Rich Meston
The adventure in photos

Ultramara…

Ultramara… in 24 photos: 78.7 miles, 3–5 Oct 2024. Tap a photo to see where it was on the map and how far in I was.

  1. Thu, 3 Oct 2024 · 07:06
    The Day Before

    Nothing like a ridiculously detailed plan for your run, is there?!

    Previously, I had created little timing charts like these (they're about the size of a credit card), with a set of times at each point. The times dropped back from an ideal "A" goal all the way back to just about making the cutoffs.

    The problem with this is that, as I get older, more complacent and do less training than I really should, I get a bit disappointed when I start falling behind... What a surprise!

    So, this time round, I avoided times. I put a load of Points of Interest along the way, the distance and elevation change between them, and the "normalised" ascent and descent (i.e. the elevation divided by the distance, to give an idea of how spiky a section really way).

    Last time I laminated the chart, the corners rubbed through my vest and shredded the skin on my ribcage, so I've opted for layers of Sellotape to waterproof the chart here.

  2. Photo at Minehead station
    Thu, 3 Oct 2024 · 15:57
    Minehead station

    Minehead Railway Station is a proper step back in time. It's a beautiful place, especially when it's nearly empty too, just the huffing and puffing of trains in the yard.

  3. Photo at Minehead station
    Thu, 3 Oct 2024 · 15:58
    Minehead station

    That train was gently steaming away, adding to the atmosphere of the whole place. It didn't take much to imagine what it would have been like here 100 years before.

  4. Photo at Minehead
    Thu, 3 Oct 2024 · 16:15
    Minehead

    Minehead seafront, along with a couple of path markers. The view is looking off towards Bristol.

  5. Photo at Minehead
    Thu, 3 Oct 2024 · 16:15
    Minehead

    The South West Coast Path start marker, which also marks the end of the Climb South West North Coast 110 mile race.

    In fact, it marks the end of the all the North Coast races - the 110 mile, 110km from Barnstaple, and the 55km from Combe Martin.

  6. Photo at Hartland Quay
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 07:35
    Hartland Quay
    0.3 mi
    into the day
  7. Photo at Hartland Point
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 08:12
    Hartland Point
    2.7 mi
    into the day
  8. Photo at Hartland Point
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 08:14
    Hartland Point
    2.9 mi
    into the day
  9. Photo at Hartland Point
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 08:14
    Hartland Point
    2.9 mi
    into the day
  10. Photo at Hartland Point
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 08:14
    Hartland Point
    2.9 mi
    into the day
  11. Photo at near Shipload Bay
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 08:20
    near Shipload Bay
    3.4 mi
    into the day
  12. Photo at Cheristow
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 08:34
    Cheristow
    4.5 mi
    into the day
  13. Photo at Windbury Head
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 09:10
    Windbury Head
    7.3 mi
    into the day
  14. Photo at Windbury Head
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 09:13
    Windbury Head
    7.5 mi
    into the day
  15. Photo at Clovelly
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 09:43
    Clovelly
    9.4 mi
    into the day
  16. Photo at Appledore
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 13:49
    Appledore
    26.2 mi
    into the day
  17. Photo at Bideford
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 14:52
    Bideford
    30.2 mi
    into the day
  18. Photo at Instow
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 15:56
    Instow
    34.4 mi
    into the day
  19. Photo at near Fremington
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 16:33
    near Fremington
    37.2 mi
    into the day
  20. Photo at Braunton
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 18:38
    Braunton
    45.7 mi
    into the day
  21. Photo at Braunton
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 18:39
    Braunton
    45.8 mi
    into the day
  22. Photo at Mortehoe
    Day 1 · Fri, 4 Oct 2024 · 23:56
    Mortehoe
    66.0 mi
    into the day
  23. Photo at Minehead
    Sat, 5 Oct 2024 · 14:07
    Minehead
  24. Photo at Minehead
    Sat, 5 Oct 2024 · 21:43
    Minehead
See all 38 photos, day by day