St Ives Bay

A testing all off-road, beach and dunes 10km.

A beach start, running  towards Gwithian then taking steps to pathway Gwithian Car Park at mile 3, followed by 2 miles of Towans paths include a final 'Dune of Doom' before returning to the beach for the final 1.2 miles.

Start time: 7pm, Bib collection from 5pm
Start venue: Hayle Surf Lifesaving Club, Riviere Towans, Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 5AF
Minimum age: 15

Undulating course with markers every mile and a water stop at mile 3
Bespoke medal for all finishers
Changing and toilet facilities available
Car parking available (fee payable)

A 1 mile beach fun run with entries on the night (£4 entry) - 6pm start

Prizes for first three male and females

TRA licence approved.

More info: 

St Ives Bay 10k Race briefing Tuesday 17^th August 2021 7pm 

Race HQ Hayle Surf Life Saving Club, Riviere Towans Phillack Hayle TR27 5AF

Thank you for entering the St Ives Bay 10k!  The Race organised by Hayle Runners, supported by Hayle Town Council and Hayle Surf Life Saving Club. The race is licensed by the Trail Running Association and our permit number is 3571. The race is run under UKA rules.

The race starts and finishes on the beach beneath the HSLSC. Traffic is often heavy around Hayle in August and it can take another 10 minutes to get to the start line from the HSLSC so please give yourselves plenty of time to collect your number and get to the start.

Please note car parking is restricted at Riviere Towans and there is a fee payable at the Bluff pub and the car park opposite post code TR20 5AF.You can follow the signs from here to HSLSC

 A number of you will be familiar with the race and the route, but this year due to the pandemic and on-going risks we are seeking to reduce the number of people entering the club house, and have one other major change.

Covid 19 measures include;

1.     All pre-registered runners can collect their numbers from the designated desk outside the HSLSC club house from 5pm

2.     There will no baggage or changing facilities at the clubhouse

3.     There will be sanitiser available

4.     Runners will be called to the start line immediately before the briefing and race start and encouraged to social distance at the start line and after the race.

5.     Presentations to the first 3 male and female finishers will be made immediately after they finish.

 The other major change in the race is that due to conditions at the beach relating to shifting sand causing pooling and rock exposure, runners and supporters are asked to enter and exit the beach via the slope near the Lifeguard hut rather than the steps near the Cove café. This should minimise the danger of accidents and wet feet!

We are grateful to our hosts Hayle Surf Life Saving Club who are also helping provide First Aid cover around the course as well as the refreshments and to our around 80 marshals and helpers around the course and other volunteers who have helped put the race on.

This year our First Aid provision is being supplemented by members of Hayle Runners who as well as acting as marshals are qualified First Aiders.

This year we continuing to support Hayle Town Councils aim of encouraging the town to become plastic free, and are reducing single use plastics by providing recyclable cups at the water stop at mile 3 and at the finish.

We want to encourage runners and races to be as sustainable as possible so we have a supply of reusable Salomon Soft Cups will be for sale at £5 each available at the gazebo when you finish.

 In terms of the route-This is not generally known as a PB course!

First the start and finish of the race are held on the beach below the Hayle Surf Life Saving Club (HSLSC), Riviere Towans, Phillack Hayle TR27 5AF. The race route runs along the beach in the Godrevy lighthouse direction for just under 3 miles and goes towards Gillick rocks before turning towards the steps.

Expect to find soft sand, ridged sand and if you are lucky some harder sand. There is also likely to be some pooled water, close to Gillick rock at mile 2.5.

The area is staked out and marshalled and they will direct you. Do not go between the rocks.

 Take care on the concrete steps and be courteous to other users. You may have to walk up the steps if they are busy. There may be members of the public using them. In a previous year, we had a funeral party!

 You turn to the right at the top of the steps where there is a water stop at the 3 mile point just before you hit the Towans, please make sure you are well hydrated.

The route then winds through the Towans along established and marshalled paths. This is generally compacted earth with occasional sand with some uneven areas so take care.

These paths are shared with the public who occasionally have dogs and Adders have been seen dozing nearby. They are however more likely to be scared of you.

There is a short patch of uneven gravel between mile 4 and 5, and also expect a range of different surfaces and then you run along a winding downhill path towards the big Dune before returning to the beach and heading for the finish.

In the unlikely event of an incident, accident or if you feel unwell please report to the next marshal who will summon assistance for you if needed.

This is a race rather than a hike. Whilst there is no official cut off time for the event it can start getting gloomy in mid-August, and if in our opinion it becomes dangerous for us to allow runners to continue, we reserve the right to ask people to pull up.

If you feel you cannot continue please let a marshal know so you can be accounted for. The best places to stop are the water stop at Gwithian car park close to mile 3 or near the chimney at mile 4 (grid reference 57946 39653) where vehicles can be close by. We can arrange for you to be taken back to the HSLSC.

There is water at the finish after you receive your medal and the first three male and females will get a small trophy and a Hayle Runners buff.

The prize giving will be made on the beach as soon as we can and photographs will be taken, if you don’t wish your photograph to be published, please let us know.

The full results will be published on Hayle Runners public Facebook page when they have been checked.

 Good luck and, more than anything enjoy yourselves!