Welcome to Trail-Blaze!
- Introduction
- How it Works
- Locations
How it Works
Each Trail-Blaze course is marked out using electronic checkpoints. Users, or Trail-Blazers, wear a small electronic tag attached to a Trail Blaze wristband. This tag must be inserted into a small hole which is found on every checkpoint box. The tag records the exact time and location of insertion.
To start, Trail-Blazers simply insert their tag into the start box which will beep to indicate the clock has started – the race is on! They must now visit all the checkpoints as quickly as possible before finally inserting the tag at the finish box. Courses are usually circular in nature with the finish checkpoint located near to the start. Some courses are run on a points collection basis where there is no set route. Instead, Trail-Blazers visit the check points in any order as quickly as they can.
In all cases, the act of inserting the tag in the finish box immediately stops the clock. Then, by inserting the tag into the download station, your course statistics and finish time are automatically uploaded to the Trail-Blaze website together with the date of your attempt. Seconds later a text message containing finishing time and current course position is sent direct to your mobile phone. You can then logon to the Trail-Blaze website at your leisure to review your performance, compare it against other Trail-Blazers, monitor your progress and plan the next attempt!
Remember to take a mobile phone with you to the café when you pick up your tag as you will need to send a text message to register your tag number. You can complete your chosen course at any time after picking up the tag. If the cafe is closed when you finish, simply post the tag through the letterbox and the café staff will download the tag first thing in the morning.
Locations
The first five Trail-Blaze courses are being piloted in Start Bay, South Devon, taking in the natural beauty and drama of the coastline between Strete Gate and East Portlemouth. Devotees of the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series will know this area as home to the South Devon stage. If you're planning to enter any of the Coastal Trail Series events in 2008/2009 then Trail-Blaze is an ideal way to train.
The five Trail-Blaze courses range from 3 to 22 miles in length. Each course follows an 'out and back' route with the start/finish outside the SeaBreeze café, Torcross, TQ7 2TQ. Anyone wishing to have a go at Trail-Blazing can turn up and hire an electronic tag from the café. Prices range from £1 to £5 depending on the course length chosen. All proceeds from the first month of Trail-Blazing (Aug-Sept 2008) will be donated to East Prawle Coastwatch.
Courses
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1 Slapton Bridge |
3 miles |
£1 |
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A short, level run along the Slapton Line.
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2 Strete Gate |
5miles |
£2 |
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A slightly longer, level run along the Slapton Line.
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3 Start Point |
8 miles |
£3 |
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A testing trail with a few challenging hills and wonderful views.
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4 Prawle Point |
16 miles |
£4 |
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A very challenging route that will test your endurance but reward you with breathtaking views of deserted beaches and smugglers coves.
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5 Mill Bay |
22 miles |
£5 |
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A gruelling test of endurance that will punish the ill-prepared. We recommend that you build up to this route.
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