Angie Sadler and Phillip Howells both successfully completed the scenic, multi-terrain and tough Coastal marathon held in Beesands, south Devon on Saturday 24th February. In complete contrast to the frigid and gale-swept conditions of 2006, the 2007 version could not have been on a milder day for February. This did not detract from the toughness though, since the route is along the rugged and spectacular coast path for the first 10 miles, from Beesands to East Portlemouth. It then strikes inland over either steep Devon lanes or fiendishly equally steep, but also very muddy, footpaths, tracks and fields until mile 23. It then retraces back along the coast past the nature reserve at Slapton Ley and a return to Beesands, with a wicked flight of cliff steps to traverse up and down in the last mile to complete the challenge!
Times were therefore slow by marathon standards, but more than respectable for the terrain. Angie run superbly as usual to finish 11th and 4th lady of 133 finishers in 4-23-34, one position lower (although in a much better quality field) but 4 minutes faster than in 2006. The winner only did a 3-58. Phillip, still feeling the hip and hamstring problems that have plagued him in 2007 so far, slipped back over an hour from his 2006 time, but still finished in a reasonable 5-47-12 and 99th place following a late start two minutes from behind all the field after being held up in the loo queue!