Fancy a trip to the sea? Well we're afraid you'll have to run 25 miles to get there.
However, they're 25 of the flattest miles you'll encounter down our neck of the woods. Sure this is Somerset, so there's the odd gate, the odd stile, the odd but of slightly uneven ground here and there, but as Somerset goes, these are 25 of the easiest miles around. The next 25 are made up of coast paths, cross country trails, seaside towns and villages and a couple of slight diversions inland. You'll get to see a lot of our beautiful county in a day, and along the way will get to feast yourself on the fine spread at our aid stations, finishing up at West Somerset Community College in Minehead, where a medal, a banquet hall (a big hall with some food in it anyway) and the sharing of anecdotes with your fellow finishers awaits you.
OK, so the route in more detail; commencing in the bustling metropolis (as in our county town) of Taunton, you will follow the canal path all the way to Bridgwater Docks. If you're lucky you may spot a kingfisher along this section. If you're very lucky you may spy an otter. Look out also for the 'space walk' signs - one for each planet in our solar system, which also have approximate distances in km to Bridgwater; handy for breaking things down.
If you haven't used up all your energy banking some uber-fast miles then you can leave Bridgwater moving purposefully down the River Parrett Trail to Steart Marshes Nature Reserve. You'll be pretty much following the river most of the way, and so here's a chance to gather your thoughts about how you'll tackle the second half.
From Steart, where you can keep your eyes on the skies for Peregrine Falcons and various wading birds, you will be following the original route of the West Somerset Coast Path all the way to Minehead.
There is much to help those miles tick by along the way; you'll want to zoom past the Nuclear Power Station at Hinkley Point (sorry, we couldn't get them to move it!), or maybe you'll gaze at it with intrigue. Either side of there are spectacular limestone formations at Lilstock, East Quantoxhead and Kilve. Off to your left you should see the Quantock Hills, where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge was inspired to compose most of his famous works. To your right in the Bristol Channel you may well see the islands of Steepholm and Flatholm. You will actually skirt the edge of the Quantocks around West Quantoxhead, from where you should be able to see Minehead pretty clearly if the weather isn't too shabby.
From here you head back to the coast and into quaint old Watchet, then on to Dunster beach, where if you're lucky you may be able to get an ice-cream. From here it's just the finishing leg into Minehead to go; this is a curious town, where the bright lights of the Arcades and Butlins give way to the enchanting forests of North Hill. You should arrive with enough daylight left to enjoy the ambience, and we can recommend Dean's Fish in the main town (other fish & chip shops are available)
At the college you will be able to rest, refuel and stay to cheer the runners from the other races as they come in if you feel like hanging around. This will also be a place to chat to your fellow finishers and reminisce about the race, basking in the knowledge that you've run a long way and have earned your finisher's medal
PLEASE NOTE: - This race is predominantly flat but is not 100 per cent flat and does contain a few hills, although these would have their lunch money stolen by the hills on Exmoor. The total distance is probably a little over 50 miles, although only a little over - this definitely isn't a 100k!