FIVE Chard Road Runners took the short trip to Cricket St Thomas for the 12-hour Lemur Loop.

This hilly off-road multi-loop (10k per loop) trail race is not your typical race but one where you go for a distance of your choice.

Helen Baxter, Roddy McLean, Stuart McLean, Jacqui Allen and Marie Culverwell set themselves a goal on this challenging route of covering at least three laps (18 miles).

With the weather improving, 140 runners set off from the start lineout from the lower mill and straight into the first hill.

The McLeans set off together at a reserved pace, while Baxter, Allen and Culverwell on the other hand pushed hard for the first lap to ensure they covered the minimum distance in case the weather changed for the worse.

Having covered their first loop, the McLeans found the 875ft was going to make for a challenging day.

Next completing their first loops were Allen and Culverwell, with Baxter a few minutes later.

All five Road Runners completed their three loops: Allen and Culverwell called it a day at this point in a time of 4h 14m 45s.

Baxter and the McLeans then reset their targets, aiming to complete five loops (31 miles).

As conditions became harder, Roddy and Stuart McLean were still setting good times and, having crossed the line for their fifth loop, decided to keep on pushing.

Baxter was next to cross over for her fifth and final loop, crossing with a total time of 8h 13m 48s.

With darkness falling and running by head torch, the McLeans kept pushing on for a further three loops (near 50 miles) and both crossed the line in a time of 9h 10m 18s.