Our Latest News
Endurancelife is the fastest growing adventure sports company in the UK. We pride ourselves on our innovative event formats and welcoming atmosphere. Our community is full of
active and adventurous members who are up for anything, love a
challenge, and care deeply about the natural world. We challenge you to get an Endurancelife and start to enjoy the benefits of living in a healthier, more adventurous and more environmentally friendly way.
Read below about all of the exciting news and developments from Endurancelife:
Win 210 Clif Bars!
To celebrate their involvement with the 2010 Coastal Trail Series and sponsorship of the 7x7x7 Challenge, Clif Bar & Company are giving Seven lucky people the chance to win seven months supply of Clif bars. Thats a lot of bars! - 210 to be exact!
How to enter: Just book a place in the CTS2010 7x7x7 Challenge and you will automatically entered into the prize draw.
What is up for grabs? The seven winners will each receive a seven month supply of Clif bars (assorted flavours). That’s 14 boxes of 15 bars or 210 Clif bars in Total!
When will the prize draw take place? The prize draw will take place during the race briefing of Stage1 of the CTS2010 in Dorset on the 7th November 2009.
How long do I have to enter? Entry for the 2010 7x7x7 Challenge is open until the 23rd October 2009, but places are strictly limited and may sell out well ahead of this date.
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Win 210 Clif Bars!
To celebrate their involvement with the 2010 Coastal Trail Series and sponsorship of the 7x7x7 Challenge, Clif Bar & Company are giving Seven lucky people the chance to win seven months supply of Clif bars. Thats a lot of bars!
Posted 08/06/2009 by Andrew Barker
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CTS Stage 7: Exmoor Race Report
Saturday 9 May saw the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series 2009, sponsored by Inov-8, make its last stop on its coastal tour at the dramatic and beautiful location of Exmoor, North Devon. The final venue in the seven part series lived up to everyone’s expectations and the trail runners were treated to yet another glorious day of competition.
Widely regarded as the toughest yet most spectacular course in the series, the Exmoor event ticked all the right boxes: superb scenery, diverse mix of landscape, fantastic trails, demanding course, minimal road, slick organisation, great atmosphere and yet again perfect weather conditions!
The event was once again based from the Hunter’s Inn, nestled deep within the Heddon Valley. For the majority of the 500 strong field, this was their first time to this part of North Devon, and all were blown away by the sublime beauty of the event location and the surrounding areas.
The various courses of 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon distance all managed to take in the very best trails and showcase the extreme diversity of the region: the dramatic North Devon coastline, the open moorland of Exmoor and the densely wooded valleys that give the area its reputation as resembling parts of Switzerland!
As with all events in the Coastal Trail Series (CTS) the emphasis was on self reliance, adding to the sense of adventure. And at times, the Exmoor course quite literally pushed people to the edge. With narrow paths cut into steep-sided cliffs and a 300 ft drop down into the big blue, the trail running undertaken was, at times, more akin to fell running: lung busting ascents, calf burning descents and equal amounts of stunning scenery just around the next corner, or over the next hill!
With the sell out CTS 08-09 coming to a close, all eyes are on the dates for next year which have just been released and are now open to booking. Please visit the CTS 09-10 pages more details.
Congratulations to all those who completed the Exmoor event – see you later in the year!
Marathon
Men:
1. Mike Feighan: 03:53:27
2. Andrew Hill: 03:58:21
3. Kevin Carr: 04:08:05
Female:
1. Jane Angilley: 04:28:07
2. Michelle Laws: 04:32:02
3. Karen Hathaway: 04:33:19
Half Marathon
Men:
1. Niall Riddell: 01:38:29
2. Stephen Thompson: 01:40:00
3. Martin Pengilly: 01:42:00
Female:
1. Natasha Poole: 00:56:51
2. Anna Shekhdar: 02:04:37
3. Jo Perriam: 02:07:54
10K
Men:
1. Tom Beech: 00:59:13
2. Jonathon Taylor: 01:00:15
3. Lawrence Percival: 01:01:01
Female:
1. Debbie Marsden: 01:03:37
2. Becky Griffiths: 01:08:55
3. Pippa Tanner: 01:09:37
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CTS Stage 7: Exmoor Race Report
Read the much anticipated CTS Exmoor race report and see why this voted the very best coastal trail run.
Posted 04/06/2009 by Will Turner
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Living Coasts Win Adventure Quest
A team from Torquay's Coastal Zoo, Living Coasts, has scooped the top prize in the Endurancelife Adventure Quest 2009. Competing under the moniker of ‘Mud Skippers' and consisting of team captain Derek Youd, Tony Perkins and Jess Churchill-Bissett, the Living Coasts team put in an impressive performance to finish top ahead of Bristol-based architects, Stride Treglown, and the Dartmoor Parnership.
Meanwhile, a team from Exeter-based law firm Michelmores claimed first prize in the men's event, ahead of Paul Carpenter Associates of Kingsbridge and the National Trust.
The Adventure Quest, now in its second year, brings together corporate teams from a wide variety of organisations to participate in a one-day adventure race over the privately owned Flete Estate in South Devon.
Speaking after the event, Mud Skippers' captain Derek Youd said:
"We were utterly amazed that we managed to win. Yes, we were keen to improve on our 4th place last year but never believed that our efforts would bring us this result. We are absolutely shocked! I'm still clutching my medal!
"Our start was a bit hesitant as we were the first ones to go out. However, when we found those first coasteering checkpoints quickly, we settled down to a quick transition onto the bikes. This was something we planned and had worked out a good circular route to 'capture' as many points as possible.
