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 10 ratings | Page: 1 |
| The big picture 2011 (10 votes) | | Overall score | | 86% | | How many would do it again? | | 90% | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 26% | | Atmosphere | | 84% | | Organisation | | 82% | | Value | | 50% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 56% |
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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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2011 race reviewed by: Plissken
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Glorious run, but really tough!
In full: I ran the half marathon. The first half was brutal, but the scenery was superb.
With regard to water stations, there is no doubt that they are basic. But that was what I was expecting, and it was not too much of a hardship to carry the energy bar which was given at registration.
Date of review: December 5, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Grayster H
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Half marathon: Mud, hills and glorious scenery, at a price
In full: A couple of years since I ran a CTS race and wow have they got popular now. I stopped running them because, despite being excellently organised events in great places, the prices just kept going up. I bit the bullet and went back regardless of the steep entry fee and what a brilliant event it was.
Race HQ was massive (it needed to be with 4 events and 100s of runners), well-equipped, some freebies, adequate parking nearby (tough hill walk after the event). Registration was busy but organised. The whole thing seemed much more polished now - two years ago it had a small event feel to it.
The half marathon went in two waves. The 'elites' all went together and then the rest did a staggered start (needed to as there were so many entrants). This worked pretty well and avoid the clutter at stiles and narrow paths.
The course was breathtaking (and very well marked). This is what makes the CTS so good. 7 miles along the beautiful coast path from Osmington to Lulworth via Durdle Door. Severe slippy clay mud for the first couple of miles but then stunning views and brutal hills. By the time I arrived in Lulworth any hope of a good time had gone - I just wanted to complete it. Fortunately the journey back further inland was much kinder. Before the 14.8 miles was complete, there were numerous stiles to cross (cramp!) and then the last mile with some steep hill climbing. So happy to finish (once I worked out where finish was).
These events are brilliantly organised in superb locations. I do think they're too pricey but it's all supply and demand and this event was rammed! Only gripe would be as already mentioned: the feed stations on CTS are poor especially given the full maz and ultra events. We can all carry our kit but it wouldn't hurt to add the bananas, crisps, squash, coke, mars bars etc like you see at other similar events.
Still the toughest and most scenic runs I've been on.
Date of review: December 5, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Alexa Briggs
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Wonderful race that really made my year
In full: I ran the half marathon, in a pretty slow time as the conditions and terrain were really challenging. My trail shoes were overwhelmed by the mud and my legs overwhelmed by the hills!
So why rate the race so highly; because the organisation, atmosphere and views were truely amazing and awe inspiring. People with a real passion for running (organisers, marshals and runners) were joined together enjoying a real challenge in fantastic surroundings.
To play devil's advocate to other comments about the water stations; whilst I agree they weren't overflowing with items, we were told in the instructions to being our own water and energy bars/snacks
Date of review: December 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: andrew humphreys 3
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 40% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A stunningly beautiful but hard Ultra.
In full: My first endurance life event and to be honest I was quite impressed with the organisational element. The setting for the event was good with decent amenities to hand, the staff where very helpful and friendly. The Ultra course was truly beautiful with amazing views along the Jurrasic coast, this took your mind off the brutality of the hills (6289ft of ascent in total along the 34 mile course. Fortunetly I was self supported along the route as Endurance Life do not provide very much at their check points, water and a few nutritional items: I am sure they will be heavily criticised for this as this will have caught a few people out. All in all a cracking day out, expensive but worth it in my opinion.
Date of review: December 4, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Graham Robins 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 20% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Crap feed stations on a race classed as hard not gd!!!
In full: Hardly any water,a few nice and bourbon biccys and jelly babies is not gd on a course which is very hard! Considering there is 1000 entry's paying between 29-59 quid working on a average it's a lot money taken in!! Would i do enduranlife events again no it's a rip off!!!
Date of review: December 4, 2011
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