First time doing the Grizzly and the man on the PA warned conditions were treacherous! It was hard which was expected, so many muddy ups and downs, wading through streams and a vertical climb up a bog I will never forget...but loads of friendly Marshalls all the way round, a piper, bands, people giving out grub, free beer and biscuits at mile 18. Truly unforgettable experience. Well organised and lovely experience despite the MUD! And having the mud hosed off by Seaton firefighters is a great way to finish...

This race is all about the experience - amazing crowd support in the towns, villages and pubs. And I've never done a race with so many marshals! Good aid stations too. Yes, it's hilly, yes, there's knee-deep mud to wade through and yes, you have to slog along shingle beaches - but that's why it's something a bit different! My only criticisms are the lack of toilets at the start - just 4 portaloos + a few urinals for 2000+ people. And no goodies any more - not even a finisher's medal. However it's a non-profit so at least you know any excess is going to charity.

I did the Grizzly Cub this year, it was my first one and to be fair was one I was not overly excited for due to the hills. When they say it's challenging and very hill, they are not wrong. The hills are HUGE but when you get to the top, it's well worth the run/walk/crawl. The entire route is beautiful, with amazing views and a run across the beach. It's beyond a unique event and i'm so so glad I did it. The support the entire route was amazing, lots of lovely people holding out sweets and goodies to keep you going. I would suggest this race to anyone, and my friend who's never done a race before really enjoyed it as well. They did have some cardboard cups at the stations which was good for if someone forgot their cup and was really struggling. This is a unique race and something even the hill haters should try, most of them are too steep to clime anyway. However, you do get absolutely nothing. The race was £27, the cub alone had over 600 entries. After the most challenging race most people will do, you get offered a banana. They used to give out t-shits but they've now stopped that, so we had to pay £12 for them on top of the race price. They are also not giving out medals, and it's now a cupless event. They should have an option like other races do to get a medal for an extra £5 or something to save any waste. It is even more irritating that the children the day before get a medal after paying £6 to do a 2KM race and we can buy one if we want to? It is also £9.95 for an image, as much as the photos are very good - the time you've paid for the race, a top and the photos you're on the £60 mark. I would love to do the race again, but won't be purely because as much as the views are support are amazing, it isn't worth the cost when you don't receive free race images or a medal anymore. I hope they take on all the comments about that race, because otherwise I do worry it's going to become less popular and it's a really good experience.

Seriously challenging, hills / mud / pebble beach, a few more hills and a bit more mud thrown in for good measure and an inability to walk down the stairs for a week afterwards...what more could you want from a race! It's so well organised, the atmosphere and positivity from all involved is uplifting, the marshal support throughout the course is great and you get a technical t-shirt for your efforts. Completed this one twice and will definitely be going back for more!

Running the Grizzly is fantastic - the people (competitors and marshals), the challenges (the river crossings, the mud, the hills/cliffs etc) and the surprises that they sprinkle in (past participants know what I mean!)

We enjoyed the whole weekend - going to the quiz on the previous evening as a group (and doing OK), Seaton parkrun and the event itself.

The sound of everyone running across the shingle beach is totally incredible (and indeed the feeling of having someone else's legs at the end of the beacj and coming onto the road without even  a mile done!) and things just get better and better!

I did make the mistake of not wearing grippy enough trail shoes for the depth of the mud this year (lulled into a false sense of security by previous years!) - but having the fire brigade hose us all down at the end made sure that the mud did not leave the seafront!!

This is one of the best races in the UK. 

I have done this race 3 times so far, in 2014, 2015 and 2017, and will definitely go back.

20 miles of hilly trails and beach. As stunningly beautiful as it is extremely hard. I can't express how beautiful the course is, you have to do it to appreciate it.

The route is hard mixed terrain, some road, some beach, ALOT of muddy trails and fields and even some infamous bogs which sometimes reach mid-thigh. 

The grizzly is brilliantly organised, the marshals and course marking is incredible. There are loads of water stations and marshalls all provided by local charities and teams in return for a donation from the profits of the race. 

The local support is incredible, it really is a festival weekend of running in the little town of Seaton, with thousands turning out to support. 

One only problem with the race now is its popularity now means entry is done via a ballot. However, it isn't really a problem as due to injuries and other things there are always loads of places available on Facebook in the preceding 6 or so weeks to the event. So if you don't get in the ballot keep training and keep an eye on Facebook and you will get a place. 

 

This race just has to be on every runners bucket list!!

Arriving at the start early on Sunday was exciting, all being there as a group really got me buzzing and we got the chance to pop back to the café for some breakfast, but I stuck to my trusty cereal bars and water. A group photo was taken and we all headed to the start line where we all set off pretty much in a group, although it didn’t take long for us to spread out. We were taken along the shingle beach nice and early which was a good test on the heel but it actually felt better than I had expected. Myself, Gouldy and Paula stuck together until the Cub cut off point. We also had some support from Bob on his bike which was great – always nice to see someone cheering you along the way. It felt as though we’d reached the cut off point for Cub very quickly, this was at about mile 5 and I had to make a decision about which way to go. Paula, returning from injury, was going to do the Cub so I knew I could continue with her if I felt my heel couldn’t make the full 20 miles. I think we all know which way I went, so we said goodbye to Paula and continued on straight through a deep puddle, which was great for numbing the feet, heel and ankle. I took a quick stop to get a stone out of my shoe as I didn’t want any blisters and we continued on our way up lots of muddy hills! I love hills and I love mud but these shut me right up. By the time we hit about mile 12 I thought I’d made a mistake to take on the full and not do the Cub but I kept my head down and managed to pick myself up again by about mile 14 (or was it 16?!). There was some great marshal support with bag pipes, enthusiastic cheering and motivational sayings along the way and many jelly baby’s, flap jacks, crisps and even bacon sandwiches on offer at one stop! We managed to catch up with Paul, who had been ahead of us for a while, and we kept together with a few others from the club until we hit the second round of beach. Then as you look up you can see it – the Stairway to heaven! Gouldy was right, it was not an actual stairway with a banister Read more

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