"In short I have one thing to say: If you've never done an adventure race before, do this one. It will leave you with a grin that will not wear off for weeks!"
To see the full table of results click here
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Living Coasts Win Adventure Quest
A team from Torquay's Coastal zoo, Living Coasts, has scooped the top prize in the Endurancelife Adventure Quest. The team of Derek Youd, Tony Perkins and Jess Churchill-Bissett finished on a score of 380.
Posted 18/05/2009 by Kate Treleaven
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Endurancelife to Support the National Trust Neptune Campaign
The National Trust’s Neptune Coastline Campaign
The National Trust’s Neptune Coastline Campaign was set up in 1965 to protect, conserve and provide access to our coast for future generations.
The National Trust own 716 kilometres of coastline in the South West which represents 63% of all UK coastline owned by the National Trust.With this ownership comes a great deal of responsibility and whilst acquisition remains important, maintenance and refurbishment of coast paths and properties is now a priority.Generous donations to the Neptune fund make this possible.
For every stage of the Coastal Trail Series that you enter Endurancelife will make a donation to the National Trust’s Neptune Campaign.This campaign was set up in 1965 to protect, conserve and provide access to our coast for future generations.
We have decided to support the National Trust’s Neptune campaign because as a company, we are committed to protecting our natural environments so that they can be enjoyed by all, now and in the future.All of the CTS routes cover National Trust land at some point.Without the National Trust, these paths would most likely be of a poor standard (if they existed at all), or land would be privately owned and Endurancelife events would not be able to take place.
We have set a fundraising target of £30,000 for the 2010 Coastal Trail Series.
Please help us to support the maintenance of the coastline so that it can continue to be enjoyed by trail runners and everyone else in years to come. If you would like to join us in supporting the Neptune Fund please make a voluntary contribution (no matter how small) when you book your CTS2010 place.
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Endurancelife to Support the National Trust Neptune Campaign
We are committed to protecting our natural environments so that they can be enjoyed by all. We are delighted to support the National Trust’s Neptune campaign.
Posted 12/05/2009 by Andrew Barker
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Beach Cleans - New For the 2010 Series
Hands on conservation opportunities
Endurancelife has teamed up with the National Trust in Devon and Cornwall to offer you the chance to get involved in helping to care for our coastline. On the Sunday following the South Devon, Cornwall and Exmoor stages, we would like to offer you the opportunity to spend the day with a member of National Trust staff helping to conserve the coastline.
The day will begin at 10am. You will be involved in one of a range of conservation activities, located close to the Event Base. These activities might involve cleaning a beach, clearing scrub, building walls or footpaths or laying hedges. Your conservation experience will be over by 3pm, leaving you plenty of time to travel home. The work is of a physical, manual nature - tiring but very satisfying.
The cost of this activity is £20, all of which will go to the National Trust to cover administration costs of the day.
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Beach Cleans - New For the 2010 Series
Endurance Life has teamed up with the National Trust to offer you the chance to help care for our coastline. Spend the day following your CTS event with a member of National Trust staff helping to conserve the coastline.
Posted 12/05/2009 by Andrew Barker
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Coastal Trail Series 2010 Dates
Stage
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Date
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Location
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1. Dorset
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7/11/2009
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Charmouth TBC
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| 2. Gower |
5/12/2009 |
Llangennith |
| 3. Portland |
23/1/2010 |
Fortuneswell |
| 4. South Devon |
27/2/2010 |
Beesands |
| 5. Pembrokeshire |
27/3/2010 |
Little Haven |
| 6. Cornwall |
24/4/2010 |
St Just |
| 7. Exmoor |
22/5/2010 |
Lynton
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Coastal Trail Series 2010 Dates
The information that everyone has been waiting for!
We are pleased to announce the much anticipated dates for the 2010 Coastal Trail Series. All stages will be open for booking from midnight on Monday 11th May 2009.
Posted 29/04/2009 by Andrew Barker
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Coastal Trail Series 09 Photo Comp
Theme/Subject
Entries are invited for photographs taken during the 2009 Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series.
Prize
There will be a prize awarded for the best photo, plus a mystery prize as follows:
1st PLACE : A pair of INOV-8 Trail Shoes of your choice plus entry into any stage of the 2010 Coastal Trail Series.
RUNNER UP : A MONTANE ULTRA LITE MARATHON JACKET plus entry into any stage of the 2010 Coastal Trail Series.
MYSTERY PRIZE - £40 worth of ENDURANCELIFE CREDITS - to a randomly selected photo - so it could be yours ?
Eligibility
The competition is open to anyone. There is no limit to the number of photographs that a person may enter, but no entrant may win more than one prize in the contest. All photos need to be uploaded to Flickr (a web-based photo sharing tool) to be in with a chance.
How to Enter
1. Visit the Flickr website at www.flickr.com and sign up for a free Flickr account or login using your existing Yahoo account if you have one.
2. Within Flickr search for the Group "Coastal Trail Series 09 Photo Comp" and join this group.
3. Upload photos to your account. Give them a title and a description (what the image shows, where it was taken and your full name) AND type in the tag: cts09photocomp
4. Click on the photo(s) you want to submit to the competition.
5. Click the small "Send to Group" button located between the photo title and the photo.
6. Choose the "Coastal Trail Series 09 Photo Comp" group and you're done!
Rules
- Images must be uploaded to this group
- Entries must be licenced under "Creative Commons" licence in Flickr. This can easily be added under "Additional Information" next to each photograph. Select the "Attribution-NonCommercial Creative Commons" tick box. By submitting your photos in this format you are giving Endurancelife (and the public) permission to use your photo for publication and/or promotional work (you will be acknowledged as the photographer).
