The fine spring weather has brought a lot of the Bovey Valley Runners out and competing in local events this week.
The Plymouth Half Marathon took in the usual route from Plymouth Hoe, out to the Embankment and then up through Saltram before returning via the Barbican, and that short sharp climb up to the finish line on the Hoe.
The BVR finishers were Amanda Hemelik 1:42:05, Sarah Harvey 2:09:47, Larissa Sullivan 2:09:47, Charlotte Nicholls 2:17:22, Kathryn Carroll 2:17:32, Jill Bishop 2:19:09 and Steve Cooney 2:25:19.
Meanwhile in Exeter Caragh Mellitt ran the Marathon course alongside the river. This is part of her training towards the Race to the Stones later in the year and she finished in a fine time of 4:25:52.
Emma Start, fresh from her London Marathon triumph, was desperate to find a local race to make the most of her fitness. So, she headed just out of county up to Weston Super Mare for the coastal half marathon, and once again she excelled with a superb time of 1:46:58.
Meanwhile Rob White headed further afield, over to Kent, to compete in the Saxon Shore Half Marathon on the North Kent coast. A nice flat two lap event on the coastal promenade, which was made all the better by very calm conditions and overcast clouds. Rob finished in 1:55:20.
And finally, Anna Gocher took part in the most severe race – the Devon Coast to Coast from Wembury in the South to Lynmouth in the North – with crossings of both Dartmoor and Exmoor. The small matter of 177 km (112 miles) and 4,500m of ascent. Anna completed the event in 35:02:53 – starting at 8am on Saturday morning and fisnishing at 7pm on Sunday evening. A phenomenal run.
