February started with lots of Trotters in action. This Year’s Exeter Half Marathon took place over the weekend of Saturday February 8th and Sunday February 9th. The two lap 13.1 mile course took the runners along the Exeter Quayside, through the scenic Riverside Valley Park, including a loop of Matford and back to the finish line at Haven Banks. The Trotters were well represented across both days, with a total of 14 racing. There was a terrific atmosphere throughout the race, with lots of fabulous support, helping the runners tackle a relatively flat course in a chilly easterly wind. Samantha reported "The weather was lovely and sunny with a cold breeze so near perfect racing conditions and the marshals were fantastic, and I would recommend for anyone after a PB, as I did." Mike Border achieved a great result, a new pb by 2.5 minutes !

Roger Moss reported from post Hong Kong marathon. It was a strange run with non Asian runners in the very much the minority out here. The bridges had steep long sweeping roads up to them and the tunnels were long and again quite steep both down and up. The majority of the run was on open ‘motorway type’ roads of 3/4 lanes. The big benefit was a cold early 06.50 start on the coldest day in HK for 10 years. In the final 10k the roads were full as 1/2 marathon runners joined us and the Sun came out. I would say the 1/2 was run by at least twice as many as the 26.2ers.

I had cramp in both legs and had to stop and then walk after about 30k but I got it done in 4.14 which was better than the 4.39 in Roma, Italy. I was looking forward to trying to get a sub 4.00 but that will have to wait until the next one….Great experience though and I have really enjoyed it here.

Three go to Exmouth by Derek Skinner, on his marathon No.96 oddessy. On a chilly Saturday morning Mark (Wurzel), Ruth, and I took on the Running Events day one Devon Winter Challenge Challenge Near Capel Lane, Littleham, each lap is 5.28k out and back, a scenic route on an old disused train line. 8 laps will be a marathon. Quite a tough course as you would think a railway line is flat but not the case with 1,309 ft of elevation...Mark took on the challenge and did 2 laps in a time of 01:05:57 12 took on the challenge finishing 5th out of 12. Del and Ruth took on the 8 lap marathon challenge. Del in time of 04:28:42 and was 8th. Ruth in a time of 05:06:57 and was 13th. 15 in total. 15 finished the half marathon 4 laps, 7 finished an ultra above 8 laps.