- All photos must be taken during any stage of the 2009 Coastal Trail Series and be originals.
Closing date
The competition is now open and the closing date is 1 July 2009. The competition winners will be announced on the Endurancelife site and this Flickr Group by 9 July 2009. A selection of entries will be exhibited and may be used in Endurancelife publications for the promotion of future events and initiatives.
Judging
A panel of judges will select the winners. All decisions by the judges are final and no correspondence will be entered into. All winners will be notified via their Flickr account.
Coordinator
Contact the competition organiser Andrew Barker by e-mail with any questions. Thankyou and good luck.
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Coastal Trail Series 09 Photo Comp
For a chance to win some fantastic prizes all you have to do is submit your best shots from any stage of the 2009 Series. We have seen you snapping! Now get sharing!
Posted 21/04/2009 by Andrew Barker
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CTQ Stage 6: Cornwall Event Report
Cape Cornwall Golf Course at St Just was the dramatic base for Round 6 of the Coastal Trail Quest series. In a commanding position above the cliffs, there was a lot of sea in view - head west from here and the next time hit land you're on a different continent. The morning broke (yet again) with brilliant sunshine, though a cool breeze was a gentle reminder that this was early spring, not early summer. The sense of drama within the landscape was fantastic, and has been a feature of all the events of the series. I've discovered new areas that have offered much more riding potential than I expected, and one was no exception.
The event area had a familiar look to it – a complex mix of roads, lanes, byways and bridleways across which were scattered some fifteen checkpoints. As I linked each one up before the start, it was clear a lot of thought had gone into their placement as there were many route options, most of which encouraged the use of other off road trails to link checkpoints, rather than heading for the nearest tarmac alternative. I took the hint and set out to weave these little extra off road sections into my planned route, and I wasn't disappointed - all the trails were fantastic. A wonderful mix of fast broad gravel tracks and bridleways to narrow, twisty and challenging singletrack along cliff paths was my reward for taking this strategy.
It's worth noting that the series league was tight at this point. I was trailing James Hunt, but a win here would keep the series open to the last round – an exciting prospect. I knew that I had to get all the checkpoints if I stood a chance of beating James and at half way I was feeling confident. But, the latter half was a different story – navigational errors crept in which cost me valuable minutes I couldn't afford to loose. Finally I arrived back at event base, with all checkpoints visited, but 3 minutes left on the clock. If James was any quicker, he'd have won the series. And he was, twelve minutes quicker – not all that much in over 90km of riding. James earned a well deserved victory both for this round and for the league overall.
Cornwall was possibly my favourite round to date, and well worth driving the extra few miles for. A big well done and thanks to the guy's at Endurancelife for picking the very best from this area, which was magnified with the glorious weather.
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CTQ Stage 6: Cornwall Event Report
The CTQ Cornwall lived up to the high standards of the CTQ series. Read Ian Barrington's (Medium Score runner up and awesome mountain biker) account of the event here.
Posted 20/04/2009 by Endurancelife
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2009 Dartmoor Mountain Marathon - Postponed
2009 Dartmoor Mountain Marathon - Postponed
Due to overwhelming demand for places in the 2009 DMM, the event has been postponed until July 2010. Due to the increased environmental impact the larger than anticipated event would have on the moor land, and to preserve the events future sustainability, it has been decided that it is in the best interests of all parties concerned to move the event to a more suitable date outside the ground bird nesting season. All registered participants were e-mailed on 07/04/09 and offered the chance to roll their entry over to 2010, keep the entry fee as a credit or receive a full refund. If you did not receive the original e-mail you can read it by clicking the link above. We apologise for any inconvience caused and thank you for your support.
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2009 Dartmoor Mountain Marathon - Postponed
Important Announcement: The 2009 DMM has been postponed until July 24-25th 2010.
Posted 16/04/2009 by Gary
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CTS Stage 6: Cornwall Event Report
The rugged North West coast of Cornwall was the setting for the 6th race in the Endurancelife Coastal Trail series. Yet again the guys had booked the sun and a great venue at the Cape Cornwall Golf & Country Club. The now familiar and slightly worn-looking faces of the remaining 7x7x7 competitors joined the rest of the runners for the penultimate race briefing to learn that, surprise surprise, it was going to be another hilly one.
The first half of the marathon follows the coastal path east from St Just, passing hidden sandy beaches, disused mine stacks and rugged granite cliffs as it sweeps along above the crashing waves below. Spectacular and diverse scenery provided a welcome distraction from the gruelling terrain, with deep muddy sections, jagged boulders and stream crossings adding to the challenge.
At half way the route heads inland along steep tracks, quiet country lanes and through rutted fields separated by a granite obstacle course of stiles and cattle grids; tough to negotiate after several hours of running. A short but welcome road section – marshalled at the one main junction – soon gave way to open moorland, where the familiar red chevrons led runners along many winding paths through the gorse. This section was much more pleasant running than last year, with firm ground and perfect visibility.
A long final descent on footpaths with views down into St Just provided brief respite before the final gruelling hill up to the finish at Cape Cornwall. The support from event crew and the many walkers we met along the route helped to make the race a very special experience.
The traditional Endurancelife post-race welcome awaited us with hot food and sitting in the sun with new friends, sharing tales of our races and applauding both prize winners and those finishing after many hours out on the course with equal admiration.
