Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series: Stage 3 - Portland (Marathon, Half, 10K)Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (30 votes). | 1 to 10 of 30 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 |
| The big picture (30 votes) | | Overall score | | 80% | | How many would do it again? | | 80% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 94% | | PB potential | | 28% | | Atmosphere | | 77% | | Organisation | | 82% | | Value | | 54% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 54% |
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2012 race reviewed by: MattD
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: hard as nails
In full: Ran this last year as well, both times completing the marathon course. This time I think somehow they have managed to make it even tougher! I have run most of the endurancelife CTS courses and I believe this is the hardest one they run and also probably the hardest marathon course I have ever run, so well done to everyone running this as their first trail event!! If you take a look at the finishing times it will give you the general idea, I am a 3hr marathon runner on the flat and it took me 5 and a half hours! There really are some very steep cliffs/hills here and although the conditions on the day were spot on, the course was very muddy in places due to all the recent rain, this made it hard for those of us at the front of the field and probably even worse for those at the back. The scenary was spectacular though and you really felt privileged to run in such a beautiful part of the country.
I have been running the endurancelife events for 3 years now and they have certainly got a lot busier than they were previously. Fortunately they are still extremely well organised so(for the marathon at least) I still found I could turn up half an hour before the race, park quickly, pick up my number and go to the loo without having to queue for ages and then run the race without tripping over too many people all the time (even while the number of runners at the event increasing from 600 to over a 1000 this year) This is why I like running in their events and will probably continue to pay the steep prices. I do think there could be scope to reduce the prices given the sudden increase in popularity (and revenue!) of these races.
I don't think you can criticise the organisers for the length of the course, this is a trail event and certainly not a pb course, they do warn you in the event briefing that the course isn't exact and they give you 'a bit extra'. Personally I quite like the medals they give out as well, I will continue to run in the cts events - they offer something a little bit different from the norm.
Date of review: December 10, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Thong Man
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: There are better value races out there....
In full: Although the weather was kind, it appears from talking to other finishers that the distances were way out...not so bad for the 10k and half (or should that be 15 miles)but it is hard for those first time marathon/ultra participants to dig deep for the extra miles over very tough terrain. A very poor value event that I will not be repeating.
Date of review: December 10, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Max's Mum
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: hardest 10k I've ever done, but brilliant!
In full: Although i 'only' did the 10k i think this event was brilliant. Compared to some the oragnisation was very good, and the processing of the registration and the finish procedure was excellent. Looking at some other comments, It is a shame that the longer races were so far out in the distances (the 10k was reasonably accurate), however it must be difficult to measure accurately over such terrain, only follow permitted paths, and still start and finish in the same place, after all its a little different from a road race?
I liked the 'dogtag' medal, OK i know it was cheap but hey, it makes me look like i've survived! :-) made a change from an ordinary one.
I thought the 'dibber' timing devices were a good idea, especially as an added touch you got a timing print out at the finish instead of waiting days to find out your time.
Having done a few trail races i wasnt expecting anything but water at the water point, plus in the race instructions they do give you a mandatory kit list including energy bars/snacks/water - so you can be prepared.
I thought the race was a great challange and definately the hardest 10k i've done.
Yes Quite expensive as races go, but all in all a good experience. Next time i might try the half!
Date of review: December 10, 2012
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0 race reviewed by: Thongman 3
| | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: |
In short: For info: The rating I added for the West Lulworth Coastal Series Event on Dec 8th 2012 event seems to have been mixed up with the Portland event.
Date of review: December 9, 2012
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2012 race reviewed by: Thongman 3
| | Overall score | | 40% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 40% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Expensive
In full: When is a marathon not a marathon?....when it's an Endurancelife Coastal "marathon" in Dorset.
I paid £49 for the marathon event for what?...a generic Endurancelife tee shirt, two gels, one plastic wristband (why?), one protein bar & one of the cheapest "medals" I have ever received. There was only water and few jelly babies at the drinks stations (the isotonic powder soon ran out for the slower runners. It would be interesting to see what other marathoners' Garmins read as mine showed 28.71 miles. I'm used to running ultras but I certainly felt sorry for those walking with several miles to go as they were of the opinion it would be close to 26.2 miles...not 2.5 miles longer which over the very tough terrain made a huge difference. The Dorset Doddle is a much better event at a third of the price that includes transport. I shall stick to VoTwo & Extreme Energy events in future.
Date of review: December 9, 2012
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2011 race reviewed by: chris cripps
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough as old boots, but great run
In full: Well organised event through some beautiful countryside, def on the tough side of hard with the ascent/descents involved. The only downside was covering some of the same ground twice on the ultra.
Date of review: December 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: woody 40
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: amazing scenery but, but tough
In full: proberley the hardest half marathon i have ever done, organisation good, cenery fantastic, but i feel these races are a little pricey.
Date of review: December 12, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: DaisyD
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Hilly, muddy, fun!
In full: Had originally entered the 1/2 but decided to change to the 10k the week before as I was getting over a cold - this was easy to do, just logged in to my account and made the changes online. 10k race was a bit late starting, but this worked to our advantage as by the time we started the sun had come out! The route was stunning, *almost* took my mind off the pain of the hills! Organisation was excellent and friendly, even got given a bag to put my muddy shoes in, which was a nice touch! I enjoyed so much that's I've already signed up for another one - will do more hill training this time though! ;o)
Date of review: December 8, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Kevin White 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Hard as nails, with smooth organisations
In full: This was my first Enduarancelife event and I was not disappointed! It was excellent, with a hard as nails course,very impressive organisation and some nice gooodies.
Maybe a bit pricy and would expect sports drinks and maybe a tea stop rather than just water and a few jellybabies, but considering Endurancelife organise a 10k, half mara, marathon and ultra trails all on the same day, the event and results ran like clockwork. Very slick, very impressive, very friendly with a great "un-clubby" atmosphere, I would highly recommend their events to anyone.
Date of review: December 5, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Philip Taylor 9
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Tough but rewarding
In full: If you come into these races (as you should I think) with the view that you need to be pretty much self sufficent r.e. food/ drink, then there is really nothing to whine about. Good tech tee-shirt freebie, free massages at base, great atmosphere, views and of course tuff running. Only slight complaint was that after the glorious 1st 7 miles along the coast line, the second half (in the half marathon) is a bit of a let down...moving away from the sea and across endless soggy and rutted fields. On tiring legs.
Date of review: December 5, 2011
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