27 MARCH
The warm and sunny day that was this Sunday brought a group of Coasters to various start points on the South West Coast Path. There was a 10k event, a Half Marathon and a 30 mile Ultra. It’s a brutal route, whichever distance you’re running. Not even an hour had gone by and Coasters own Adam Buckley broke the tape at the finish in Shaldon. First place in 59:11! Hannah Cole ran the Half Marathon and continued her amazing performances with a time of 3:14:24. The other Coasters had signed up for the Ultra and their long days out were rewarded with these times: Martyn Cox 8:27:51, Dave McMorrow 9:40:30, Adrian Diment 10:08:56, Nicky Davey 10:10:11. Several of these guys had tested Covid negative, literally a day beforehand and were feeling less than race fresh - so massive kudos to them for making the start, let alone the finish!
20 MARCH
Linda Diggines visited Norfolk over the weekend and ran the Great Yarmouth 10k, which is a nice flat course along the promenade. 41 seconds over the hour it took her and she then claimed her nautically themed medal. Nice one!
The Granite Way 10 and 20 mile event took place, starting and finishing in Okehampton. The route is pretty flat with only railway gradients to endure. The course was five miles out and back, taking you on the former line that ran on to Tavistock and Plymouth. Once out of town and across (under) the horrible A30 dual carriageway, the route gets out into the country and then crosses the magnificent Meldon viaduct before reaching the five mile turn point. Charles Edmonds is seen powering along mid-race and then recorded 2:38:47. Roy Brown finished first in 2:07:58 - no wonder he’s got a beaming smile!
12 & 13 MARCH
Coasters' Adam Buckley secured first place at Puretrail Running's Deep River 10k run in a time of 41:39. The course starts at the prominent Castle Drogo and descends into the wooded valley of the Upper Teign River, where a circuit is run before climbing back to the castle to finish. Adam’s Coasters running vest must’ve been in the wash!
Mel Powell represented the club at the Grand Canal Canter on Sunday and finished 35th in 2:09:43. This half marathon is a flat route along the Grand Western Canal heading out and back to Tiverton through some picturesque scenery. It's a twice a year event with varying distance options organised by Winding Paths.
6 MARCH
The Grizzly is a trail race that is an annual pilgrimage for many. 20 miles that includes some beach running, ploughing through two bogs and climbing the "Stairway to Heaven" up the side of a cliff. In all, it boasts over 3,000ft of ascent. Andy MacMillan stopped the clock in an impressive 3hr45:44, Stuart Gloyn finished in 4hr11:55, Hannah Cole and Dave McMorrow together in 4hr38:56 and Richard Dutton in 4hr48:03. Celia Genders took on the Cub Run, a shorter version and finished in 1hr45:38.
Pictures show Dave, Hannah, Stuart and Richard in pre-race mode and Andy showing off his long socks 🤔
A fairly flat course in Bideford was on the menu and to quote them, it certainly was a "swift half" marathon. Seven Coasters were in the field of 772 runners. The 13.1 miles took a scenic route south along the closed main road and back along the Tarka Trail skirting the River Torridge. Roy Brown clocked a mighty 1hr18:26, Garrie Edwards in 1hr29:42, Nick Little 1hr45:58, Eric Foster 1hr49:38, Katie Holman 2hr01:37, Linda Diggines 2hr13:08 and Adrian Diment 2hr20:08.
Pictured - clockwise from top left: Adrian, Garrie, Nick, Katie and Eric, then Roy flying along the Tarka Trail and Linda gliding on the A386!
A 10km race was run in Exmouth along the promenade, so a quick one and Laraine Gibbins finished in a pacey 54:48. Her reward was this as well as pride of course!