These are just a few brief reviews of the last couple of running events I have done in March and May. The pros, cons and bits you can’t figure out from event websites.
The Jurassic Coast Challenge 22nd -24th March 2019
A multi day event held down in the beautiful Jurassic coast line of Dorset hence the name, and the objective being to run, jog or walk a marathon a day 3 days in a row. This event is superbly organised and a really good multiday event with people signing up for either 1, 2 or all 3 days. The operation has been refined over the many years its been put on by VO two Ltd which reflects in the very professional and smooth running of the event.
I signed up to this for getting some high mileage in over a few consecutive days whilst my wife was away on a Hen do. The draw being the navigation being easier than most on self nav trail running events as it was a coastal route and lots of provisions in the terms of aid stations and transport to and from the start/ end points each day. The idea of camping and packing all my own provisions for 3 days isn’t my idea of dipping my toe in the water of multiday events. The biggest draw was the location, not having been to Dorset nor seeing any of the famous coast line, I thought it would kill two birds with one stone.
The accommodation for a single participant couldn’t have been easier with it being very affordable and only a mile away from the Race HQ in Chesil Vista Holiday Park. This was in a new static caravan with 2 other participants, very spacious and all the mod cons required. The site even had a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and sauna free to use. The HQ was a great set up too, utilizing the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy with food being on offer for breakfast and dinner, event shop, registration and massages available.
The course itself was A to B, B to C, C to D in nature being mini bused out to the start each day and collected at the finish to come back to the HQ. All was well run with two groups, essentially fast and slow, being dropped off and set off at different timings allowing the slow group participants longer to complete. With very generous cut off times, allowing people to walk it, it’s a great event to enter as a first timer on a trail marathon or a multi-day event as it offers you the reassurance you can finish even if a lot of things don’t go your way on the day.
The course normally goes, day one Charmouth to Portland, day two Portland to West Lulworth, day 3 West Lulworth to Studland Beach. However there was a clash with another event along the same section of coast so it went in the order or day 2 then 1 and then 3. The course itself was overall really good providing great scenery, varied under foot (beach, shingle, paths, fields, steps, tarmac) and not too technical all the time. Personally, I enjoyed the end of Portland to West Lulworth as it got hiller and more scenic on the first day and also the whole of West Lulworth to Studland Beach, day 3. This for me was my favorite day as it had great scenery, challenging hills, flat runnable pavement at times to make up ground and time and a good long beach section to finish on. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the last 2 thirds of from Charmouth to Portland as it was behind Chesil beach, with sections on the shingle, unable to see the sea and mentally challenging meandering around the farm land behind the beach clocking up more mileage with the feeling of not getting anywhere.
Over all my mileage and elevation were as below:
Day 1- Portland to West Lulworth – 27.2 miles 1118 meters
Day 2- Charmouth to Portland – 28.6 miles 1092 meters
Day 3- West Lulworth to Studland Beach – 28.1 miles 1330 meters
Overall, I really enjoyed this race with the ability to sign up to as much as you wanted and still being about to achieve it within generous cut off times. Well organised with plenty of time to recover in good accommodation and services (food & massage) provided. Shame the accommodation wasn’t on site but this is only minor disadvantage but there was free car parking at both sites. A great event to do as an individual with lots of friendly people running but also fantastic one to do with friends, all in an area of outstanding beauty.
Cornish Imerys Trail Marathon 19th May 2019
My latest race back in my home county of Cornwall getting the chance to sight see around St Austell’s China Clay works, new and old. This was a great opportunity to run a trail marathon on a route which is not normally open to the public, with some spectacular views over the south coast and of the Luna-esk quarry’s of which the region is famous for.
The event was run by St Austell running club in partnership with Imerys and staged in the grounds of Cornwall college, which was idea, holding a fun run, half and full marathon. There was a really nice and friendly atmosphere and good provisions on site for parking, food and bag drop. The number pick up was held up as you had to find your number prior to picking it up which wasn’t communicated clearly when entering. With collecting your number you received a very good technical running T shirt, much better than the normal you get. The route was well marshaled with great signage and ample water stations throughout the course.
The course itself was a very runnable trail marathon, not being too steep on the gradients so if you were able to you could keep churning out the miles without stopping. I may have walked 4-6 times briefly which isn’t too bad for me. The trails were the same for the half and full until mile 8 when the full split off for a 13-mile loop to rejoin again at the same point to finish the last 5 miles into the finish. The weather was good so some really good views and the paths not being technical at all so you didn’t have to watch your foot placement all the time. This led to a more relaxed run and being on some very wide-open quarry roads made it unique. However, if the weather had been different the course is very exposed to the elements so could have been a totally different story. In total I made the elevation and mileage as: 917m 26.1 miles.
At the finish there were a number of supporters, family, friends and club supporters, which made for a nice atmosphere when your token medal, water and banana for your efforts. Food, drinks and ice cream were available for everyone to enjoy and support the remainder of the participants coming in whilst sitting in the sun. Overall a great event and course which is well organised, marshalled and well suited for anyone who is going into trail running for the first time or for those wanting some different scenery on their trail events.
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