- Overview
- Event Details
- Entry Details
- Equipment & Training
Classic Quarter 2013
08/06/2013Solo
99% Booked
Relay Team of Four
99% Booked
Relay Pair
99% Booked
The Endurancelife Classic Quarter Ultra Marathon was first hosted in 2007 with great success. The idea for the event was originally conjured up by an enterprising Cornish businessman, surfer and ‘reluctant' endurance athlete.
One day whilst out on his regular local trail running route around Lizard Point, he could just make out Lands End in the far distance, and he wondered...
He wondered whether he might be able to run there, in one go, non stop? He concluded that with some solid training and a good dose of bloody mindedness, it could be, and should be done. He also concluded that it would be a great way to raise some funds for a very worthy organisation, Cornwall Hospice Care. Endurancelife were invited to get the challenge off the ground, and the 'Classic Quarter' was born.
The task is brutally simple. To run non-stop from the southern most point, to the western most tip of Cornwall (and England!), along the legendary South West Coast Path! That translates to moving through 90 degrees of the compass from Lizard Point to Lands End, hence the name, Classic Quarter!
The course follows 44 miles of the mesmerising SW Coast Path with innumerable climbs and descents. It is the ultimate trail runner’s rush, with spectacular exposure and challenging terrain all just a stones throw away from the potentially pounding Atlantic swells. There is also the unpredictable weather to contend with along the way and every runner must be well prepared, both mentally and physically.
The Classic Quarter can be attempted by well prepared solo runners, relay teams of two, or relay teams or four. The event is known for its fantastic atmosphere and the keen and friendly rivalry that abounds.
The Classic Quarter will celebrate its seventh anniversary in 2013. In the first year, 60 brave souls set off from Lizard Point in a howling westerly gale, it was an epic day and resulted in £3000 being raised for the Hospices. Over the years many thousands of pounds have been raised, and a record 380 runners signed up for the sell out 2012 event! Come and join in the fun in 2013.
Event Details
| Date | Saturday 8th June 2013 | |
| Start | Lizard Point, Cornwall | SW 703 117 |
| Finish | Land's End, Cornwall | SW 342 250 |
| Solo | Relay | |
| Registration | 0430-0530 | 0545 - 0630 |
| Safety Briefing | 0545 | 0645 |
| Start | 0600 | 0700 |
Course Overview
Course Map
Section 1: Lizard Point to Church Cove
Distance: 10 miles / 16 km
Section 2: Church Cove to Perranuthnoe
Distance: 10 miles / 16 km
Section 3: Perranuthnoe to Lamorna Cove
Distance: 13 miles / 21 km
Section 4: Lamorna Cove to Land's End
Distance: 11 miles / 17.5 km
Totals - Distance: 44 miles / 70 km - Elevation gain: 4200ft / 1280m
Cut off times for solo participants:
Maximum time to depart CP2 at 20 miles is 6 hours
Maximum time to depart CP3 at 33 miles is 9 hours
N.B: These limits will be strictly enforced to ensure the safe management of the event. Additional cut offs may also be added.
By Category
Solos
Start: Lizard Point, Cornwall. SW 703 117.
(Finish): Land's End, Cornwall. SW 342 250.
Relay Pairs
Start: Lizard Point, Cornwall. SW 703 117.
Check Point 2 / Change Over: Perranuthnoe Car Park. SW 540 294.
Finish:Land's End, Cornwall. SW 342 250.
Relay Teams of Four:
Start: Lizard Point, Cornwall. SW 703 117
Check Point 1 / Change Over: Church Cove Car Park. SW 659 208
Check Point 2 / Change Over: Perranuthnoe Car Park. SW 540 294
Check Point 3 / Change Over: Lamorna Cove. SW 450 240
Finish: Land's End, Cornwall. SW 342 250
Transport
Solo
An optional bus service is available to transport solo competitors from the finish location to the start location early on Saturday morning. This enables solo participants to take part without having to bring a driver or support person. When you get to the finish your car will be waiting for you, a big bonus after a tough day.
This service is an optional extra and costs £16. It is highly recommended and will improve your event experience. The bus will depart from Lands End Car Park at 04:00 prompt. (Please Note that the bus fare also includes parking at Lands End for the duration of the event).
