Did you know that Woolacombe beach is the UK’s toughest marathon route? Woolacombe Beach is the longest sandy beach in the UK coming in at 3 miles long, with its breathtaking cliffs and sand dunes. This long stretch makes it the perfect place to push your training for both a half or full marathon, at all levels.
The tougher terrain created by the soft sand and inclines from surrounding cliffs makes it a great opportunity to work on your stamina, along with other beach related health benefits.
Keep on reading to find out how many times you need to run the length of the beach to train for both a half and full marathon, as well as other health benefits.
Run the length of Woolacombe Beach 6.5 times to train for a half marathon
Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks have found that if you wish to run a half marathon (which comes in at 13.1 miles), you need to run the length of Woolacombe beach 6.5 times. Meanwhile, to train for a full marathon which is 26.21 miles, you need to run the length of the beach 13.1 times.
Half Marathon (13.1 miles) – 6.5 times
Full Marathon (26.21 miles) – 13.1 times
If you wish to run beyond Woolacombe beach and enjoy a slight detour, then you can take the public path that runs up through the dunes to Baggy Point, showcasing the beautiful coastal, sea and farmland views. It is definitely recommended over training in a busy city!
It’s also important to note however that Woolacombe Beach isn’t the longest beach in the UK. The longest goes to pebble favourite Chesil Beach near Weymouth, which is 18 miles long. However, it would be difficult to run on such terrain when pebbles are less forgiving than sand.
The wellbeing benefits running Woolacombe Beach
As well as building up the resilience needed to withstand the physical distance of a full and half marathon, there are a variety of ways training on the beach will benefit your physical and mental wellbeing. Some of these methods include:
- A more forgiving surface. Running on sand leads to softer contact between your foot and the sandy surface, reducing the likelihood of training injury. If you trip over, the sand helps soften your landing, reducing the chance of injury.
- Strengthens lesser used muscles. The uneven sandy surface helps strengthen your lower body limbs, as they will be working harder to keep you balanced as you run on the sand.
- The view. Woolacombe beach is breathtaking with no end of activities and facilities. There are rockpools, burrows, a fun theme park, ice-cream kiosks and eateries should you build an appetite following your training. Or you could bring your own lunch to enjoy on the beach before taking a dip in the sea to cool off.
- Sea Air. Running on the beach unlocks a natural advantage. The clean sea air invigorates your lungs, allowing you to push harder and maximise your run’s effectiveness. If you can breathe better, this is going to help reduce your heart rate and lower blood pressure.
- Time for other activities. If you are using Woolacombe Beach for your marathon training, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the beach for other reasons too. You could enjoy a picnic with your family or take part in some watersports, and during warmer weather this makes total sense.
- Running with your dog meaning your little four legged friend can also join in with your training. Woolacombe Beach is also open to dogs all year round, so if you wish to visit with your family your four-legged friend can also join in all year round.