Weekend running roundup!

Back in Bristol now - following a relaxing weekend down on the South Devon coast, near Dartmouth. Made the most of it, despite the weather - which to be fair was very nice on Sunday (if rather windy!)

This was the view from our 'apartment' - a prefab bungalow, but it did have free heating and a well stocked kitchen!!!

On the racing front this weekend, we had Harriers in action at the Hanham Horror - Bitton Road Runners annual Easter shindig. We also had Steve Adams competing in the Exe to Axe - a 21.5 mile off-road epic on the South Devon Coastal Path. Finally today saw a number of Harriers take part in the Yeovil Road Running Club organized Easter Bunny 10k.

So our new lady runner, Vicky Plume, goes from strength to strength in the Hanham Horror. Not content with obliterating the field in last weekend's Forest of Dean 1/2, she finished 7th overall in the Horror, winning the ladies race by nearly 7 minutes! A time of 34.17 was a mighty feat on a 5.5 mile MT course! Westbury also had the third lady home, as Evita Gonzales-Szamocki finished in a time of 41.29. Great also to see Tamsin Chick right back up there - 4th lady in a time of 42.26. Sarah Thorne ran 44.16 and Roger Long completed the team in 52.11.

Meanwhile down on the South Coast, Steve Adams - who is simultaneously preparing for a half ironman and life as a married man (not sure which is the harder ask!) - came 10th in the annual Exe to Axe. Steve settled into 4th place early on in the race, and went through 10 miles in around 76 minutes, but sadly suffered from a number of bouts of cramp in the second half, which meant he ended up 10th. That said, he still managed a highly respectable time of 3.09 and as he said himself "I'm still walking!" - good work indeed!

Finally today at the Easter Bunny 10k, despite strong winds on the exposed lanes around Yeovilton Air base, Debbie Marsden won the ladies race in a time of 37.46, holding off the unattached Angel Felix who ran 38.00. Also out for the Harriers in the ladies race was Hayley Johnson who ran 48.42. In the men's race, Steve Way (of runnersworld fame!) won in a time of 30.55, beating Bristol & West's Tom Mershon and the winner of last weekend's San Domenico 20m - Richie Gardner was 3rd. For the Harriers Chris Palmer, despite suffering from a cold showed no ill effects  coming home in a time of 35.20, with Gregg Ward just behind in 35.27 and John Terry running 36.03 and David Cowles completed the team running 46.53. Well done all!