adidas Terrex Coast to Coast (C2C)
The Return of the adidas TERREX Coast to Coast Race
Rob Howard / 25.08.2011
The race is organised every 2 years by Open Adventure and run alternately with the adidas TERREX expedition adventure race. (This took place last year in the Lake District and is part of the AR World Series.) Competitors in the C2C can either race solo, or in mixed teams of 3, where two of the team race at any one time with the third moving their support vehicle, and there are some non-competitive teams as well . In practice many of the teams will have a separate supporter and the solos will, of course, all be dependent on their support crews, which are a key part of this race.
The race was first run in 2009, and for James and Lisa Thurlow of Open Adventure it was an ambition fulfilled. “I had a plan for this race many years ago, before I even started Open Adventure, and have been wanting to put it on ever since,� James said. “Soon after Lisa and I were married we also bought a tandem and rode the C2C and it was inspirational, you will pass through three such beautiful and different National Parks. I really wanted to put on the race so others could see how superb scenery we have in this country.�
That first race was a great success, with many of those taking part saying it was the ‘race of the year’ in the UK, and they’ve been waiting two years to do it again! Having proven the route in the first race, it is being run again with only minor changes, and this time the organising team will know to expect a fast race – in 2009 the pace was much quicker than expected or planned for!
The route isn’t an original concept, but a competitive version of one of the UK’s most popular long distance walks, originally devised by Alfred Wainwright, the writer of Lake District guide books who has been describe as ‘the patron saint of Lakeland Fell Walkers’. In the early 70’s, when long distance walking was becoming popular he devised what has become the classic English C2C route.
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