Jen Timms - CTS Ultimate 7x7x7 Participant (7 Marathons, 7 Months, 7 Coastal Locations)
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CTS Stage 6: Cornwall Event Report
This month Jen Timms, one of the admirable Ultimate 7x7x7 participants, was chosen to write the race report for the CTS Cornwall event. Read her take on the event, here.
Posted 14/04/2009 by Endurancelife
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Devon Coast 2 Coast
For all the latest information about the two day Devon Coast 2 Coast and the new Extreme version, please visit Devon Coast 2 Coast
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Devon Coast 2 Coast
The Devon Coast 2 Coast takes place on the 26th-27th of September this year and is proving as popular as ever. The epic two day multi sport adventure offers the intrepid outdoor athlete a breath taking journey across two National Parks between the northern and southern most points in Devon.
Posted 09/04/2009 by GJ
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Lactic Acid
When your mates start to run or ride faster or you are overtaken by someone on the way home all you want to do is stay on their heels then take a deep breath and burn past them. But there is something stopping you. It’s that pain we all know well, your legs begin to burn and you can’t go any faster. That pain is the accumulation of blood lactate in your blood. For most of us the level at which blood lactate starts to accumulate is 75-85% of their max heart rate and it is known as the lactate threshold. With training it is possible to increase your lactate threshold to 85-90%.
In order to increase your lactate threshold you need a good base level of training otherwise training at lactate threshold will simply take too much out of you. A good base would mean at least 3 hours a week.
Once you have a good base start by adding in some simple sessions to your training to raise your lactate threshold. Pick two of the following sessions to do every week.
Session one – Mini time trial efforts, 10 minutes warm up then do 4 x 4 minutes as hard as possible on flat terrain. (build up to 6 x 4 minutes) Fire roads are ideal for this. Have at least 6 minutes of easy pedalling or jogging between efforts. (If you are looking to do some racing these will help with flat sections or gradual climbs as they usually last between 3-5 minutes) Finish with 10 minutes easy pedalling or 5 minutes jog to cool down. After 6 weeks make the efforts 6 minutes long.
Session two – Commuter sprints, after a 5-10 minute warm up do 20 second sprints every 60 seconds. Try starting with 8 sprints and building up to 15. Once you have done 4 of these sessions start to reduce the recovery period to 45 seconds between sprints. 10 minutes easy cool down to finish.
Session three – Traffic Race starts, after a 5-10 minutes warm up do 10 x 1 minute sprints from a standing still start. Have 2 minutes easy pedalling or jogging then repeat. 10 minutes easy cool down to finish.
Build this type of training into your body and get the results in your next Endurance Life event.
For more helpful training advice like this please visit the Training Tips Section of this site.
Andy Wadsworth www.mylifept.com 01179237111
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Lactic Acid
Get the most out of your next Endurance Life event and learn how to improve your lactate threshold.
Posted 09/04/2009 by Andy Wadsworth
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CTS Stage 5: Pembrokeshire Event Report
As the 430 strong field of adventurous runners started to trickle their way into the picturesque coastal village of Little Haven in South Pembrokeshire, everyone was struggling to believe just how fantastic the weather was – again! The Coastal Trail Series has seen its fair share of bad weather over the years, but 2009 has seen a change of fortune allowing these stunning race locations to be displayed in all their glory.
This stage of the Coastal Trail Series was hosted in yet another special location, in Britain’s only Coastal National Park, Pembrokeshire. A must-visit destination of the UK, the field had a truly international feel about it with numerous Kiwis, Aussies, S Africans and mainland Europeans in the field. There was also a strong and ever-cheerful Irish presence, making the journey across the pond on a popular ferry route.
With all participants registered and safety briefed for their respective race (Marathon, Half Marathon or 10K), it was ready for the off. Starting from the seafront, runners soon found themselves negotiating this wonderful stretch of coastline. They soon realised why it is an entry requirement to wear trail shoes, as the slippery mud and exposure cliff paths was ever-more apparent.
The route followed the coast path, working its way south west. The sun beat down as runners weaved their way in and out of the quiet sandstone coves and along rocky cliff edges. This section offered magnificent views over the Atlantic, with numerous mega sized tankers awaiting entry into the UK’s largest natural harbour, Milford Haven. As an area renowned for it marine and wildlife, some runners even caught sight of seals and rare sea birds – a welcomed distraction from the challenging terrain!
Once all runners had completed over half of their distance, the route turned inland across some fine Welsh countryside. A short section back on the coast path and finish-bay was in sight. A gentle downhill assisted tired runners across the line, where supporters gathered to cheer and applaud.
After collecting their finishers’ medal, Tshirt and meal, many headed straight for the pub to watch the nation’s beloved game (rugby). Others opted for a slightly different means of refreshment, choosing to ‘cool-down’ with a stroll along the water’s edge of the beach.
With only two stages remaining of this epic trail running series, the demand for places in the series very high. Only a handful of places remain in the Stage 6: Cornwall event and the final and awesome) event, Stage 7: Exmoor. To book your place, please visit www.endurancelife.com.
Congratulations to all those who took part at Pembrokeshire, and we look forward to seeing you all soon!
Marathon
Men
- Andrew Hill 03:28:21
- David Ross 03:32:50
- Adam Holland 03:34:17
Women
- Michelle Laws 03:51:47
- Claire Akin-Smith 04:06:03
- Jen Timms 04:08:35
Half Marathon
Men
- Niall Riddell 01:39:15
- Paul Mahon 01:49:19
- David Lodge 01:50:55
Women
- Beth McCluskey 01:54:29
- Kat Steed 01:57:27
- Dawn Gibbs 01:59:29
10K
Men
- Matthew Hammerton 00:43:13
- Oliver Mytton 00:43:40
- Lawrence Percival 00:49:59
Women
- Nancy Hill 00:56:12
- Becky Griffiths 00:57:17
- Michelle Pank 00:57:32
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CTS Stage 5: Pembrokeshire Event Report
The best in the west?! Wales lays on a real treat for the Coastal Trail Series Stage 5: Pembrokeshire. Read the official race report here.
