This headline is always about good things...

The countryside is awash with colour and the days dawn brightly with vivid autumn skies often free of moody looking grey clouds. It’s as if God is hurriedly wiping away the gloom with a cloth, leaving only blue residue and speckles of white so we can continue to enjoy running during the remaining remnants of the season.

And so another week brings another form of words weaved together that allow us to bask in the glow of each other’s personal bests and good times.

We begin, as we should, with the Dartmoor Vales Races. The home triple-header organised by Dartmoor Vale Rotary Club and hosted by Sibelco at East Golds Works, Kingsteignton. The 10k is raced around the roads of Kingsteignton while the marathon and half meander further, exploring the undulating leafy lanes around Chudleigh and Ugbrooke.

The 10K saw seasoned Trotter Ewan Walton come second overall in 36.59. Flourishing talent Jamie Barnett was fifth in 38.27 and Tracy Elphick was second lady overall in 43.17 and 19th overall. Budding Trotter Josh Taylor was victorious in the U18 category in 42.03 - knocking four mins off his previous time - and coming 16th overall.

The F65 10k Club Record fell when Susie Ashleigh-Thomas clocked 58.37, 130th overall.

All finishers were: Russ Wheeler 39.33 ninth, Craig Churchill 42.55 18th, Mandy Wheeler 43.43 22nd, Gary Watson 45.31 29th (first M55), Tom Besford 46.15 35th, Tim Theobald 47.28 41st (first M60), Jennie Roberts 49.02 52nd, Kathryn Steemson 50.38 63rd, Dave Dunn 50.48 64th, Jess Hayes 54.10 93rd, Caroline Hayes 54.49 103rd, Sara Collman 57.56 122nd, Melanie Hooper 58.37 129th and Glenn Jarvis 1:00.45 138th. There were 191 competitors.

Talented Tim Pratt took a podium place, coming second in the half marathon. He carved out a 1:20.34 for the honour, second only to local legend Pete Monaghan.

Mike Hooper won second M45 in a time of 1:27.03 11th overall and Peter Heckles showed his mettle clocking 1:32.22 for 18th overall. Trotters taking part were: Kevin Woodard 1:34.13 21st, Julian Scanes 1:36.02 26th, James Ayling 1:38.51 32nd, Jacki Woon 1:40.04 35th (first F50), Peter Blakesley 1:40.41 39th, Matt Dunn 1:44.09 56th, Richard Keatley, who has smashed his half PB out the park this year, taking a whooping 20 minutes off his time to record 1:50.48 in this race and 72nd overall; Rex Barnes 1:55.35 83rd, Kevin Besford 2:01.29 111th, Kim Bindon 2:05.51 125th, Caroline Clark 2:05.55 126th, Lorna Martin 2:07.34 132nd. There were 172 finishers.

But what of the 98 other runners? The ones who think nothing of knocking out a 26.2-mile effort on a crisp Sunday morning? Once again familiar faces were among them. Lance ‘Skippy’ Mason was in the prizes picking up first M55 and 18th overall in 3:22.21. Stephen Barker clocked 3:24.45 and Chairman Rog Hayes was back on it, coming 21st in 3:26.07. Endurance runner Paul Sharples came 42nd in 3:49.16, Keith ‘The Everest’ Anderson clocked 4:26.53 for 81st and Sally ‘Marathon Queen’ Ingledew completed the line-up in 4:38.26 and 89th overall.

*Blue vests, blues skies, Bristol to Bath. Derek Skinner led the Blues home at the inaugural Bristol to Bath marathon on Sunday 25 October with his commitment to training shining through, rewarding him with a sub 3-30 marathon. In fact he was well inside the time clocking 3:26.31. Iain Large and Hannah Walsh were flying the flag for the club in their new home city of Bristol with Iain coming next in 3:27.51 and Hannah running in 3:36.58. Donna Walker - her second marathon in less than a month - completed the race in 4:28.08. Leah Harper did it in 4:31.07 and her husband Colin was right behind her in 4:31.08.

The day also belonged to Bev Dennis and Mark Walker who, we are proud to say, completed their first marathons. Bev did a great job clocking 4:50.27 with partner Pete Hayward running alongside for the same chip time. Mark, who recently smashed his half marathon PB after overcoming some injury issues, clocked a sub-6 time of 5:58.53.

*Now let’s travel back in time to Wednesday October 21 when Mark Wotton went to Walton on Thames for the Back to the Future Race. As the world’s media went bonkers for the date and filled schedules with puff pieces about the 1985 science fiction/comedy film of the same name, a hardy bunch of runners were celebrating in the best way they can - by running a marathon.

The race was organised by the dudes at Phoenix Running with tzruns. It was a 1.6-mile course so runners were doing repeated out-and-backs along the Thames towpath. (so rather like going back to the future, and back again, and back again and back again, ad nauseam).

The race started in heavy rain but the sun - hurrah! - appeared halfway through to illuminate the day. Mark finished in 5.09.38 28th out of 50 and received the biggest medal ever (well worth seeing, he says).

*Peter Kirby continues to dazzle in marathon performances. The 66 year old completed his 20th Marathon since celebrating his 60th birthday, running in the Yorkshire Marathon on Sunday 11 October. Peter achieved another London Marathon Good for Age category time clocking a superb 3.56.22. Pete was happy with his accomplishment, particularly as his training had been disrupted.

Pete reported back the marathon, which starts and finishes at York University, is particularly well organised, takes place on closed roads, is scenic and has good crowd support. Entries sell out quickly each year - so anyone looking for an British autumn marathon take note!

And now what shall we do? How about a Templer Ten? Check out www.facebook.com/templerten

Report by Emma Pearcy

Smiles all round. Photos kindly supplied by Peter Kirby at the Yorkshire Marathon and Mark Walker at the first ever Bristol to Bath marathon.