Another weekend of unsettled weather was not going to dampen the spirits of the handful of Gade Valley Harriers that had planned to compete in races.
Dave Goodman, Susie Ivin and Helen Heathcote have amassed 90 marathons between them and on Sunday they were taking part in the 5,4,3,2,1 trail runs in Wiltshire – a series of events which offer runners a choice of a range of distance races. Goodman and Ivin were in action in the marathon, while Heathcote opted for the half marathon distance. Both events started in the heart of the historic city of Salisbury before taking participants into the local countryside where they get to run along footpaths and bridle ways and on quiet country roads, passing historic sights and even entering country estates which are usually closed to the public, and despite the miserable weather conditions on Saturday the sun shone and temperatures rose for the hilly, challenging day of racing.
Heathcote completed the 13.1 mile course in 2:49:47 and Goodman recorded a time of 5:00:01 for the 26.2 mile course, ahead of Ivin who crossed the line in 5:29:56.
Peter Tucker took part in another multi-distance event – the One Run to Bring Them All, in Walton on Thames. Participants get to run as many, or as few, of 3.3 mile out-and-back laps on the southern bank of the River Thames as they can within a six hour time limit.
Tucker ran for three hours, three minutes and twenty six seconds and completed a total of 13.1 miles.
Phil Mercer and Steve Newing participated in the Eton Dorney Half Marathon which gives runners an opportunity to run 4.5 laps around the lake used for the rowing events at the 2012 Olympic Games on very flat, smooth paths and roads. Mercer (1:38:21) finished just ahead of Newing (1:38:39).