(The campsite)


The day after the bike recce, I headed off around the run course.  The run starts from the campsite which has stunning views of the Atlantic.  The field pictured above will be the actual site for the event.  The site has facilities for tents, motorhomes, caravans, electic hook-ups, toilets, showers, washing machines, dryers, secure premises for bikes, fresh water and even the owner will cook to order for our athletes.  Have a look at www.penhale-fowey.co.uk.  From the campsite, the route follows a private footpath down to join the South West Coast Path at Polkerris Beach.  Here at Polkerris Beach Company (www.polkerrisbeach.com), the athlete's support crews will meet as this will act as the end of lap location and athlete village for the run stage.  From here athletes will start a 5 out-and-back lap course west along the coastal path to a location just before Charlestown, before returning back to the campsite to finish the day's 52 miles of running.  On the last day, the finish will be on Polkerris Beach.
(The race village for the run stage - Polkerris Beach)


Having ran this route several times (my sister owns some holiday accommodation near Fowey), I came to the conclusion that this is the safest stretch of coastal path that I know.  Having raced over the coastal path several times and have experienced races being canceled due to high winds over the cliffs or land slides, it was important that this wasn't going to happen during the Deca. 

There are steep hills going out of Polkerris, and again just before Par Beach.  Runners will then enjoy a 3 mile flat stretch running across Par Beach, bypassing the harbour, before heading up again over a golf course before turning around on the high ground just above St Austell.  Runners will have stunning views of the coast and will not get bored of this challenging course (ok.. so they might after Day 5!).