - confirm with the organizer). Starts are staggered: walkers at 08:00, the marathon at 08:30 and the half marathon at 09:00. There are eight drinks stations on the full route, roughly every three miles.

Is the Steyning Stinger a Boston Qualifier?

No. Because it is an off-road, multi-terrain trail marathon (a UTMB Index trail event) rather than a UK Athletics road-certified, accurately measured road race, a Steyning Stinger finish is not valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) or a London Good For Age (GFA) entry. Come for the Downs, the challenge and the post-race cooked breakfast, not a PB. If a qualifying time is your goal, check the standards with our Good For Age tool and pick a fast road race instead.

How do I get to the Steyning Stinger, and what is the finish like?

Steyning sits in rural West Sussex below the South Downs, with no railway station in the village - most runners drive (nearest mainline stations are at Shoreham-by-Sea and Worthing, then a short taxi or bus). The big draw at the finish is the famous cooked breakfast at Steyning Grammar School - bacon, sausage, eggs and more - plus a shower and a wooden medal, making it a well-loved local trail classic.