After the disappointment of not being able to run the previous Endurancelife Costal Marathon on her 7x7x7 challenge attempt, Jue hits St. Just for perhaps her best yet.
I really looked forward to stage 6 as it was an opportunity to head down to the tip of Cornwall and run in this spectacular area. Yes it’s a long way, even from Bristol, but the time passed quickly listening to music and reminiscing about holidays in Mousehole, my placement as a student physio in Penzance, and cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats. As I neared St. Just I enjoyed spotting the tin mines and having that feeling of nearing the end of the country.
Driving down the weather had been warm and sunny, though at the event centre it was much cooler due to the strong winds (I’m surprised the Endurancelife banners didn’t blow away they were flapping so furiously). On the morning of the marathon the wind was still blowing and there was a heavy sea mist. The conditions on the ground were expected to be dry due to the lack of rain over the preceding month, though Gary, the race director, warned of numerous ‘cliff top bogs’of varying depths! However, the dry conditions did not equate to an easy course. This was described as the most challenging in the series due to the varying technical terrain.
The first half of the race was, for me, the most enjoyable. Once we’d got across the valley to the coastal path the course followed the coast north for about 13 miles. The path was up and down and technically challenging with a lot of rock hopping and scrambling in places. The need to concentrate helped to take my mind off the physical exertion. This is the sort of running I love, and I was in my element enjoying the challenge and the stunning surroundings (not forgetting to admire the views!) My enthusiasm was not shared by all. Some competitors moaned about the toughness of the rocks and the presence of the mud bogs. My response was ‘just think what it would be like if it was wet!’ Running on this sort of terrain up and over cliff tops, past old tin mines, with views of lighthouses, rugged coastline and idyllic sandy coves is hard to beat.
At one point (I’m not quite sure how) I managed to end up on a dead end path several metres below where I should have been, along with a couple of others running with me and another competitor we found there. A bit of traversing and rock climbing and we were back on course. Not the quickest route, but fun!
The second half of the course headed inland through woods, across farmland, along minor roads and over the moors. Although this was less technical there was no let up due to a couple of long steady climbs, with occasional steeper sections, to negotiate. I’d been fortunate to run the first 4 hours of the race with Tracy, an amazingly gutsy runner, who was still going for the full 7x7x7 challenge despite breaking her wrist during stage 3 (I’d stopped to help her at the checkpoint after it had happened). It was great for both of us to have the company, and I was happy to be able to help her over the stiles and through gates. However, after 4 hours my lack of long distance training started to show. It was on one of the slightly steeper sections that I needed to walk temporarily and take on more food and water. I didn’t have the motivation at that point to push myself harder to keep up with her, as emotionally I felt drained from the recent anniversary of my dear mum’s death. Thankfully I did perk up after a bit, and was able to enjoy the running and the scenery once more. Memories on this section include running across the moors with rock tors looming through the mist and passing yet more tin mines.
The last 2 miles or so of the course returned to the coast path where we retraced our footsteps back to the finish. Familiarity is good and bad. Recognising the landscape (and the tin mines) helped me to know how far it was to the finish, but I also knew there was a significant uphill at the end. The final uphill section on the road really hurt but I’m thankful to the fellow competitor who encouraged me to keep running: the thought of mamma mia blaring on his ipod somehow really helped! I then managed to find the energy to sprint the short distance across the car park to the finish (this bit at least was flat!) and returned the encouragement only to find that he hadn’t stuck with me. Sorry.
I crossed the finish line with a huge smile soon to be given a big congratulatory hug from Tracy who had finished a few minutes ahead of me. Overall verdict: tough but extremely enjoyable.
Ordinarily there would now be just one stage to go to complete the 7x7x7 challenge. However, I’d hit a major obstacle at stage 5. Despite my enthusiasm (and optimism) to run I was unable to start the marathon. I’d caught a nasty French cold bug from my husband (after his work trip to Toulouse) 2 weeks prior to the event. Having thought I’d been getting over it, this re-appeared a couple of days before the event. Optimistically I drove to the event but made the hard (but sensible) decision not to run. It was difficult and sad watching everyone heading off on the marathon, having made the effort to get there. And thinking my attempt to complete the challenge was over. However, it was the right thing to have done. Even after 3 hours sleep that morning in the campervan I still struggled to drive home (it took several hours and numerous stops). I then spent the next 2 days in bed very unwell with high temperatures. I expressed my disappointment to Gary, the race director, after finishing the St. Just marathon. The outcome is I’m going to run the missed marathon from Little Haven independently with a borrowed GPS unit to record my run. Then hopefully I’ll still be able to complete the 7x7x7 challenge with the final marathon two weeks later. Hoorah!
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My usual U16 category was replaced with U18, which meant I had to run the official 10k (actually 11.2kM) with the senior runners, before turning back for home and allowing them to go to visit the giant Idris at the summit!
I was in the main pack on the first hill climb of the day, which is actually the road leading up to the mountain. At my turning point I was 16th, but came home in my X talon 212's to take the win in my first U18 race.
My younger brother, Rhys, also got in on the action, by winning the U14 category.
The race website warns of the 'possibilities of intense heat, burning sun, strong winds, fog or rain'. Well, the sun shone briefly and we did experience strong gusts of wind, fog and rain, but we were also treated to flurries of snow, and snow on the course above 1350m! Part of the steep descent off Aitxurri was so slippery that most people just resorted to sliding down on their bottoms, including me! It wasn't until my bottom thawed, that I realised how many rocks I must have gone over as well! Added to that, several days of heavy rain before the race meant that parts of the course lay under copious amounts of mud, making for very demanding conditions. 
The race organisation was excellent: from the briefing in the Town School on the Saturday evening (which was all in Spanish, but the video of last year's race and the topographical map 'run through' were invaluable!) to the well-stocked food and drink stations. But my overriding memory is of the enthusiastic spectator support. Spectators shouting 'animo' and 'venga' lined the route and, at times, the noise was deafening, many shouting your name having checked your number on the list of entrants. It was uplifting!
Crossing the Bridge at the bottom of 
I was one of the last to go, as I had one of the fastest swim times. Came out of the pool after a swim of 5 minutes 27 seconds, 3 seconds behind GB triathlete Rhian Roxborough!
Next, after a quick transition the 30kM bike. Undulating, with two big hills to cope with as well. On the way back, my chain came off, so lost between 30 seconds and a minute, to comeback in a time of 55min 27 seconds.
Last was the run, along strength sapping dunes, along the beach, before finishing with 1 in 4 climb to the castle!
I won the U20 men, and 35th overall, out of 376 triathletes. Really good race, which I enjoyed very much. 
