[Written by Carn Runner Steve]
In this first-hand account, Steve shares his experience of the iconic 44-mile Classic Quarter ultra marathon, run alongside clubmate Dan. It’s a story of grit, resilience, and one unforgettable day on the Cornish coast.
Saturday, May 24th, 2025, dawned with a blustery welcome at Lizard Point as Dan Walls and I embarked on the formidable Endurancelife Classic Quarter. Our invaluable race crew for the day, Dan’s friend Ryan, picked me up at 5 am, and we set off, eager for the 6:30 am start. The wind whipped around us, and a light mizzle was in the air, but the forecast promised a generally fair day, with only sporadic rain and a building breeze.
Knowing there is a bottleneck just after the start, Dan and I strategically positioned ourselves among the first 30 runners, a move that undoubtedly saved us precious time. The initial miles allowed us to settle into a rhythm, and the steep ascent out of Kynance Cove, the first real challenge, was dispatched with surprising ease. We both felt strong and loose.
Our first planned rendezvous with Ryan was at Poldhu, so we quickly checked in at Mullion Cove and pressed on to maintain our momentum. At Poldhu, the first sign of trouble emerged as Dan discovered a light blister forming on his foot. A quick sock and shoe change, a testament to Ryan’s efficient crewing, and we were back on the path, heading towards Porthleven, with the strength-sapping Loe Bar lying in wait.
After conquering Loe Bar and passing through Porthleven, the looming “terror of Rinsey” weighed heavily on our minds. This beast of a climb, notorious for its seemingly endless ascent, was surprisingly well-received by our still-buoyant spirits. We tackled it in stride, a brief check-in with Ryan at Rinsey car park, and then it was on to Praa Sands, with the halfway point of Perranuthnoe feeling tantalisingly close.
A pre-race goal was to reach the halfway point in under 5 hours. We not only achieved this but were already leaving the checkpoint in a remarkable 4 hours and 45 minutes, well ahead of schedule and feeling exceptionally good, aided by the cooperative weather.
Our next target was Marazion, where a more substantial pit-stop with Ryan awaited. Those couple of miles to Marazion always feel extended, but we kept our focus and soon arrived. A welcome sit-down, a re-stock of bottles, sandwiches, and pork pies revitalised us for the next leg. From Marazion to Mousehole, the terrain transitions to mostly flat road, a stark contrast to the earlier coastal path. We swapped to road shoes, relishing the “slipper-like” sensation. Our strategy for this section was “jeffing,” a 30/30 run/walk split, which, despite the strong headwind, allowed us to maintain progress and surprisingly overtake many others. The plan to arrive at Mousehole feeling refreshed from an easy few miles.
The infamous Raginnis Hill, a brutal climb, signaled our departure from Mousehole, and the welcome sight of Ryan at the top with supplies and a seat for a shoe change was a beacon of hope. Mentally, this point is tough; 31 miles in, with “just” a half-marathon remaining, but the knowledge of the intensely technical and challenging section ahead to Porthcurno loomed large.
The 2 miles to Lamorna, taking a grueling 30 minutes, served as a precursor to the true test. Reaching Lamorna Cove in 7 hours and 30 minutes sparked a fleeting thought of a sub-10-hour finish. However, the reality of the next section soon hit us: boulder clambering, thick undergrowth, and relentless, steep climbs. Dan began to experience stomach issues, slowing our pace, and the sub-10-hour dream began to fade.
After what felt like an eternity, the terrain began to ease, and Porthcurno felt within reach. A momentary lapse in concentration saw me trip on a root, resulting in a heavy fall and a bleeding left knee. While the shock and wind were knocked out of me, I was relieved that the rest of me was intact. The incident, however, brought Dan, who had unbeknownst to me dropped back a bit, back to my side.
With renewed focus, we pressed on through Penberth Cove and into Porthcurno for our final re-supply with Ryan. A moment of excitement ensued as wild horses, with their effortless grace, galloped past us on the climb out of Penberth, igniting a pang of jealousy for their two extra legs.
Porthcurno is a double-edged sword: only 4 miles from the finish, with the path opening up, but also harboring the dreaded Minack Theatre steps. A brief sit-down with Ryan, a re-stock, and we summoned the energy for the final push. The Minack steps were as brutal as remembered, and it was here that Dan’s fatigue became apparent. He battled through, a testament to the mental fortitude of ultra-running, pushing through in the knowledge that every step forward represented a personal best.
A slightly slower pace over the next couple of miles allowed for a slight recharge before the heroic run across the finish line. Lands End came into view, then disappeared, only to reappear tantalisingly close after the final climb. The finish arch, a blur of motion, welcomed us as we enthusiastically crossed the line to cheers from friends, family, and fellow runners.
Our finish time was 10 hours and 42 minutes, a phenomenal effort for Dan in his first ultra-race and only his second time running an ultra-distance. Having trained for 32.5 miles, the Classic Quarter, a truly demanding race, is an immense achievement for any runner, let alone a debutant.
For me, the finish time was deeply satisfying. After a DNF at 40 miles in 2023, this race held unfinished business. My finish time was a personal best, shattering my 2020 time by a remarkable 2 hours and 36 minutes.
Will we return? I can’t speak for Dan, but the allure of a sub-10-hour finish might just tempt me back in a couple of years.