Posted 17/03/2009 by Will Turner
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CTQ Stage 4: South Devon Event Report
The Endurancelife Coastal Trail Quest (CTQ) Stage 4: South Devon was selected as the opening qualifying event in the Trail Cyclists’ Association’s National Series 2009. Anticipation was high as participants arrived at the event base in Beesands, and those who entered were treated to a superb day of mountain bike orienteering.
Based at the picturesque and traditional fishing village of Beesands in this glorious area of Devon, the event base was perfectly positioned for exploration of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As entrants registered the early morning sea air had started to lift and everyone was soon basking in glorious sunshine.
Almost 100 participants entered the event opting for either the Short Score (3 hour) or Medium Score (5 hour). Both classes took in the very best views, landscape and off-road cycling terrain that the area had to offer.
Most riders chose to head for the southerly-based controls, several of which were sited in idyllic coves along this stunning stretch of coastline. Those who headed north were required to stretch their legs a little but were rewarded with some high scoring controls. Naturally there were those enthusiastic few who went for them all!
One thing no trailquester could avoid was the hills. This area surprised most people with it’s uncompromising number of sharp climbs and descents. The course was designed to showcase the little known mountain biking potential of the area and it certainly did that by utilising its extensive network of green lanes and bridleways. The narrow lanes, banked steeply by hedgerows offered glimpses of sublime panoramic views, making the on road cycling feel like it was off road.
As the day drew on and participants started to trickle in, some impressive scores were being registered in both classes. The big question on everyone’s lips, would it be cleared? This was deemed achievable by course planner Will Turner, but would require a big effort and superb performance. After much effort James Hunt (363 points) and Mark Stodgell (360 points) just missed the clean sweepby one control. A tight finish reflecting the competitive riding. Ali Northcott was first female and third overall with an impressive 325 points.
Congratulations to all those who took part and good luck to all those competing in the National Series!
Short Score Results: 3hr, 375 total points
Solo:
- Dan Sullivan – 212
- Matt Gorman – 176
- Ewan Gibb – 130
Pair:
- Rachel Clay & Caroline Goward – 160
- Jim Kemp & Nick Gillon – 156
- Simon Hall & Ken McCormick – 145
Medium Score (5hr) Results: 5hr, 375 total points
Solo:
- James Hunt – 363
- Mark Stodgell – 360
- Ali Northcott – 325
Pair:
- Paul Cant & Steve Monk – 230
- Steve Whitehouse & Andy Jukes – 230
- Dawn Statham & David Sykes – 205
For full results click here.
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CTQ Stage 4: South Devon Event Report
With the sun beating down on South Devon, this was a bright, fresh start to the TCA National Series 2009. Read the official race report here.
Posted 07/03/2009 by Will Turner
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Festival Welcome for Ultra Series
Runners who compete in the Classic Cliffs epic this summer can look forward to a post-race party of equally epic proportions. As they race down Clovelly's famous cobbled street to cross the finish line by the harbour, runners will find the seaside village gearing up for its annual Maritime Festival on Sunday 26th July.
It's expected that the majority of runners will reach Clovelly by late afternoon on Saturday after leaving Port Isaac under cover of darkness in the very early hours. No doubt the village will be in festive mood and keen to kick-start the celebrations. The party continues on Sunday with a variety of family entertainment on offer at the Maritime Festival.
One of the highlights, we're told, will be Merlin Cadogan performing a unique stunt which involves escaping from a 10ft chain with his head in a diving helmet filled with water whilst juggling with fire. It would seem Merlin, like most of our runners, enjoys a good challenge.
Meanwhile Professor Goodvibes will be performing his Punch and Judy show and there'll be walkabout theatre and comedy acts throughout the day. Weary runners with aching limbs might be persuaded to 'Shake a Leg' to the music of the Bideford-based shanty singing group of the same name. Hanging Johnny and Shanty Jack will also be entertaining visitors.
Great tasting local food and ales will be available with seafood platters served at the Red Lion and a hog roast on the beach.
If any extra incentive were needed to enter the Classic Cliffs, then the Clovelly Maritime Festival must surely be it!
The Classic Cliffs covers 55 miles of coastal path from Port Isaac in Cornwall to Clovelly on Devon's north coast. It is open to solo runners and relay teams of two or four. For more details click
here.
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Festival Welcome for Ultra Series
Runners who compete in the Classic Cliffs epic this summer can look forward to a post-race party of equally epic proportions. Crossing the finish line at Clovelly, they'll find the village gearing up for its annual Maritime Festival.
Posted 04/03/2009 by Endurancelife
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Training for your First Off Road Triathlon
Triathlon is one of the fastest growing sports in the World. The competition factor is perhaps more attractive than other endurance sports because you can race against people of similar age and ability as well as being on the same course as the World’s best.
The Key training in each week
Aim to do 3 key sessions of training per week, one for each discipline. These sessions require your full focus and energy to get the most out them. Any other training sessions you can fit in the week consider to be base sessions, long a steady *(level 1-2) and should provide increased aerobic and strength maintenance, which will enable your 3 key sessions to be even more beneficial. Without these base sessions you will be prone to over training and injuries. The key sessions *(level 2-3) should be a couple of days apart and adapted to the distances you do in the endurance life events.
