Liz Lumber and Sue Fry (pictured above) set up Eastbourne Junior parkrun in 2018, and their organisational skills resulted in the inaugural Eastbourne 10K being held the same year. Seven years on, the Eastbourne 10K has blossomed into the 425-finisher event held on Sunday, 22 June 2025.

Now operating as Eastbourne Runs (formerly Small Fry Fitness Events), Liz and Sue also host the Eastbourne Half Marathon from Princes Park in March and the Eastbourne 5K and Junior Mile from the Holywell Tea Chalet in September – check out all the events at the Eastbourne Runs website here.

Sunday's 10K race was under starter's orders at 8:30am near The Bandstand on the Middle Promenade. Eastbourne boasts three levels of promenade running 3.3 miles from Eastbourne Pier to the Holywell Tea Chalet at the foot of the South Downs climb onto Beachy Head.

The course is on a scenic out-and-back route, heading west along Lower Promenade, past the Wish Tower and towards Holywell Tea Chalet. It then turns east on the Lower Promenade, through the Bandstand, past the Pier, along Fisherman's Green to Sovereign Park. Runners then return to the finish, 100m west of the Bandstand.

The course records are 33:24 (men) and 37:11 (women) and a cash prize of £100 is awarded for any new records. Both survived the onslaught this year, although the women's time came under pressure from Ruby Whyte-Wilding (Lewes AC), who ran 37:36. Grace Baker (Hastings AC, 38:29) and W40 Rebecca Robinson (Kendal AAC, 38:44) completed the women's podium.

The top three men in a blanket finish were Arnold Weston (Team Bath AC, 35:14 PB), M40 Ross Brocklehurst (Brighton Phoenix, 35:21) and U20 junior Fintan Pearce (Eastbourne Rovers AC, 35:23 PB).

Finish line goodies included a bespoke medal, Erdinger beer and Freshwipes body wipes.

Full results can be found via the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Eastbourne Runs on Facebook