Despite windy conditions for this year’s Brighton Marathon, the sun was shining, and the city saw crowds of spectators lining up to cheer on thousands of runners taking part in the iconic route.
The main event kicked off at 9.45am from Preston Park, with Sussex rugby star Jess Breach, who won the Rugby World Cup with England last year, starting the race.
This year's marathon weekend included the first Brighton Trail Marathon, a challenging 42km off-road route that took participants through the South Downs before merging with the Brighton Marathon runners for the final stretch to the finish line.
In the main marathon, Sam Cook, 30, made it back-to-back Brighton triumphs, having also won the men’s division last year.
Sam Cook crosses the line to win The Brighton Marathon on Sunday 12th April 2026. Photo: Jed Leicester for London Marathon Events For further information: media@londonmarathonevents.co.uk : Images from the 2026 Brighton Marathonplaceholder image
Sam Cook crosses the line to win The Brighton Marathon on Sunday 12th April 2026. Photo: Jed Leicester for London Marathon Events For further information: [email protected] : Images from the 2026 Brighton Marathon
Cook, from Horsham, finished this year in a comfortable lead with a final time of 2:25:05, in his ninth Brighton Marathon.
He said: “I knew it was going to be windy, but it was a lot windier than I thought it was going to be, which is hard for everyone.”
He was 30 seconds off his PB but said: “I'm still really happy with it.”
Participants pass the Brighton Pavilion | David Cliff for London Marathon Eventsplaceholder image
Participants pass the Brighton Pavilion | David Cliff for London Marathon Events
Cook will be competing in the London Marathon in two weeks' time alongside his brother – and plans to take it easy until then.
James Baker, 49, from Chichester, crossed the finish line first in the inaugural Brighton Trail Marathon, and the result was no surprise to him.
Baker said: “I was optimistic I'd get the win... just pleased it all went well.”
When asked if he will be competing in any more off-road marathons soon, Baker said: “I haven’t really thought beyond this; this has been my target for the last three months. I’ve been running for many years, so this was a goal race.”
With the men’s winners through, the crowds cheered loudly for Amy Harris, who crossed the finish line first in the women’s marathon.
The Brighton ace won the 10km race at last year’s Brighton Marathon weekend and was keen to make the podium this year in the main event.
She said: “I knew when I entered, I wanted to be on the podium, but you never know who’s going to turn up on a day like this; I knew I was up against some strong local girls. It (her win) was a big surprise, but I’m unbelievably happy.”
This was the second time the 31-year-old had competed in the Brighton Marathon, and this marked her first win, after coming runner-up in 2021.
Alice Dennings, 28, was the female winner for the Trail Marathon. Alice, from Eastbourne, who has competed in off-road marathons before, said: “I really enjoyed the trail marathon this year; it was excellent, a really lovely route.
“I went along to see what would happen really, no pressure, just wanted to enjoy it.”
While the winners of today's event were all stars, it was perhaps Nuala Smyth, 62, who embodied the true spirit of Brighton Marathon weekend.
Nuala, from Littlehampton, has participated in every Brighton Marathon since 2010 and has run 228 marathons overall. Despite being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2024, the 62-year-old donned her running shoes and crossed the finish line in under four hours, and said to anyone thinking of giving a marathon a go: “Believe in yourself; you never know what you can do until you try.”
Nuala will be running her 11th London Marathon in two weeks' time.
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