For example in the
Trail Cross Tri sprint you will need to do one swim lasting between 10 and 20 minutes, one cycle lasting between 40 to 60 minutes and one run lasting 20 to 30 minutes.
Trail Cross Tri Sport you will need to do one swim lasting 20-30 minutes, one cycle lasting 1 to 2 hours and one run lasting 40 to 80 minutes.
Trail Cross Tri Stamina you will need one swim lasting 40-60 minutes, one cycle lasting 2 to 3 hours and one run lasting 1.5 to 2 hours.
*(Levels see heart rate and training levels article)
Swim training– try and do at least 3-4 open water swims before the big day, its daunting getting into the open water for the first time. From now on adapt you swimming technique by raising your arms higher out of the water during your front crawl arm recovery and lifting your head higher every 10 strokes to get use to the choppy outdoor water conditions and to help site the boys on the swim course.
Bike training– Use your mountain bike off-road at least once a week to practice your technical skills and get familiar with how the bike handles on different surfaces and conditions. Include at least 4 hills that last over 4 minutes once a week to raise your heart rate and increase your power ready for the event.
Run training– One run a week needs to be off road to make your stabilizing muscles work harder just as they will in the event. Include some steep hills which last over 4 minutes to improve your climbing fitness and get your heart rate raised. The descents will be tougher on the day when your legs are feeling tired towards the end of the event so the more you practice the downhill’s now the better.
Building up.
The great thing about the Trail Cross series is you can build up your distances as you get use to training harder and the demands of each discipline. The coast to coast at the end of the season provides the biggest challenge of all. Why not use this summer to be fitter than ever before.
Sprint: swim 500m – ride 10 km – run 5 km
Sport: swim 1000m – ride 20 km – run 10 km
Stamina: swim 1500 – ride 30 km – run 15 km
Nutrition
Your off road triathlon training will burn massive amounts of calories, so make sure you eat lots of low to medium GI *(Glycaemic index) foods every 3-4 hours to maintain energy levels, followed by medium to high GI foods in the two hours before, during and after training sessions to replace muscle glycogen. Your body will be at constant risk of dehydration so keep fluid intake high and regularly weigh yourself as a test for hydration levels after training sessions and competition. To ensure that you stay hydrated invest in a hydration system like the inov-8 race pro 4 which can hold the inov-8 horizontal bladder. These are so much easier and safer to use than a standard water bottle as you can stay in full control of the bike. During the event aim to drink 400 ml of fluid and take in 350-450 calories per hour.
*Article on the benefits of using the glycaemic index for your nutrition coming soon.
Transition
The transition from swim to bike and bike to run is one of the hardest parts of the sport. When you leave the water at the end of the swim it is hard to get your legs working efficiently because all the oxygenated blood has been sent to your upper body in the swim. To help make this transition smoother in competition try and practice the transition from swim to bike at least 4 times before the event. In the later stages of the swim try to kick more to help distribute the blood more to the legs ready for the bike section. For the bike to run you have to tackle the problem of trying to stride out. Your stride length on the bike is very short as it’s just the length of the cranks, which can lead to tightening of the muscles in the hips and the back of the legs, mainly the hamstrings and calf muscles. To combat this use a short stride pattern for the first few minutes of the run and then slowly make your stride longer allowing your muscles to get to full length again. Practice a bike to run transition as part of your training once in every 10 days. Make your transitions as fast as possible, the time you spend in transition counts towards your overall time so practice may gain you time on your fellow competitors for little physical effort. Correct equipment for fast transitions is essential.
Equipment
Swim – You will need swim wear a wet suit and goggles. If possible use a triathlon specific wet suit which will enable you to get full arm and leg movement and a quick change in transition. Your goggles should be tinted to help with the outdoor light.
Bike – There are a number of bikes you can use for the event, the best place to look is the endurancelife shop which has a range of excellent kona bikes designed for taking on the rugged terrain you will experience in the event. Aim to get your bike at least 2 months before the event to allow time to get familiar with the handling off road. Practice using different types of tyres for different terrain and conditions. For the event check the conditions, if the weather is dry and the ground is firm use bigger tyres to soak up the bumps and give you more traction at high speed. In wet muddy conditions choose a narrower tyre which will cut into the mud and not lead to clogging up and making the bike heavier.
Run – Make sure your running shoes have enough grip as the courses will be all cross country. The inov- 8 range of shoes provide exactly what you need, plenty of grip, support, cushioning and are still very light weight. There is nothing worse than getting mud and grit in your shoes during the bike section which leads to sandpapering your feet during the run. The inov-8 debrisoc 40 is essential, a comfortable sock and gaiter to keep the crud out of your shoes.
Best of luck with your first off road triathlon. Andy and the My Life Personal Trainers will be on hand at the first endurance Trail-X Tri in Devon on the16th May. Feel free to ask us any training questions.
If you would like a specific off road triathlon training plan designed for you ask Andy and the team at My Life Personal Training www.mylifept.com 01179237111
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Training for your First Off Road Triathlon
Some advice on how to best prepare for the upcoming Trail-X series. Off-road triathlon is such a blast - don't let a lack of fitness spoil your enjoyment!
Posted 01/03/2008 by Andy Wadsworth
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CTS Stage 4: South Devon Event Report
Stage 4 of the Coastal Trail Series took place in South Devon on Saturday 21st February. The seaside village of Beesands welcomed over 500 runners for the 10K, half marathon and marathon events with The Cricket Inn once more playing host to the Endurancelife Race Base.
