On Sunday 3^rd October the 41^st running of the Virgin Money London Marathon took place.

Thirteen Teignbridge Trotters made the journey to the capital for this prestigious event. The race was founded by Chris Brasher, Olympic champion & journalist, and athlete John Disley, in 1981. In addition to being one of the top six international marathons, the London marathon is a huge celebratory sporting festival that has raised over £950 million since 1981!!

The wave starts were located at Blackheath, Greenwich, south of the River Thames. The route headed east through Charlton where the staggered starts converged at 4.5 km in Woolwich, close to the Royal Artillery Barracks. As the runners reached the 10 km mark, they passed by the Old Royal Navy College before heading towards Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Then on to Deptford and Surrey Quays in the Docklands, and out towards Bermondsey and along Jamaica Road before reaching the half-way point as the runners crossed Tower Bridge. The procession ran east again along The Highway through Wapping, before heading up towards Limehouse and into Mudshute on the Isle of Dogs via Westferry Road. The GPS then went awry as the athletes ran through Canary Wharf before running down Poplar High Street towards Limehouse and on through Commercial Road. They then moved back onto The Highway, onto Lower and Upper Thames Streets. Heading into the final leg of the race, where the competitors passed The Tower of London on Tower Hill. The penultimate mile was along The Embankment where the London Eye came into view, before the athletes turned right into Birdcage Walk to complete the final 400 metres, catching the sights of Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, and finishing on The Mall alongside St James's Palace.

The weather conditions were just about perfect, although slightly chilly at the start and a blustery head wind on certain parts of the course.

Eleven of our Club members gathered outside the Clarendon Hotel on Blackheath at 08:30 for a group photo.

There were some outstanding individual performances from many of our Trotters with three Club records smashed!

Adam Johnstone ran a superb race, clocking a fantastic time of 02:42:39 to finish in 522^nd place. Adam lowered the previous MV40 Club record by 00:07:51.

Jackie Woon smashed her previous FV55-59 Club record by 00:08:21, as she posted a great time of 03:27:07 to finish 5420^th and 23^rd in her age category. Jacki was beginning to think that the 00:03:30 barrier was out of her reach, but that has truly been put to rest!

Mike Hooper ran an extraordinary race having suffered from illness and hadn’t run more than 15 miles on the lead up to the race. Mike ran a large percentage of the course with Julian Scanes, as he clocked an amazing time of 03:02:03, therefore breaking the MV55-59 Club record by 00:03:13. Mike finished 2332^nd overall.

Other notable performances came from Julian Scanes and James Saunders who both set new personal bests. Julian is getting closer and closer to the magic sub 3 hour marathon. Another 36 second improvement as he posted a fine time of 03:01:51 to finish 2306^th. James sliced 06:45 off his previous best, set back in 2019, as he clocked a time of 03:07:33 to finish 2879^th.

The other great Trotter positions & times: Roger Hayes (5730, 03:28:48), Susanna Goffe (8535, 03:43:37), Michael Mooney (8810, 03:44:52), Rachel Steele (9302, 03:47:10), Sarah Pike (9690, 03:48:57), James Kerr (11115, 03:54:45), Allen Taylor (12182, 03:58:28), Paul Sharples (17430, 04:22:05).

A truly memorable day! The organisation of the race from start to finish was first class, and the support from the general public along the route was amazing, creating a fantastic atmosphere along with the live music and DJ’s.

A number of the Clubs runners took part in the London Virtual Marathon including Kay Shillabeer, Corinne Bright, Sharon Sharples, Karen O’Brien, Susanne Westgate & John Pullen. Well done to you all.

Winding Paths organised their latest edition, The Starcross Shuffle on Sunday 3^rd October.

Seven Teignbridge Trotters took part in what was billed as a fun, social six hour timed event. Weather conditions were perfect.

The start was held at Starcross and the picturesque route followed the Exe Estuary alongside the deer grazing grounds of Powderham Castle and onto the Turf Locks Hotel. This signalled the turnaround point at mile 3.3, before heading back to Starcross. 2 laps equalled a half marathon and 4 laps the full.

Sue Tremlett ran well to complete yet another marathon in a great time of 04:55:44. Sharon Sharples & Karen O’Brien also completed the full distance in times of 05:07:48 & 05:16:58 respectively.

The other Trotters laps and positions: Gavin Forbes (3, 03:27:30), Neil Pallant (3, 03:27:30), Susanne Westgate (3, 03:38:47), Darren Petch (2, 03:01:06).

Phil Dunning & Kurt Read travelled north to take part in the Chester Marathon on Sunday October 3^rd.

Phil sadly lost his father two weeks ago, but with his two brothers, Andrew and David, decided to run the race in his dads memory.

The start was at the spectacular Chester race course, with the route passing all of Chester’s iconic landmarks, before heading out into the Cheshire & North Wales countryside before returning along the banks of the River Dee before returning to the finish at the racecourse.

The weather conditions were wet to start but the sun soon showed up for the finish.

Phil ran the race back in 2018. He set a new course PB when clocking a great time of 03:48:52to finish 505^th.

Kurt also ran a great race, posting a time of 03:37:54, to place him 410^th.

Teresa Holmes travelled to Inverness to take part in the Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon.

The Marathon route was a spectacular point to point route taking the runners alongside the world famous Loch Ness. The organisers bussed all the competitors to the start. The start was set in moorland on the high ground between Fort Augustus and Foyers, before heading out through the stunning Highland scenery along the south-eastern shores to the northern tip of the Loch. From Dores, the runners followed the River Ness as they headed back towards the finish in Bught Park Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.

Weather conditions were evil, and due to the barren landscape, there was no shelter. Some organised runners take old, warm clothing with them, and then discard them at start time. 

The course contained a few hills, but this only gave spectacular views of Loch Ness.

There was pasta and soup for all the finishers, which was very welcome.

Teresa ran a gutsy race to claim her Baxter’s soup in a great time of 06:25:47 to finish in 2543^rd position.