Classic Quarter Coastal Ultra
A Long Hot Day to Land's End
Endurancelife / 08.07.2009
The day started early for everyone with the transport from the car park at Land’s End bound for the start at Lizard Point, leaving at four am! The bus trip provided an opportunity for an extra hour of sleep or a chance to contemplate the challenge ahead of running back to Lands End, along 44 miles of the spectacular SW Coastal Path.
Dawn broke with the promise of a long hot day ahead, the views from Lizard Point were suitably inspiring and the atmosphere was one of nervous anticipation. After the obligatory welcome and safety briefing presented in the southern most car park in England, the event got underway. The start was staggered, with the solo runners setting off at 6.16am followed by the teams at 7.16am.
As the day unfolded it became clear that the temperature was going to be influential, even with water stops every five or six miles, it was always going to be difficult to consume enough fluids to stay hydrated. The pace from the start line was furious and it was never going to be maintained, or so people thought! The front runners started to pull away immediately and it was a great sight to see the line of colourfully clad athletes stretching out into the distance along the 1st narrow section of Coast Path.
Less than an hour into the challenge, the 1st of several calls came into the event officials that there had been an accident involving a lady runner; it transpired that a slip and a trip on a tricky descent resulted in an ankle break and a Coast Guard helicopter evacuation to hospital. The policy of ensuring that all participants in events of this nature carry a minimum of safety kit paid off again as fellow runners were able to contact the emergency services straight away, and comfort the injured party using their kit until the rescue services arrived.
As in previous years, the relay team category of the event was hotly contested, and the 3 change over points were exciting places to be, with waiting team members and supporters alike really getting into the occasion. As runners arrived at the transition areas there was a flurry of activity as timing chips were checked in and handed over to the next team runner in-line.
SleepMonsters
