Back in January, I had a major “screw it” moment. Now, I’m not one for those New Year’s resolutions, but I do enjoy setting goals and pushing my limits. So, when a running friend posted about the Atlantic Coast Challenge while I was contemplating potential challenges for myself, it felt like a sign from the universe. Without overthinking, I signed up on the spot, knowing that if I pondered it too much, I’d find excuses not to go through with it.
What Is The Atlantic Coast Challenge?
The Atlantic Coast Challenge is a multi-day ultra-distance event in Cornwall, organized by Votwo Events. Over the course of three days, participants start just outside Padstow, following the South West Coastal Path to Lands End. The mode of travel—run, jog, hike, or even crawl—is entirely up to you, but it involves tackling a marathon per day across rugged terrain filled with plenty of ups and downs. I really have to remind myself why I signed up for this insanity!
This isn’t an event you can simply show up for and wing it. Serious training and commitment are essential. Before this, my longest run was around 17 miles, and now I was looking at 80 miles over three days. Things were getting real, but it was January, and the event was scheduled for October, so I figured I had plenty of time. I somewhat pushed it to the back of my mind—though not completely. I was regularly running about 15-20 miles a week and had some significant hikes scheduled, which kept my worries at bay.
By summer, my training kicked into high gear. I’d already tackled some major hiking challenges, including a three-day trek around the Isle of Wight and walking the Serpent Trail with a friend earlier in the year, which had boosted my endurance. I knew I needed to start increasing my long runs and begin back-to-back runs to adapt to running on tired legs.
However, around halfway through my training, I developed sciatica—a literal pain in my backside. There were moments I doubted I would even make it to the start line. Being the organized control freak that I am, I took charge and crafted a plan. I visited a fantastic physio at Body and Mind Physio in Petersfield, started weekly Pilates, performed stretches twice daily, underwent a running gait analysis, and did strength exercises. I made sure to rest and avoid sitting for extended periods. Gradually, the sciatica alleviated, but my confidence wavered. I had missed some long runs and was uncertain about handling that kind of distance. But I realized I wouldn’t know unless I tried. So, with just a few weeks left before the Atlantic Coast Challenge, I joined two friends also signed up for the event to run/walk from Petersfield to Hayling Island—a total of 22 miles. We alternated between running a mile and walking a mile, which was a perfect way to accumulate miles while being gentle on my back and boosting my confidence.
I had done the training, gathered the necessary gear, and mentally prepared myself for the biggest challenge yet. This was it. Cornwall, here I come!
Day 1: Constantine Bay – Perranporth (26.2 miles)
We were incredibly lucky to stay in a lovely home in Porthleven owned by friends of a friend. It provided a comfortable base with cozy beds and plenty of home comforts. While the Atlantic Coast Challenge offers the option to stay in a static caravan at the St Ives Caravan Park—the event headquarters where we had to register each morning—I definitely prefer a warm, comfortable house over camping any day.
On race day, I woke up at 5 am. It was still dark, and I felt that familiar mix of nerves and anticipation you get when heading to the airport. But instead of a flight to a sunny destination, I had 26 miles ahead of me. Time to get this done!
Fortunately, I’d managed to sleep decently the night before, which was miraculous given my history of restless nights before big events. A 3:18 am wake-up call had given me anxiety dreams about stains on my wedding dress and a series of bizarre incidents, but thankfully, I fell back asleep until my 5 am alarm.
I forced down some porridge and a decaf coffee, though I really didn’t want to, knowing I needed some fuel. After several trips to the bathroom, packing my gear, and another round of checks, I left the house at 6 am to head to registration at St Ives holiday park. There, we collected our bib numbers, GPS trackers, received a briefing, and made sure to squeeze in one more trip to the restroom. After all that, we drove for about an hour to the starting point at Trevose Head lighthouse.
Though I had participated in a couple of half marathons and the Great South Run, I wasn’t entirely new to running events. I had expected at least some sort of starting signal—a whistle or a gun—but there was none. It was a straightforward affair: just show up and go. That’s the essence of the Atlantic Coast Challenge; it’s not a race but rather a challenge of endurance.
As we set off, the sun shone with no wind—a perfect day for a run. However, nerves crept in. I tend to overthink and catastrophize every situation, fixating not just on the day’s run but the entirety of the three days ahead. This mental spiral made it hard to regulate my breathing, and I felt nauseous, questioning how I would manage to cover so many miles.
But I kept moving forward, knowing that even a small step counts. Familiarity with the terrain didn’t help ease my mind. After getting through Mawgan Porth, my perspective shifted, and I relaxed into the rhythm of the run. Walking the hills and running the flats allowed me to establish a comfortable pace. The scenery was breathtaking—endless beachy coves and charming bays, with fellow runners exchanging friendly greetings. There was no competitive atmosphere; everyone cheered each other on and offered directions when needed.
Day 1 concluded on what felt like the longest beach in the world. We briefly lost our way in the sand dunes but then made our way across the beach to catch a glimpse of the finish line. The reward for our efforts? A warm cup of homemade lentil and tomato soup, which proved to be exactly what I needed after my first marathon.
Day 1 Rundown
- Start – Constantine Bay
- Checkpoint 1 – Mawgan Porth
- Checkpoint 2 – Porth
- Checkpoint 3 – Crantock Beach
- Finish – Perranporth
Day 2: Chapel Porth – St Ives Holiday Park (26.2 miles)
Waking up on day 2, I felt much more optimistic. I knew what to anticipate now, and while I was certainly sore, tired, and a bit nervous about the day’s challenges, I was determined to give it my all, knowing that was enough.
