THE Spring Marathon season is well underway and Running Forever had members travelling far and wide to take on the distance this weekend.

Five members made the trip to Brighton for their popular run. This seaside venue provides some challenges but has become very popular with first-timers and experienced distance runners since its inception in 2010.

Ray Tutton was first member home in 3.49 with Jules Griffiths-Jones not far behind with her 3.58 finish.

Helen Jenkins had a great first marathon and a big smile when crossing the line in 4.56, while Marina Tomsett and Helen Phillips stuck together and collected their medals in 5.04.

Simon Denson took on the iconic Boston Marathon on Monday.

This year’s race took place in a torrential downpour which was more suited to canoeing than running; with a 3.37 finish, Simon coped admirably.

The Ultra crew were on the run again this week with a group of six taking on the Wye Valley 50.

This self-navigated 50-miler is organised by the LDWA and promised hills, views and the odd encounter with wild boar along the route.

Emma Greig is recovering from injury, so set off with the walkers and finished in 16.54.

The wild boar hunting quintet of Andy Burgess, Adrian Edwards, Matt Blee, Andy Higham and Peter Hall decided safety in numbers would be the best tactic and completed the event together in 16.16.

Three RFRC members went Maverick on Saturday, taking on the Enov-8 event at Kilve.

Ali Wasey and Kirsti Nelson did the 8k version in 1.33 with Duncan Gordon doing the 17k in 2.13.

Katie Elliott and Becky Dingle were at the Extreme Events Battle of Lansdown event which seemed to live up to the Extreme name.

Lots of mud, obstacles and water features made their 2.18 finish a great result.

Wednesday night saw the first of the Yeovilton 5k summer series.

Three members made the journey along the A303 with Hannah Taunton (in her TAC guise) finishing in 17.33, Pat Date in 22.03 and Gill Taunton 28.35.

This weekend’s parkrun tourists made their way to Barnstaple, Chippenham, Forest Rec, Seaton, Hastings and Exmouth. Fifteen members took the local option at Longrun Meadow.

***

Somerset County Gazette:

REWARD: Taunton Running Club's Jo Lowe with her Brighton Marathon medal.

MANY Taunton Running Club members were taking a rest after the excitement of the Taunton Half and a few more were taking it easy before the London Marathon.

Not so ‘All Black’ Jo Lowe - she hopped over to Brighton and ran the marathon in 4.40.

The Couch to 5k Programme continues on Tuesday at 6.45pm Tangier car park.

***

HYDRO Harriers’ Andy White recorded a Longtime Parkrun year’s best, last Saturday, home in 19min 47sec.

Meanwhile Rowland Lyons showed a slight improvement at Valentine’s (Ilford) - finishing in 24m 16s.