Runners who rose early to register ahead of the hoards were treated to a spectacular sunrise over the bay which set the tone for the day ahead.
From the start line outside the pub, runners were sent on a short loop around the village green, spreading the field out before joining the narrow coastal path. On south to Start Point where the 10K runners were routed inland, leaving the others to negotiate a series of exposed rocky cliff edges towards Prawle Point. Here it was time for the half marathon runners to leave the coastpath behind them, heading inland and up a punishing incline to the village of East Prawle. Sticking to the coast for a few extra miles, the marathon runners continued on to East Portlemouth before they too turned back inland and eventually joined the 10K and half marathon course.
Away from the coast, the runners encountered a mix of technically challenging paths and bridleways. Steep and rocky, some with treacherous gullies carved out by the winter's heavy rainfall, these inland paths provided no let up.
As the shorter distance runners headed for home, enjoying a mile of downhill to the finish at Beesands, the marathon runners were sent on to Stokenham and through the Slapton Ley Nature Reserve before emerging onto the coast at Slapton Sands. With the sea to their left and the Ley (lake) to their right, the runners enjoyed a couple of flat miles to Torcross before the last climb and descent into the village of Beesands.
Once over the finish line some runners took to the beach, wading out into the sea to cool their limbs before collecting their finishers' medal and T-shirt and tucking in to the tasty chilli provided by the pub.
For many, the afternoon was then spent soaking up the last rays of sun with a pint in hand, comparing memories of an awesome day.
“After the race I was basking in the sun, sitting on the beach and watching people walk into the sea to try and save their legs! It was great watching many of the kids that were around rolling down the pebble beach towards the sea and competitors wandering around with a well-earned pint. At that point I thought that there couldn't be many people in the country feeling as fulfilled and contented as us lot post-race.” - Emma Whittlesea (Half Marathon)
Congratulations to everyone who took part and very well done to the category winners!
See you at Stage 5 in Pembrokeshire on March 14th…
RESULTS:
Marathon
Men
1st Chris Parker 03:45:41
2nd Vaughan Lindsay 03:51:20
3rd James Deane 03:54:23
Women
1st Michelle Laws 04:21:56
2nd Karen Hathaway 04:24:54
3rd Jayne Angilley 04:27:12
Half Marathon
Men
1st Niall Riddell 01:36:47
2nd Martin Pengilly 01:45:20
3rd Rob Walker 01:48:42
Women
1st Riika Halme 01:53:26
2nd Natasha Poole 02:01:22
3rd Kate Stubbs 02:05:14
10K
Men
1st Gary O'Donovan 57:04
2nd Lawrence Percival 57:12
3rd Mark Rickinson 58:04
Women
1st Nancy Hill 01:05:16
2nd Becky Griffiths 01:09:00
3rd Leisl Packer 01:09:39
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CTS Stage 4: South Devon Event Report
Sun, sea and satisfaction. Race days don't get better than this. Read the CTS South Devon Race Report here.
Posted 24/02/2008 by Endurancelife
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CTQ South Devon in TCA National Series
Endurancelife is pleased to reveal that CTQ Stage 4: South Devon, taking place on Sunday 22 February, has been selected as an event in the
TCA's National Series League. This fantastic series is designed to entice the most dedicated mountain bike orienteers to attempt at least 6 out of the 12 events, and the CTQ South Devon will certainly do that.
Taking place the day after the sell-out CTS South Devon event, the CTQ South Devon is an awesome mountain bike event that can be attempted by all abilities. Do as little or as much as you choose within a 3hr (Short Score) or 5hr (medium Score) time period, on a mountain bike or cyclo-cross bike. The orienteering format requires you to navigate your way along bridleways, green lanes and roads to visit check points located on a map. An event that requires strategy and planning rather than just getting your head down and busting a gut!
The South Devon countryside is by no means easy to say the least, with more ups and downs than a BMX track. BUT, it should not put you off and will be ultimately more rewarding! Expect to visit some superb coastal-based check points; remote beaches and idyllic coves. Here you will be rewarded with postcard-like scenes of a magnificent section of the South West coast, often descibed as jagged and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Heading inland, the rich network of deep sided green lanes and bridleways will ensure you explore even more of this beautiful Devon countryside. Again riders will be greeted with panoramic views, overlooking the stunning Salcombe Estuary and further in the distance, the Dartmoor National Park.
To read more about this event, please click
here. Go on, make a proper weekend of it!
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CTQ South Devon in TCA National Series
Endurancelife is proud to announce that, one of the events in the Coastal Trail Quest series has been chosen as an event for the Trail Cyclist Association's (TCA) National Series League 2009.
Posted 11/02/2008 by Will Turner
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Coastal Ultra Series
Three utterly stunning linear courses that boast tough terrain, incredible views, and some seriously impressive elevation statistics.
Classic Quarter: 45 miles: Cornwall: 27th June
Classic Cliffs: 55 miles: N. Devon: 25th July
Classic Crossings: 35 miles: S. Devon: 22nd August
Enter solo to take part in one of the UK’s most demanding long distance trail running events.
Enter as a relay team or relay pair to take part in the biggest and most exciting team trail running event in the UK!
Marathon Runners: Push your limits and run solo!
Completing any one of the Coastal Ultra courses is a major undertaking but is sure to be one of the highlights of your running career. The linear nature of the courses means there is masses of sensational scenery to enjoy and coastal views all the way! You also get a real sense of having completed a meaningful journey.
Half Marathon Runners: Grab a partner and share the experience as a relay pair!
