REAL HARD RUNNING! - THE CLASSIC QUARTER

This weekend we welcome participants to THE CLASSIC QUARTER

The Endurancelife Classic Quarter Ultra Trail Marathon was first hosted in 2007 with great success. The idea for the event was originally conjured up by an enterprising Cornish businessman, surfer, ‘reluctant' endurance athlete and Lower Treave camper. 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 whether he might be able to get there on foot, in one day, non stop? He concluded that with some proper training, and a good dose of bloody mindedness it could 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 asked to get the event off the ground and the 'Classic Quarter' was born.

The challenge is brutally simple. To run between dawn and dusk from the southern most point to the western most point in Cornwall and of course England, along the legendary South West Coast Path! That translates to running a quarter of the compass from Lizard Point to Lands End non-stop.

The course follows 44 miles of the mesmerising SW Coast Path with innumerable steep climbs and descents. This is the ultimate trail runner’s rush, with spectacular exposure and challenging terrain, all a stones throw away from the gently lapping, or potentially pounding Atlantic swells. There is also the unpredictable weather to contend with along the way, every runner must be well prepared mentally and physically.

The Classic Quarter can be undertaken as a relay team of two or four, or as an epic solo effort by the intrepid and well prepared lone runner. Last year the atmosphere of keen and friendly rivalry was a highlight, with the relay category being contested right up the final couple of miles.

In the first year 60 brave souls set off from Lizzard point in a howling westerly gale, it was an epic day and resulted in £3000 being raised for the Hospices. Year two, and in near perfect conditions 120 runners set off and managed to raise £6000. In 2009, 167 runners raised £8,000.

 

If you are in this years race and staying at Lower Treave, send us your charity donation details and we will blog them up for you.

 

Good luck to everyone....you're mad!

 

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