How to book (Please Note: You can't book transport or other add ons at the time of booking your place in the event, it must be done as a 2nd separate transaction).
1) Logon to your Endurancelife account.
2) Click "My future events"
3) Click "my add-ons" for the event in question.
4) Select and pay for the add-ons of your choice.
NB: It is not possible to pay for the transport on the day, and you must have booked the transport by the deadline on Thursday 30th of May 2013.
Teams (Pairs & Fours)
Teams responsible for their own transport for the duration of the event. Each team must use only ONE car between them. Please be organised and plan this aspect of logisitics prior to event.
This will avoid you getting lost, arriving late, causing road congestion and unnessary disruption to the event.
Team members not participating are expected to carefully drive the team's vehicle to the next checkpoint / change-over location in good time and await their team-mate's arrival.
Check Point Support
Check points are positioned approximately every ten miles along the course. Runners are required to check in with the check point marshal and to 'dib' their electronic timing tag in a control box. These check points are also the change over points for relay teams. Each check point will also be a hydration station and will offer water and energy foods. In addition, 'hydration stations' will also be positioned approximately mid way between each official check point, these will be marshaled and will provide water only. In conclusion, water will be available to all runners at approximately every five miles along the course.
Parking
Please ensure that you park in the designated car parks at Lands End and The Lizard (National Trust), if you are participating you will need to be displaying an event parking permit, please make sure you print one off here and display it when parking.
Kit Bags and Drop Bags
Solo participants are welcome to bring a kit bag with them to the start. This bag will then be taken by Endurancelife directly to the finish. If you would like access to some additional kit at the 2nd check point at Perranuthnoe you need to prepare a drop bag. Please make sure that the drop bag is a sensible size, robust and has your name clearly marked on it. From CP2 your drop bag will be taken to the finish.
Teams are responsible for taking care of their own kit.
Accommodation
The Classic Quarter is supported by Classic Cottages. If you would like to stay in an amazing place as part of your Classic Quarter experience, these guys are the experts.
If you are staying in the Lands End area on Friday night before the event or on Saturday night after the event, The Lands End Hotel is an excellent choice. It has been refurbished to a very good standard and the location and views are 2nd to none. Alternatively The White Sands Hotel & Surf Lodge has a good range of options, including hotel rooms and a bunk house. It is two miles from Lands End.
The Lands End Hotel The Lands End Hotel, Lands End, Cornwall, TR19 7AA
Tel: 01736 87184
The Whitesands Hotel, Sennen, Nr. Land's End, TR19 7AR - Tel: (01736) 871776
There is also a good campsite at Lower Treave.
Lower Treave Camping, Crows-An-Wra, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6HZ Tel: 01736 810559
If you would like to stay near the start at Lizard Point. The following are good options;
Entry Details
All entries are made online and in advance of the event. The booking process is quick and simple. If you are new to Endurancelife, you will be asked to set up an Endurancelife account within the checkout process.
Cornwall Hospice Care [Official Charity Partner]
Fund raising is not compulsory. One of the aims of the Classic Quarter is to raise funds for Cornwall Hospice Care however, and as such all participants are challenged to raise £50. This should be easy when you tell people about the scale of what you are taking on! As an incentive to runners who would like to pledge to raise a minimum in sponsorship, there are special 50% discounted entry fees available courtesy of Classic Cottages. Please select the appropriate option whilst booking to take advantage of the substantial discounts.
Download a paper 2013 sponsorship form here or please use the online services below:
Entry Fees
| Solo | £62 | |
| Solo (with 50% fund raisers discount) | £31 | Pledge to raise £200 |
| Relay pair | £90 | £45 per person |
| Realy pair (with 50% fund raisers discount) | £45 | Team pledge to raise £350 |
| Relay team of four | £120 | £30 per person |
| Relay team of four (with 50% fund raisers discount) | £60 | Team pledge to raise £500 |
What's Included - Professionally managed & hosted event - Sport Ident electronic timing system - Basic map and narrated instructions - Manned check points and hydration stations - Quality event Tshirt - Prizes & medals - Quality photos available to purchase post event on-line
Prizes
There will be prizes for the 1st, 2nd & 3rd male and female solo finishers. Age category winners will also be rewarded (V40, V45, V50, V55, V60). Winning relay teams will also be awarded medals and prizes.