Each course in the Coastal Ultra Series is broken down into four stages, as a relay pair you will run the four legs alternately, supporting each other as you go. You will run more than a half marathon distance in total but you will get a welcome rest period between legs and a warm feeling of shared accomplishment.
10K Runners: Get some mates together and enter as a relay team of four!
The relay category gets VERY competitive and is great fun. You each run one leg at a time and the three members who aren’t running wait for you at the next transition to cheer you in. The pressure not to let your team mates down makes you try harder than you would alone, and having them there rooting for you makes it all worthwhile!
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Coastal Ultra Series
If you are one of the hundreds of people that have enjoyed the Coastal Trail Series this winter then you will simply LOVE this summer's Coastal Ultra Series! And it’s not just for long distance runners...
Posted 06/02/2008 by Andrew Barker
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CTS Stage 3: Portland Event Report
Saturday 24 January saw the third stage of the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series (CTS) supported by Inov-8, come to the Isle of Portland. Those who entered were treated to a thoroughly enjoyable day of coastal trail running.
Over 500 competitors attended the sell out event, with three distance categories: Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K. The Endurancelife Race Base was located at the superbly equipped Olympic Games 2012 sailing venue, the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. From here runners set off on a demanding course, negotiating the Isle’s coastal paths and quarried landscape.
After passing two of Portland’s more notorious landmarks, its Prison and Borstal, runners were soon weaving their way between rocks and disused quarries along the eastern coast. With a light breeze, mild temperatures and a warming winter sun, competitors couldn’t have wished for better running conditions.
On rounding the distinctive Portland Bill lighthouse, the marathon and half marathon runners began their return leg. Meanwhile the 10K runners were negotiating a rather large water hazard by wading, almost swimming through it - refreshing to say the least!
All runners then convened on the exposed west coast cliff path ledge, where they needed to be sure of their footing. Many simply couldn’t resist the temptation to pause for a moment to take in the stunning views of the Portland cliffs, with Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour in the background.
The descent from the upper coast path led the competitors to a newly included section for the 2009 race, a 1.5 mile stretch along the shingle beach. This was utterly gruelling and energy sapping. The profanities towards the event organisers were flowing as the runners battled their way along the stony ridge. Many loved it, many hated it! But it was all in the spirit of coastal trail running and a perfect example of the challenging nature of the Coastal Trail Series.
On crossing the line, each competitor was rewarded with an event dog-tag, an event T-shirt, and a tasty hot meal from the event venue. Many took advantage of the venue’s facilities and enjoyed a hot shower, followed by a drink in the bar lounge overlooking the Olympic Harbour. A real treat for most runners!
This reputed series of events is selling out fast, check the website now for availability in the remaining four events in the seven part series: www.endurancelife.com.
Congratulations to all who took part and respect duly given to the category winners! See you at CTS Stage 4: South Devon 21/02/09.
Marathon
Men
1. Jez Bragg 03:36:10
2. Chris Parker 03:45:55
3. James Deane 03:48:01
Female
1. Michelle Laws 04:14:45
2. Karen Hathaway 04:16:39
3. Jen Timms 04:20:49
Half Marathon
Men
1. Stephen Thompson 01:30:49
2. Niall Riddell 01:33:19
3. Martin Pengilly 01:36:57
Female
1. Sarah Edmunds 01:55:23
2. Caroline Jubb 02:02:09
3= Fran Bungay/ 02:04:49
Liz Gilmour
10K
Male
1. Stuart Bowers 00:56:31
2. Jamie Hall 00:58:57
3. David Hill 01:00:31
Female
1. Michelle Pank 01:08:51
2. Isy Agnew 01:09:39
3. Nancy Hill 01:09:40
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CTS Stage 3: Portland Event Report
The first event in Endurancelife's 2009 events calender, and what a great way to start the year. Read the official CTS Portland Race Report here.
Posted 29/01/2008 by Endurancelife
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New “Trail-X Tri” Off-Road Triathlon Series
The new Trail-X Triathlon (Trail Cross Tri) series will run between May to September 2009 at four spectacular locations.
Uniquely this series offers two separate classes, S-class and K-class. Both classes have identical mountain biking and trail running stages, the only difference comes at the wet stage where S-class competitors complete an open water swim, and K-class competitors complete a sit-on-top kayak stage. All K-class competitors use identical kayaks and paddles which are provided by Endurancelife, previous kayaking experience is not a pre-requisite to participation and novices are warmly welcomed.
Demand for this format of event has developed out of mounting interest from three different types of athlete :–
• Traditional road tri-athletes keen to test themselves over rough terrain
• XC mountain bikers keen to branch out into multi-sport without having to shave their legs.
• Adventure Racers who are keen to experiment with triathlon or simply participate in a solo capacity.
It is this broad cross over appeal that gives the series its name “Trail-X Tri”. The rough terrain courses make Trail-X more challenging than traditional triathlon courses of similar distances, but also make the whole experience a lot more fun!
Devon, Dorset and Sussex will each host a one-day Trail Cross event this summer with three different distance categories to choose from across both the S-Class and K-Class. The ‘Sprint’ category’s shorter distances will appeal to those who are new to triathlon. Meanwhile the longer ‘Sport’ and ‘Stamina’ categories are pitched at more experienced multi-sport athletes.
Entries are now open for all events in the Trail-X Series. Book your place now.
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New “Trail-X Tri” Off-Road Triathlon Series
Endurancelife is excited to announce the launch of a brand new off-road triathlon series set to take the south coast by storm this summer.
Posted 15/01/2008 by Andrew Barker
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