Kangaroos, prison, lighthouse, boulders, quarries, mud, cliffs, gnarly descents and slogging ascents ....Bustinskin's Portland Coastal Marathon has everything except PBs! This is a marathon of 27ish miles, 2400ish feet ascent on an out and back route. 

This is a coastal trail run around the Isle of Portland, a steep jagged mass of limestone jutting out of the sea south of Weymouth, Dorset. This is a race with a mix of terrain ranging from pan flat road to slippery muddy grassy cliff tops to rocky boulder strewn single track trail. An out and back marathon course that on paper looks deceptively straight forward. 6 miles of flat road, only two major ascents, a modest 2000ft or so of climbing, piece of Dorset Knob* right? Think again! 2017 saw a new course record of 3:28:18 which should give you an idea that this is a testing marathon for even the most seasoned speedsters. With a 6 hour cut off you need to achieve an average 13m20s a mile. Sounds generous but the organisers don’t hide that "this is tough race on a good day". 

The race HQ is set in Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, venue of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games for sailing. Sat in the shadow of the steep cliffs of the island it leaves you wondering just how, exactly, the race organisers intend to get you up on top to the flatter parts of the course.

Race registration is simple and efficient. Collect your Number with integrated timing chip and nice souvenir t-shirt, grab a coffee and wait for the pre-race briefing. **Word of warning for those who skimp on reading race instructions, this race has a mandatory kit list. Spot checks occur (including checking ALL the top 10 finishers). Skip on carrying the kit, DQ is your prize. 

The race kicks off with about half a mile of flat coastal path before THE climb which takes you up on top of the island. A steep mile or so up a mud and grass covered rocky path. Once up on top the route levels out for a small section of road. Keep your eyes open and you'll see some kangaroo's as you pass Fancy's Farm petting zoo! The road soon gives way to hard packed trail, past HMP Portland before a gnarly rocky single track decent. Once down a the base of the cliffs you wind your way along the coastal path working your way round boulders and skipping over smaller rocks, take care this section gets slippery. Up, down and around before popping out back on top and a push to the southern tip of the island, around the light house and north along the west side of island towards to the race HQ. This is the second major climb of the route, not steep but grassy and as is typical of January weather, wet. The going underfoot here for 2017 was muddy and very slippery. Add to that a buffeting head wind and this makes for some pretty slow progress. Before you know it you are into the shelter of Portland quarry before a steep slippery decent of steps and grass back down to the edge of the island. You now have a three mile out and back section of road before arriving at race HQ.

But since this is an out and back race, don't get complacent here. Good progress can be made on this road section but remember, you've got a very steep slippery ascent on your return trip. A quick turnaround near to race HQ and it's time to re-trace your steps. At this stage you know what the route has in store so you can adjust your pace accordingly.

This is a brilliant, well organised event. Fully sign posted and plenty of well stocked aid stations along the route. Lots of friendly marshals including some that are running amongst you in yellow tabards, a very neat touch. A finishers medal, a buff-type thing and a t-shirt make this a great value for money event. With early bird entry of £30 this should be on your to-do list of races.

Organisers website: http://www.bustinskin.com/events/portland-coastal-marathon-2/

* Dorset Knob: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_knob 

My Review deducts a point for the race briefing (hard to hear in the echo of the race HQ hall)