Welcome and Hello

Just when you thought a marathon wasn't hard enough!

Let me explain

The lighthouse marathon runs from the homeground of Pendeen Rovers, Borlaise Park, along the Cornish

coast path to Godrevy.

This marathon has everything. Climbs, mud, bogs, rocks, boulders, tarmac, sand, water and more hills.

And last of all, the light.

The race starts at 10 am

With a generous 8 1/2 hour cut off, you have to beat the dark before you finish

The race start takes you down the road from Borlaise Park, past Pendeen lighthouse and onto the South West coast path, all the way to St Ives. The path then takes you through St. Ives, Carbis Bay, Lelant and Hayle before you join the Dunes of Doom. Find your way through the dunes, up around Godrevy and back to the Sunset Surf Cafe

This is a self navigation race but there will be marshals at key points to help guide you. Keep the sea to your left until Gwithian then around the lake, across the dunes and up to the cafe.

There will be 4 aid stations, due to the remoteness of the route

Gurnards Head    6 miles

Porthmeor Beach    13 miles  (5 hour cut off) strict!

Lelant Church    18 miles

Hayle (Black Rock)       22 miles ( 7 1/2 hour cut off) strict!

The lighthouse marathon takes challenging to another level but the rewards of a finish are priceless

I have ran it and I can tell you, I was happy to finish!

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The Ultra

The Ultra starts at Lands End Hotel and runs the coastline through Sennen Cove, Cot Valley, Cape Cornwall and Levant Mine. You then join the marathon course at Pendeen Lighthouse. 

Your race starts at 8am and your first cut off is at 

Porthmeor Beach 21 miles ( 7 hour cut off)

Hayle (Black Rock) 30 miles ( 9 1/2 hour cut off)

You thought that our Marathon wasn't hard enough and have now turned the dial all the way up!

Aid stations

Pendeen, Gurnards, Porthmeor, Lelant, Hayle 

If the weather turns unusually hot, I will put a water stop at Cot Valley (5 miles)

If you are fast enough at the start, you will reach Pendeen before the start of the marathon. If not, you will have plenty of company for those long, coastal miles 

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Thank you to all the businesses that support us and all the volunteers. These events would never

happen without you

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Event Schedule

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Event HQ is at the Sunset Surf Cafe, Gwithian, TR27 5BT. There is free parking in the main car park. You are responsible for your own parking and the fees incurred.

This is for both events

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Registration and ID check is 6.00 to 8.15 am for the marathon

5.30 to 6.15 for the Ultra

We are situated in the Cafe for registration. 

Teas and Coffees will be available at Borlaise Football ground

There will, unfortunately, be no hot drinks for the Ultra

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Coaches for the marathon will depart from the main road, the B3301 at 8.30 sharp and 6.30am sharp for the Ultra

It is a short walk up from the car park and these will take you to Borlaise Park and Lands End, res[pectively

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For the Marathon

The clubhouse at Borlaise Park will be open for tea and coffee, plus access to the toilets and Portaloos.

Event briefing is at 9.45 am, in front of the clubhouse

The start line is in the corner of the grounds, be ready at 9.55 am for the 10 am start

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For the Ultra

The toilets at the entrance to Lands End will be open

Event briefing is at 7.45am at the Mile Sign, on the coast path

The start is at the Mile sign at 8 am

Unfortunately,  no hot drinks at Lands End

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We look forward to seeing you all back at the finish line and presenting you with your medal.

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Trophy presentation is at 4 pm

Trophies for 1st to 3rd Female and Male in both events

Trophies for team and 'True Grit' are presented after the last runner has finished

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There is a small bag drop in the venue. The venue and Bys Vyken Events hold no responsibility

for your belongings or for your car. Please make sure that your bag is no bigger than a average rucksack.

Do not take anything on the coach

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Health and Safety

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We do our absolute best to make sure your day goes swimmingly but sometimes things go wrong.

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If you are unwell, please do not turn up and try to run. The whole thing could unravel very quickly.

Look after yourself and your well being first

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In light of new government safety guidelines, please pay extra care attention when on the coast path or near large bodies of water. If you are unsure or feel unsafe, please make a marshal aware and we will get you to safety.

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Please dress appropriately for the weather, this is an autumn race and  Cornish weather can change instantly.

Some parts of this course are very remote and therefore the kit list is mandatory

The kit list for this event is built on years of knowledge. We would not run without it

 

There will be no entries on the day and you will be asked for ID.

For safety and medical reasons, we must make sure nobody is running under someone else's name. It is foolhardy and dangerous

Please fill out all the details on the back of your bib number. This is in case you get into difficulties.

It also has our emergency contact numbers on it

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We have Omega Medical attending the event and looking after all the runners. They have been at every Bys Vyken event since 2016 and are thoroughly experienced. We would not trust anyone else

If at any point, you feel the need to retire from the event. Please get word to a marshal or contact us directly. We need to know that you are safe. You must return to HQ as we need the timer chip back please

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Please respect the environment and do not litter, deliberate acts of littering will be a disqualification

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Please overtake runners responsibly and also give way to other runners safely. Respect everyone 

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The event is timed with ankle tags, so please think where you would like to be at the start line. May not be worth getting trampled on by the stampede.

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For your safety, we have a 8 1/2 and 10 1/2 hour cut off for this event with a 5 or 7 hour cut off at Porthmeor Beach, plus a 7 1/2 or 9 1/2 hour cut off at Hayle.

Cut offs are there to make sure everyone can complete these events safely. We will have marshals out there all that time and sometimes the weather can be extremely demanding  

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Other things to remember

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This is a point to point event. You will be passing each other on narrow paths. You are asked to respect each others distance and space when passing where you can. This includes the tourists and walkers you will encounter on the coast path.

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Sorry, no dogs are allowed to run in this event

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All ID shown must be a physical item, ie; drivers licence, passport

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All aid stations provide your standard fare for a race day, crisps, nuts, sweets and fruit. There are large water containers at each station as well as Pepsi. Bys Vyken are a cup less events company so please bring your own.

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Please also be respectful at Borlaise Park, Lands End and at Sunset Surf Cafe. They have allowed us to host our event here and we would like to come back again next year

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This next bit is very important.

We don't make these kit lists up for a jolly. If you get into difficulty on the course. This could very well save your life. 

We very highly recommend that you put What3words app on your phone as well

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Kit List (Mandatory)

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Quality waterproof jacket with taped seams (10000 min)

Cap, buff or similar

Gloves

Base layer

Hydration system (vest/pack) 2 x 500 ml min

Headtorch (150 lumens min)

Spare batteries (must be a battery or battery pack)

Reuseable cup

Nutrition

First aid kit with blister plaster

orange bivvy bag

Whistle

Fully charged mobile phone

£20 emergency money & photo ID

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NO KIT = NO RACE

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Thank you for reading all of the above and we look forward to welcoming you all on the day

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ARC Permit Number   ARC/25/0064

ARC Permit Number   ARC/25/0065

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