A weekend full of races as March warmed up at last, our team mates were in action for the Cyprus marathon and night before 5k warm up. Paul & Shaz Sharples ran the 5km evening loop course from Paphos castle with over 1000 runners including prams, kids and even a dog! A real family affair. In a time of 29:56 and 29:58.

Sharon & Paul and Graydon Widdicombe took part in the 27th Logicom Cyprus Marathon on Sunday 9th March. For Paul and Sharon, this was an event they had planned to do at the start of the pandemic, but the race was cancelled whilst they were at the airport waiting to fly, so they just had the holiday that year instead!

As for the marathon, it is a point-to-point course so the runners had to get a 5:30am bus from Paphos to the start area, with the race starting at 7am. Starting at Petra Tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Birthplace), the undulating course follows a mainly coastal route along the Mediterranean Sea, with the race ending alongside Paphos Castle (see photo) with lovely views over the town’s harbour. 

In much cooler conditions compared to the Saturday, due to more cloud cover, there was a gentle breeze that helped the runners. Graydon struggled the last few miles, finishing in 3:51:06, whilst Sharon finished in 5:03:59 and Paul a couple seconds back in 5:04:01.

Mike Border took on the Granite Way 20m out and back x2 former railway line course with great views across Okehampton. " I finished in 70^th place in a time of 3:03 which I was delighted with as the last 4 miles were a long slog." Also taking part was Kevin Besford in the 10m, "Not only my best 10 miler in memory with 1-34.57 but also a negative split." Next stop Plymouth Half in May !
Stephen Clarke finished in 170th in 1:49:26. (10m)

At the Grizzly, Lucy Locket, and Andrew Rattlidge lined up for one of the South West's most famous odd ball annual trail races, The Grizzly. Famed for its changing course, dips in the sea, scrambling up near vertical banks, and the pebble beach sections.Grizzly participants can expect 3000' ascent over 20 miles, with two sections of pebble beaches, totalling over a mile; two energy sapping bogs, where runners are often up to their waists in water and mud; and the infamous "Stairway to Heaven", a steep path up the side of a cliff.

Andrew finished in a time of 3:53:47, and Lucy in 4:32:44 "Perfect run conditions and really pleased with my time, approx 50 minutes course PB. Tough race, loads of support, entertainment, atmosphere, lots of fun and would do it again".

Derek commented "Interesting race…No marshalling just small arrows and pieces of pink tape to guide us running through bizzy centre’s of London boroughs, watching out you don’t get run over at the many crossings…not so much traffic in 1908..weather was great but struggled home with a calf problem but 97 done.

In Bideford the club flat runners turned up in force for the Bideford half, a well known and favoured place for fast times and great racing. Photos a plenty were taken, see facebook, and some great times and prizes were had. full race results Here

Samantha Galvin kindly provided the following; There was a great turnout of 41 Totters at the 30th Bideford Half Marathon – the swift half!

The race started and finished very close to the Bideford Amateur Athletic Club Clubhouse and took in the magnificent countryside alongside the River Torridge between Bideford and Great Torrington. The course headed out on undulating roads and returned on the Tarka Trail, we even got to run through a tunnel. All runners received a 2025 bespoke medal and T-shirt for their efforts. The weather was perfect with the sun out with a cool breeze. Some great results and a number of Totters took home some silverware!

Donald Brooks was the first Trotter home in a fantastic time of 1:15:19 and came first in his category (V45), James Saunders was third V60 in 1:30.02, Bob Small was amazing coming first in V75 1:51:36

Chloe Weeks was first female Trotter home in a great time of 1:32:3, Freya Morrissey was 3rd V35 in 1:34:18, Tracy Elphick was 2nd V50 in 1:37:25, Jackie Woon was 3rd V60 in 1:40:17.

The Personal Bests were many and included; Freya Morrissey, plus a number of new club records including Donald Brooks, Jacki Woon, and the unstoppable Bob Small gliding smoothly to a fine time of 1.51.36, cutting just under 3 minutes off the time he set last year. Bob showing massive improvement clearly benefitting from the advice of the speakers events he has been putting on for members.