Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series: Stage 7Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (51 votes). | 1 to 10 of 51 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
| The big picture (51 votes) | | Overall score | | 88% | | How many would do it again? | | 86% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 97% | | PB potential | | 27% | | Atmosphere | | 83% | | Organisation | | 79% | | Value | | 53% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 53% |
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2013 race reviewed by: Benjamin Kissel
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: A great day out accessible to all.
In full: I've not done a CTS in a couple of years but wanted to do one again as Endurancelife have a habit of picking breathtaking scenery for their locations. This was no let down in the slightest. (Un?)fortunately they also have a reputation of finding incredibly hard terrain and this race didn't disappoint on that front either! That beast at the beginning was arduous the first time and horrible the second on the Ultra! Luckily a good day out for me and paced it well as I don't think I could have handled that horrible weather on the hill if I'd not had a good race up to that point. One small annoyance was that whilst tracking the run it seemed to be a couple of km shorter than expected which meant I lost a couple of places but I guess I should just go on feel in future and all in all it was a great day out!
Date of review: May 11, 2013
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2013 race reviewed by: kimfree
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: The hardest thing I've EVER done!
In full: I went in for the marathon completely undertrained and unprepared for the course profile - all 5200 foot of ascent. It became apparent with the first massive climb within the first mile, a heady, steep climb on a single track path. In fact the first 10k was so draining ( you had to feel sorry for the Ultra peeps who would have the endure the 10k course again at the end of the marathon!). The scenery was spectacular. We had an extreme,y harsh headwind over the moors at mile 4-6 that literally took your breath away.
Every climb was relentless and harsh but the views were outstanding. I had made the decision before I ran it that as this marathon was my first trail/mountain one & wasn't comparable to all the other road marathons I've done, i was going to enjoy it.
I had a few tears along the way when it got ridiculously difficult around mile 17 knowing I had another 10 miles to go ( their marathon distances are 27.1 miles!) but a friend that ran with me encouraged me along the way.
In short, a brutal race that's known as one of the toughest marathons in the UK but totally worth it in terms of achievements. I just wish there was a medal instead of a dog tag but I've been told when you've run it you're considered 'hardcore' and don't need a medal to tell us!,
Date of review: April 18, 2013
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2012 race reviewed by: geogab
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Super scenic super hard race - the worst climb was after the finish line going back to the car park
In full: It starts in the middle of deepest darkest Devon so just getting to the event is a logistical challenge. The course itself takes in some staggering climbs over the cliffs and coastal path around north Devon. The atmosphere amongst the runners is first rate. A i had a horrid fall and several runners offered help. I got marvellously lost at the end missed the turning for the finish and ran a couple of miles of the ultra course thus guaranteeing me last place? Elic. This race should be twinned with the Six Foot Track in the Blue Mountains in Australia, as they are identical in nature even down to the remote hotel which forms the race hq both are just over marathon distance and have the same 5200ft of climb and both have awesome cliffs.
Date of review: April 15, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: CVLopez
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Breathtaking scenery and great organisation
In full: Positives: A beautiful course shows off some of the best terrain in the UK and the most challenging. The organisation was very good and the course directions as good as any I've seen even in such barren countryside.
Negatives: The start of the race was single file up a narrow pathway meaning that there was no overtaking. As I was near the back of the pack I spent a long time walking at a slow pace in a traffic jam. This could be avoided by positioning oneself higher up the field.
Overall: Brilliant
Date of review: April 15, 2012
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2010 race reviewed by: Karen Dean 2
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hot, Hilly and fabulous!
Date of review: May 27, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: andrew humphreys
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Very hot, very hilly, magnificent scenary
In full: Brilliant race although cost is quite dear at £50 for what you get. For this would liked more than just plain water and jelly babies at water stops which were too far apart for a race in this heat even carrying your own drinks. Could have provided at least a coffee at the end! Organisation good but drink stations not always aware how far to the next one. However the stupendous scenary takes your breathe away as do the hills and, on this occasion, the heat. It's a hard race make no mistake but makes you smile when you have, rather painfully, finished. Came from Kent on Fiday, overnighted in Taunton and late back on saturday night after race. Knackered but great fun. Wouldn't have missed it.
Date of review: May 25, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: bionic border terrier
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: One of the hardest marathons ive done so far
In full: Killer hills, the hill climb at 18 miles really takes it out of you and just when you think there cant be anymore climbs there's the climb out of lynmouth and the climb at the last mile.
Date of review: May 23, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: grecian 2000
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Hot and Hilly!
In full: A returnee from last year so I knew what I was letting myself in for. According to reports, this marathon has 10,000ft of ascent and 10,000ft of descent, and so your calfs and quads are going to take a real hammering regardless of your level of fitness!
I managed four of the Endurancelife marathons this year, and I would say that although Exmoor was pipped by Cornwall in terms of difficulty, it was top in all other categories including scenery, weather, enjoyment, and variety of terrain. Thankfully, when you weren't walking the back-breaking hills, the course was quite runnable (not as rock-strewn and techical as Cornwall).
As well as the course difficulty, the main challenge was the heat. Gloriously sunny, but the temperature rose above 25C. With only four well spaced out checkpoints, you had to be pretty self-reliant and I would say a hydro-pack was a must.
Endurancelife events are a little expensive, but the are well organised. The route was so well marked and there was no chance of going offroute if you stayed alert. All the staff were helpful and friendly. The good thing about this type of event is that you can't race them (well I can't) and so you try and take in the superb scenery (the sea was a deep blue, the sunny was bright, and you felt you were in the Mediterranean or even the West Indies). You also chatted with the other runners, and teamed up at stages to work together to complete this extreme challenge.
I still haven't worked out if this one or the Picnic Marathon (in June) are the more difficult, but I'll choose Exmoor for now as that's why I'm walking in alot of pain!
Date of review: May 23, 2010
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2008 race reviewed by: David Reith 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Mud, steep, great!
Date of review: November 8, 2009
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2009 race reviewed by: Duke of Rochdale
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough and beautiful, never seen so many hills
Date of review: May 12, 2009
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