soulchaser

Race Intro

This marathon comes just 3 weeks after South Devon, and will  mark the beginning of the second half of the 6 Marathon : 6 Month Challenge - 3 marathons taking place over just 4 weeks! Bizarrely I'm not concerned. I haven't done any training for any of these runs, which is undoubtedly reflected in my times and the injury that plagued me, but I've survived nevertheless. I think it's fair to say that I'm getting complacent.

However, I've run 3 marathons in 5 months so far - 3 in one month is going to be a damn sight harder. I'm hoping that, as they're so close, this run will count as training for the last two, and by the the horrific finale around Exmoor, I'll be super fit! That's a naive dream but one I'm clinging to.

One certain positive is that it'll all be over relatively soon!


The Route

The Cornwall Marathon is billed as being "as magical as it is monstrous"! I imagine the terrain will be similar to the exhilerating but debilitating rocky trails of South Devon, but the website makes a point of emphasising that this is 'true mountain goat territory'...

Apparently it's easier than South Devon, but harder than Portland. That suits me. I feel as though I'm getting stronger and my times reflect that, so perhaps despite my lack of training my residual fitness/endurance levels are increasing. I want to go sub 5 hours on this one, but the weather forecast is for 20mph winds: the last gusts of the monster storm that hit Cornwall this week. 

Elevation Data

At a glance, this course looks much less hilly than South Devon, but in actual fact the scale of these hills is much bigger than those of the previous marathon. There are fewer climbs but they're bigger: many of the climbs are greater than 200ft, and again they're incessant! There's  another huge climb right in the middle of the course, but thankfully there's a nice 3 mile slope toward the end of the course, albeit followed by a nasty looking climb to finish.

Looking at this and judging by my times in previous races, I need to run the first half in around 2hrs 15mins, without destroying myself. The first half seems tougher, and is on harder terrain also, being along the coast in what will be gruelling winds. If I can manage that time, 2hrs 45min should be enough to hobble along the second half to finish in under 5 hrs. Hopefully I'll be able to make up loads of time on that big slope at the end - a section that I have typically struggled horribly on. 

Race Report

 
"Near the start of the race I'd heard someone say that it's impossible to make other people understand what you go through during these events. 3 hours into this one, 3 hours along the hardest terrain I've ever encountered, against a cold wind driving hard rain, with an injury that you recognise as serious and debilitating, facing up to the realisation that you probably have at least another 4 hours to go is truly something quite difficult to convey to others." Read on...

Visit race organiser Endurance Life's offical website for more information, photography, official race results, and information on future events. They did a superb job with this one, so they have my endorsement free of charge!