Ultra Trail South West

[ZootHornRollo]

£120 plus another £20 for coach transfer to the start

now that is taking the p * ss a bit isn't it?
Great effort though Dave - have run long sections of the SWCP and know how tough a few hours out on it can be.

[Dave Hardy]

Great write up... sounds tough! Am considering a bash at a 100 next year.

Thanks, I certainly found it hard going. The provisional results are out and it looks like about a 60% completion rate for the 100 miler. The intent of the organisers is to move to course around different stretches of the South West Coast Path each year, and if the next one is anything like as hard, or as beautiful as this years then I think it would be a worthy challenge to undertake!

now that is taking the p * ss a bit isn't it?

The coach transfer I did think was a bit much. I didn't begrudge the entry fee since I ended getting more out of it than I originally signed up for (I must have eaten about 50 quids worth of clif bars alone), and given the distances and time scales involved it still seems like better value for money than say a regular city marathon. I appreciate though that obviously you can do similar events for much less via the LDWA or athletic clubs; my first ultra was the Round Rotherham which was about 15 quid including a nights accom. I wouldn't want to pay this much for every race I do, but then, not every race I do will be a 100 miler! On which note, I have a suspicion that the course is actually over 100 miles as some sections seemed to drag on and on even when we were making good time. I'll be interested to hear what people on the race with Garmin's recorded. I know I certainly went further than I needed to due my bl**dy awful nav!

Ultimately, I got more than enough out of the event on a personal level to justify the cost, I thought overall it was a great race and has the potential to be even greater in the future.

[DazTheSlug]

Great report Dave!

just after this event was announced a friend of mine tried to talk me into entering, but I resisted (she didn't do it in the end either), but I am very interested to hear about it/how it went, so thanks for that

I currently have no plans to do a 100, buuuut...

[Cliveybaby]

Great repot and well done for completing a 100. I will have to try one of these somtime - just need to find a lot more mileage and spare legs

[stevefoster]

Great report and congrats on completing, a beautiful part of the country as well, not been there for many years but happy memories of the area.

[stevemee]

Really enjoyed the write up Dave. Superb effort! I'll be going for my first 100 miler in four and a half weeks time at the Lakeland 100. I'll be hoping for some of that surprise energy boost somewhere in the last 15 miles! Cheers - Steve

[The Midge]

About the best account I have ever read on this forum or any other - do you have a blog Dave - you should try one. Just wondering if I could do the event next year - I know I can do the distance but its a lot of climbing. Maybe the trick is to look at the section of the path they are using and enter when its the least ascent. Perhaps that's not really in the spirit of the event. Congratulations Dave - a fantastic effort.