Prizes will be issued by way of credit. This credit is posted to winners Endurancelife accounts and may be used in the online Endurance Store, photo gallery or to enter other events. In addition to the prize categories outlined above there are also spot prizes for outstanding feats of sportsmanship and heroic acts!
Payment
All payment must be made online using a credit or debit card.
Terms & Conditions
Endurancelife standard Ts&Cs.
By booking a place in the Classic Quarter, you agree to the following terms and conditions: Event Cancellation Policy: If the event is cancelled for any reason by the organisers, no cash refunds will be made. Participants will be entitled to a credit that may be redeemed against selected future events of the equivalent value. Format Changes: The organisers reserve the right to change the date, location and format of the event if necessary. Participant Cancellations: The Endurancelife Personal Account System has been designed so that you are able to manage your own 'endurance life' effectively. If you need to change category or cancel a booking you can do so yourself by logging onto your personal account. There is no fee for making changes yourself if you are outside of the cut offs as detailed below. Please Note: If you cancel a booking, your entry fee will be credited to your Endurancelife account, no cash refunds are available. If you require the assistance of an Endurancelife representative to make changes there is a £10 administration fee.
MORE THAN 30 DAYS AWAY: If you need to cancel your booking and it is more than 30 days before the event you are able to get a 100% credit. You are able to do this yourself from your personal Endurancelife account. Simply log on, cancel the existing booking (which will be credited to your account and will be valid for 60 days). 30 DAYS OR LESS AWAY: Please Note: No transfers, roll overs, refunds or credits of any description are available for cancellations made 30 days or less prior to an event. By this time your entry fee has already been spent on the preparations for the event.
CQ Rules
Participants must have arrived and departed check points before the pre set cut off times (please see course details tab for times ETC)
Solo & relay pairs participants must be 18 years of age or over.
Relay teams of four participants must be 16 years of age or over.
Participants must stay on course at all times. Anyone found taking short cuts will be disqualified.
Participants must check in at all check points and ensure they register with the marshal and electronic timing system.
Participants must ensure they wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
Participants must carry water and food whilst competing.
Participants race bibs must be clearly visible at all times.
Solo participants must carry or wear all the mandatory kit items at all times.
All participants must follow the prescribed course & adhere to the spirit of trail running:
- Respect and give way to other coastal path users.
- Do not drop litter.
- Leave gates as found.
- Assist fellow runners who are injured, exhausted or confused.
Kit & Training
Kit:
Each solo participant must wear or carry the following mandatory items:
- Legwear or shorts - no cotton based material
- Socks
(bladder or bottles)- Basic first aid kit - inc wound dressing and triangular bandage
- Snacks & emergency rations
- Mobile phone in waterproof case
- Whistle
- Hat or form of head cover
Every participant is recommended to wear or carry the following items:
- Sun cream
- Sun glasses
- Lubricant
- Money for emergencies
Training
Solo
For solo participants in the Classic Quarter it is essential that you have undertaken sufficient training. It is recommended that solo runners have as an absolute minimum completed a standard 26.2 mile marathon and preferably a long distance trail event. It is important that training is progressive and that it is started early. It is also of great benefit to train on terrain that is as similar as possible to that which will be experienced during the event.
Build-up events:
* The Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series offers the PERFECT way to prepare for running the CQ ultra marathon. There are eleven coastal based marathons and 33 mile ultras in eleven stunning coastal locations to choose from taking place between October 2012 and May 2013. Each one of these events will replicate the terrain and conditions experienced in the CQ.
Relay Pairs
For relay pair participants, a very good base of fitness is required each runner will cover miles of uneven and challenging coastal terrain. Runners will need to be experienced and comfortable in covering this distance.
Relay Teams of Four
For relay team participants, a good base of fitness is required. Each runner is likely to cover about 11 miles in the CQ. Runners should be looking to be comfortable in covering this distance on off road terrain.
Safety Notice: Off-road ultra running is a potentially dangerous adventure sport and carries inherent risks. Participants in the Classic Quarter are subject to hours of high output physical exertion in a relatively remote place, potentially in extremes of weather. It is essential that a thorough training programme is undertaken in the months prior to the event and that the appropriate clothing and footwear is worn or carried whilst participating. Runners should be aware of the challenging nature of the terrain and the demands it will make of them.
