FULL - SORRY :)

The Portland Coastal Marathon will be taking place from the iconic Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Sunday 4th February 2018.

Along with the full distance event there will be a Half marathon and a 10k so all abilities can take part in this festival of running in a what is possibly the most stunning of coastal trail locations.

Right then, before we start, lets not sugar coat this race as a dreamy affair that everyone can do, it’s not, simple as that.

The half is hard, The Full is harder! have a read of Grant Vernon’s (Thanks Grant for the honesty) race report here for some truth on what to expect.

A brief overview for you – Kangaroos (RD EDIT - They’re not, they’re Wallabies! :) ) prison, lighthouse, boulders, quarries, mud, cliffs, gnarly descents and slogging ascents….Bustinskin’s Portland Coastal Marathon has everything except PBs! This is a marathon of 27ish miles, 2400ish feet ascent on an out and back route.

This race report is broken down into brief, not so brief.  

Brief review of the marathon (scored between 1 and 5 with 5 being the most awesome)

Organisation: 5 (lots of marshals, good route marking)

Location:5 (nice race HQ, free parking, showers, awesome views)

Terrain:4 (drop a point because out and back route)

Value for money:5 (early bird)

Bling and stuff:5 (t-shirt, buff-thing, medal, well stocked drinks stations)

Total:24/25

This is a brilliant, well organised event. Fully sign posted and plenty of well stocked aid stations along the route. Lots of friendly marshals including some that are running amongst you in yellow tabards, a very neat touch. A finishers medal, a buff-type thing and a t-shirt make this a great value for money event. With early bird entry of £30 this should be on your to-do list of races.  

**Word of warning for those who skimp on reading race instructions, this race has a mandatory kit list. Spot checks occur (including checking ALL the top 10 finishers). Skip carrying the kit, DQ is your prize.

Ok now you've read that, here is our bit :)

This is a run of dramatic, rugged cliffs, nationally rare plants, hidden coves and stunning views. The Isle of Portland is a large mass of limestone which is linked to the mainland by the shingle ridge of Chesil Beach. Centuries of quarrying and military presence have altered the natural landscape, leaving visible records of the history of this important part of Dorset. The Isle’s white limestone has been used for construction since Roman times. Nature has reclaimed some of the disused quarries, which become a stunning mass of grasses and wildflowers in the spring and summer months.

The run will take you clockwise around the SouthWest Coastal Path for the first loop of the island, taking you past the recently built Osprey Quay around to Portland Castle, heading up Merchants Railway to the Verne

The run continues along behind the back of the YOI (Feedstation 1 is here) and down Goat Hill. You will continue until you reach the back of Rufus Castle.

Heading along from the Castle you will descend in to Church Ope Cove - mind the steps.

Pulpit Rock and Portland Bill are the southernmost tip of the island. On a clear day you can actually see more of the coast from here than from any other part of the entire South West Coast Path.

The distinctive red and white striped Portland Bill Lighthouse is at the tip of the Island - Feedstation 2 is here.

Heading back towards the Sailing Academy you will encounter breathtaking views from the top of West Cliff back along Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon.

The 'Spirit of Portland' sculpture (Feedstation 3 is here) which depicts a fisherman and quarryman to represent the two main industries of the Isle can be seen before descending down Lankridge Hill on the Southwest coastal path - towards the Cove Inn - one of the finest pubs in the land (We're not biased in anyway!)

The final section of the first loop will take you out along Hamm Beach before a 180 turn under Ferry Bridge (Feedstation 4) sending you back to the Sailing Academy.

At the Sailing Academy (Half way check point for the full and Feedstation 5) you will be sent on your way for loop 2.

This loop will be run in an anticlockwise direction making you retrace your steps giving you the opposite views to what you may have seen on your first time around.

With this naturally stunning location, Olympic facilities, brilliant course support and rewarding finishers mementos, you can enter any of the races and you will be guaranteed a stunning day out.  

There will be NO entries on the day.

This is a No Kit NO Race event, please read all of the information before entering, you will have random spot checks of your mandatory kit, if you are found not to have it you will be DQ'd - this is for your own and others safety and it really isn't very much to carry.

MANDATORY KIT 

It's called "Mandatory," because you must carry it with you. Yes, you can drink your fluids and eat your food. No, you may not ditch your kit with a friend or under a hedge.   All participants must carry the following mandatory kit during this race. Trail racing is hazardous, but not as hazardous as abandoning the race without a way to stay warm until help can arrive.

Kit checks will/may precede race start.

Random kit checks will/may happen during the race and finish. ALL TOP TEN FINISHERS MALE/FEMALE WILL BE CHECKED.

Participants found to be without the required kit will not be allowed to start and will not be entitled to a refund.

Finishers found to be without the required kit will be disqualified and will not be entitled to a refund.

It's a simple rule we follow, NO KIT = NO NUMBER, NO RESULT, NO REFUND.  

We randomly checked 40+ finishers in 2017 not including the top 10 - all but 1 had the correct kit - that 1 got DQ'd - don't let it be you. 

MANDATORY KIT

Drink container(s) of 500ml capacity or greater.

Windproof jacket - waterproof is advisable

Emergency nutrition (a gel, energy bar, some sweets, etc.)

Head covering (hat, buff, hood)

Mobile phone, waterproofed in a bag, charged, on, and with volume up

Foil blanket or full-sized bin liner

Whistle

SMALL First aid kit, including tape (micropore, zinc oxide, flexible, or similar) plasters blister plasters small wound dressing (absorbent pad with a gauze bandage)

It sounds like a lot, but it really isn't. We've had many runners able to manage it all in a very tight, light bundle.

MANDATORY KIT - does not apply to the 10k, however it is advisable to dress in the appropriate kit for the conditions.

There is a cut off time of 6 hours for the marathon – starting at 09:00 and finishing at 15:00 – the Half will have a cut off time of 4 hours and the 10k will have a 2hr cut off.

We expect you to be finished within this time scale, if you think you won’t be then please enter something else!

FREE CAR PARK - FULL USE OF FACILITIES - SHOWERS - CAFE - LOCKERS - BAG DROP AREA ALL INCLUDED.