Another early start was on the agenda, but we enjoyed an extra half hour of sleep since today’s start point wasn’t as far. Once again, I slept soundly, thanks to some Kalms tablets and pure exhaustion!
It was bright and sunny but very windy. I lost track of how many times I had to hold onto my cap to prevent it from blowing away. In a moment of brilliance, I decided to secure it with hair clips, but that turned into a hassle when I needed to remove a layer due to the heat. In the ensuing chaos, I somehow lost my buff. If you’re a runner, you understand the importance of a buff—it keeps your neck warm and can serve as a sweat-wiper. I chose not to backtrack for it to avoid adding more miles. Surprise, surprise, a few miles later, my friend spotted my buff hanging on some railings. A kind soul had picked it up and left it there for me. Small gestures like that really lifted my spirits.
Let’s talk checkpoints. Votwo ensures each is generously stocked, resembling a delightful buffet. Snacks offered included jelly beans, mini cheddars, flapjacks, chocolate bars, peanuts, bananas, crisps, sandwiches, water, squash, cola, and sometimes hot drinks. Plenty of options, but my stomach had other ideas. I had hoped mini cheddars would be my go-to, but they felt too dry, as did jelly beans and flapjacks. I even tried a jam sandwich only to discover it tasted worse than a child’s two-day-old lunch. Through trial and error, I concluded that bananas and Twixes were my best bet, despite the effort it took to eat them. Hydration was my priority, and I ensured I consumed enough drinks with electrolytes throughout the run.
The highlight of the day was spotting seals at Godrevy—an uplifting moment that came after conquering three steep ascents that felt relentless. At one point, we faced an extraordinarily long beach, which I previously declared the longest until encountering this one—a grueling stretch that not only ran alongside the finish line but tauntingly veered off course to include a sneaky extra checkpoint. It added unnecessary length and time, making the final stretch exhausting both physically and mentally. Finally, we climbed what seemed like the longest driveway to reach the day’s finish point, greeted by a cup of pea and mint soup that felt like the perfect reward after two days of hard work.
Day 2 Rundown
- Start – Perranporth
- Checkpoint 1 – Chapel Porth
- Checkpoint 2 – Portreath
- Checkpoint 3 – Godrevy
- Checkpoint 3a – Hayle
- Finish – St Ives Holiday Park
Day 3: Lelant – Lands End (28.5 miles)
Day 3 marked the final stretch, the long one. With two marathon distances of fatigue in our legs, we faced our longest run yet. And it was raining. We’d dodged bad weather until now, but this day was tough. My legs felt exhausted, my feet ached, and my toenails felt like they were on the verge of falling off. Thankfully, they held on, but only time will tell if they’ll make a full recovery.
We set off early, and I’m grateful we did. This day would prove brutal. The overnight rain transformed the course into a slippery mess—practically mud skiing! We also encountered massive boulders that required some creative maneuvering to navigate. The first checkpoint was 16-17k in, which felt soul-crushing, especially after learning that several runners were tackling their toughest conditions yet.
At checkpoint 2, we only had 20 minutes to spare before the cut-off. That put some serious pressure on us, but we powered through. It was the best checkpoint—just on a rock in the middle of nowhere. Bananas and Twixes have never tasted so good! With snacks consumed and supplies replenished, we sped up. I refused to let a time limit determine my finish.
We made it to checkpoint 3 just in time, gaining permission to continue. Off we trudged through the punishing conditions.
Spotting Lands End brought both relief and frustration. It marked our destination, but the distance seemed further than anticipated, filled with more hills and coves. It was quite mentally challenging.
I managed to muster the energy to run the final stretch toward the finish line. A surge of relief washed over me as I crossed it. I was completely spent. Everything hurt, and I felt like I had aged years in those final moments. My shoes were barely hanging together, and they stank like something had rotted inside. But I was handed my medal and a Cornish pasty, and I couldn’t believe it. I, Bex Stafferton, an everyday mom from Hampshire, who had impulsively signed up for this significant challenge back in January, had finished! Never did I expect to find myself on this journey!
Day 3 Rundown
- Start – Lelant
- Checkpoint 1 – Zennor
- Checkpoint 2 – Brandys (rock outcrop)
- Checkpoint 3 – Cape Cornwall
- Finish – Lands End
Post-Race Reflections
As I crossed that finish line, I vowed never to undergo such a grueling experience again. It was the hardest accomplishment I’ve ever tackled. I would take childbirth ten times over before considering this again. Yet here I am, a week later, still sore and nursing blackened toenails but already contemplating my next challenge. Running has become addictively transformative. I used to despise the idea of running, locking myself into a belief that it just wasn’t for me. However, joining my local running group, Runny Honeys, changed everything. From running my first 5k with them to becoming a marathon and ultra runner, I’ve embarked on a new chapter and even qualified as a run leader. It’s clear that I now identify as a runner!
And what about that sciatica? I needn’t have stressed so much. My back gave me no problems in Cornwall. If anything, the constant pain throughout my body made me forget about the sciatic discomfort altogether. I suppose I discovered the best remedy for it is running 80 miles!
What’s next? After indulging in a good amount of relaxation and refueling, I may be persuaded to sign up for another event. Completing this challenge has empowered me; there isn’t much I feel I can’t tackle after this experience. But first, I think I’ll enjoy a little more relaxing and eating!
Author Bio
Becky Stafferton is a full-time content creator, web publisher, and blogging coach. She is committed to promoting a realistic, sustainable, and positive approach to healthy living. When not writing, you can find her running through muddy puddles, organizing her never-ending to-do lists, engaging in playful conversations with her dog, renovating her countryside home, and helping others monetize their blogs.
