Cybi Coastal Marathon race report
On Saturday 3rd August David and Caroline Robertson, along with fellow MAC Martin Lea, took on the Cybi Coastal Marathon in Holy Island, Anglesey. The circumference of which just so happens to be marathon distance. The event has a limit of 200 places which traditionally go on sale at midnight on New Year’s Eve and sell out soon after. It is organised by locals in aid of the Holyhead lifeboat station. Last year was announced as being the last race but thanks to overwhelming support from runners and locals, it was back under new stewardship.
A low key registration and race briefing at the station was followed by an appearance from a very enthusiastic and eccentric town crier alongside the local mayor, which added some glitz to the occasion.
It’s a pretty special course with some of the most spectacular views wales has to offer, with only a brief stint where the sea was out of sight. A highlight was the famous south stack lighthouse but at every turn there was another jaw dropping outlook. There was great support all around the course which covers fields, tracks, bridleways, coastal path, raised boards over marshes, beaches, heather laden cliff-sides, tarmac and technical rocky trails. So pretty much every terrain they could throw at us! 5 checkpoints provided welcome refreshments, sweets, ice lollies and fruit on what was a warm and sunny day.
A punishing ascent to Holyhead mountain at 38km and the subsequent knee shattering descent makes for a tough finish. You are greeted back at the lifeboat station with applause, a medal, t shirt and much gratitude from the organisers for taking part.
They make the claim on their website that “The route is one of the best in the world, we can promise you, you will have the most epic run of your life” and we can’t disagree. This is a must for any runners bucket list.
Results yet to be published but Caroline and David took it steady with other events on the horizon and finished in around 5.30 with Martin a short time ahead.
