The Highs, The Lows and The Madness of the Jurassic Coastal Challenge

Several people have asked for an account of the Votwo Jurassic Coastal Challenge that was undertaken by me to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of my life-long friend Ray Sturgess who died last year aged 43.

My journey started on Thursday, 26th March, when I packed myself off in my mum’s car and headed down to Weymouth where Kim had booked me into a B&B. The week leading up to the event had been manic, monitoring donations, and responding to as many people individually, receiving cards, emails and text messages of good luck. It was totally overwhelming. This was it, no turning back, I had undertaken 7 months of training and been on an emotional roller coaster and knew that I would complete this challenge come hell or high water!! In the short space of less than four weeks, we had raised an enormous sum of money and had broken our £2,500 target, with the expectation that we could still raise more.

race report from BBC Dorset web-site

Day 1 - the day dawned with blue skies, strong Westerly winds and a full English breakfast in the B&B. There was an air of anticipation as the runners gathered at the Lugger Inn, Chickerell to register. Then we were then taken by mini bus to the start at Lyme Regis.

The day 1 route is characterised by a very hilly start including a climb and descent of the Golden Cap, the highest point on the Dorset coast path which comes only 5 miles into the route. A flatter section follows alongside the sea and then the Chesil bank passing checkpoint 2 at Burton Bradstock and then checkpoint 3 at Abbotsbury which offers a chance to get into a good running rhythm on an otherwise very tough route. With a good tailwind and a few showers blowing through from time to time conditions were quite good.

It was a difficult day both mentally and physically, the biggest of the hills, rain, a large sore rubbing on my back and a previous knee injury causing pain. However Ray's mum and sister and family were at the finish line, and this was a wonderful surprise. I was then able to drive to the Haven Holiday Park to find my family who had travelled down earlier in the day.

Distance covered 26.5 miles
Total time 5hr 33min

Checkpoint 1 involved a testing climb up Portland (which for me was the low of the whole event), before dropping back onto the causeway. Here I was pleased to see Kim and the family who had made a trip to the Chemist for first aid supplies to patch my back. First aid was administered and I continued on my way. The route then goes truly urban for the stretch through Weymouth to checkpoint 2 under the clock tower. As I left the clock tower the skies darkened and the wind picked up a bit and a good dose of icy rain and hail blew across as the storm moved in. I headed onwards to Bowleaze Cove, as I knew this was where I expected to see the most support, (this was where many childhood holidays had been spent), and I wasn’t disappointed. Ray’s family, my family and Ray’s friends were there to see me (17 people in total screaming and shouting like banshees, as I ran passed them in desperate need of the loo!).

From there it was on to checkpoint 3 at Osmington Mills, where my family had managed to get to before I arrived. The weather brightened and was beautifully sunny by the time I sprinted (yes that’s what they all said!!) down the final testing set of stone steps to Lulworth Cove, with a huge smile on my face, aching, tired but happy!! (Yes I really had got through Day 2).

We rounded the day off with 14 of us having a meal in the pub, before heading back to the caravan for an early night.

Distance covered 27.1 miles
Total time: 6hr 15min

Due to certain bits of the coast path going missing over the last few weeks and falling into the sea there was a section near to Kimmeridge bay that had to be avoided. This involved a short detour inland on some roads and footpaths before rejoining the route proper at Chapman’s Pool. These extra miles definitely added to the ‘challenge’ element.

By the time I reached checkpoint 3 to meet family and friends I had already almost run a full marathon distance. A quick cheese and pickle roll and I was off, I knew at this point I would get to the end even if I had to crawl on all fours. I ran the last three or four miles with a Dutch runner, along Studland, both of us encouraging one another to keep going to the finish.

At the finish, I was greeted by fabulous support (my mum, Kim & Children, Ray's mum, Teresa, Will & Nicola, Malcolm, Lynne, Tasja & Liam). It was a truly amazing high after a very hard and tiring three days, but worth every single step in memory of Ray.

Distance covered 32.1 miles (thank the coast path erosion, the enforced diversion and runner error for the bonus miles, just what I needed on Day 3!!)
Total time: 6hr 40min

Finish position: (over 3 days) 60th out of 110 (110 being the competitors that finished all 3 days)

A huge thanks to everyone for your support from us all, we believe the final figure will hit £3,500. (www.justgiving.com/For-Ray).

Nigel

* Acknowledgement – parts of text relating to course description have been adapted from the Votwo web site.