WITH a distance of 27.2 miles and an elevation of 4,000 feet, the Giant’s Head Trail Marathon is one of the significant challenges for runners in the southwest and certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Nonetheless, two members of Taunton Running Club took on the challenge last weekend. Matt Pearse and Darren Wakefield finished the course hand in hand in 6hr 13min.

Taking part in the Wimbleball 10k, Marie Bowerman finished the course in 1.34 - a brave performance by the All Blacks group leader.

Running Forever members set off for sunny Dorset this weekend, heading for the Giant’s Head Marathon and it’s littler sibling the Sydling Hill Race.

These White Star Running events are always popular as they provide the world’s biggest ice-creams at the finish as well as a rather splendid medal.

Martin Webb and Rob Murr took on the Giant and defeated him in 4.51 and 6.39, respectively.

Duncan Gordon and Jamie Hill were first back to the ice-cream van in the 11K race in 1.17 with Peter Stretton (1.25), Carl Moppett (1.29) and Brian Brown (1.30) not far behind them in the queue.

Hopefully, there was still plenty of sprinkles left when Vicky Hanna, Doris Nelson and Ali Wasey finished in 1.41 and Eliza Brodie in 1.43.

Wimbleball Lake provided a perfect venue this weekend for the inaugural Immortal 10K which Sally Tuer finished in 62 minutes to claim her age group prize.

Adding a bit of a dip and a cycle to her 10K, Nadine Prouse completed the Immortal Classic triathlon at the same venue in 4.05.

James Nicholas went to the seaside for the Torbay Half which he completed in 1.33.

Taking things a bit further, Ali Bisatt and Robin Upton took part in the 30-mile Exmoor Perambulation, touring the sights of Exmoor in 6.37 to finish third and fourth in this ‘not really a race’ event.

Distance of the weekend goes to Jonathan Newby for his completion of the Jurassic Coast 100K race in 16.37.

Parkrun tourists ventured to South Manchester, Winchester, Southwick, Tamar Lakes, Burnham, Portsmouth, Exmouth and Somerdale.

Thirty-five runners took on the local course at Longrun Meadow where Tarun Solaki completed his 150th parkrun.

Taunton Athletics Club runners have been out and about once again.

The Haldon Forest 10k saw Rob Brown place 19th (first in the V50 category), with a 52-minute time.

At the Wimbleball Classic Tri – a very tough event – Luke Goldsworthy came sixth in a time of 2.43.46, with James Heal ninth (2.49.44) and Nadine Prouse 17th (4.05.25).

n Hydro Harriers’ large Parkrun turnout last Saturday saw ‘eternal bridesmaid’ Tom Mellor having to be content with a fourth-placed finish at Longrun Meadow, in 18m 2s, finishing nearly half-a-minute behind the winner.

Ian Salter finally broke the 19-minute barrier in a PB time of 18.53; also-rans were Chris Jones (19.45) and Steve Cooper (24.20).

Andy White starred at Burnham-on-Sea (20.46), with Rowland Lyons putting in a battling Barking performance, returning a six-month best of 24.49.

Longrun Meadow participants celebrated the 300th Parkrun event on Saturday.

The 5k challenge around the Silk Mills-based park, organised by Dave Bullock, enjoyed its first run on October 5, 2013.

Since then, it has attracted 10,297 runners, averaging 282 per week.

The total number of runs is 84,702 with the average run time being 28.35 with a total distance of 423,510k being completed (it’s 384,400k to the Moon).

The biggest attendance is 524.

First home on Saturday morning was Mark Goodridge, in a time of 17.34, while Emma Kiernan was first lady over the line in 19.06.