From Matthew Kennedy…

The Jurassic Extinction 105 is a race along the final section of the South West Coast Path from Poole Harbour to Exmouth (minus the loop of Portland Bill). Having never been to that part of the country, I entered for the scenery and was duly rewarded – not just by beaches, cliffs & bays, but also by occasional rolling hills and even the mazy forest of the undercliff by Lyme Regis.

Starting in warm weather into a steady headwind, the course was deceptively tough, with nearly 17,000 feet of climbing despite never reaching the altitude of White Wells! I managed to make it harder still by getting confused about the line of the coast path at the western end of Chesil Beach, adding two painful miles of shingle “running” when I could have been on a paved lane slightly inland.

That mistake contributed to a bit of a mid-race slump, but fortunately the night was cool and still, with a beautiful strawberry moon out over the English Channel. My legs began moving more easily again and I picked up speed over the final third to arrive in Exmouth just before 8am. Waiting at the finish were local winner Justin Montague, the race director and the parents of the soon-to-be third place runner – something that summed up the small & friendly nature of the event.

Results

(1 Justin Montague 22h08)

2 Matthew Kennedy 23h30

31 starters, 16 finishers