At 9pm last Friday I started my quest to run from Weymouth to Exmouth in the Jurassic Coast 100k race.
The route followed the coastal path and included highlights such as running along Chesil Beach, running though the caravan park where Broadchurch was based at midnight, getting to the top of Golden Cap at 2am and eating Chilli in Lyme Regis at 3am. The toughest section of the course was going through the undercliff section between Lyme Regis and Seaton, the path was slippery, hilly and full of tree roots, it was dark, and Exmouth still felt a long way away! However, as we emerged from the undergrowth and unto Seaton golf course, the sky started to show signs of life and the head torch was turned off, it was a very good feeling.
With extra life in my legs I tackled the hilliest section of the course between Seaton and Sidmouth, numerous times I climbed from the sea shore to the top of the cliffs only for the coastal path to take me back down again, I needed the emergency M&Ms I had packed! I pushed on along the coast and climbed Peak hill and West down beacon before the moment were I could finally see Exmouth and the finish line. As I plodded along the final section of the seafront to the finish line I reflected on what an amazing journey I had been on and how lucky I felt to have seen the sun set and then watched it rise again just 6 hours later. So 13hr 28minutes later I finished my journey of 100km along the coast, I climbed a total of 2900m, took over 100,000 steps, and finished in 2nd place with my younger brother Samuel. Not bad for a night’s work!
Mr James Kelly
