TAVISTOCK Athletic Club marathon runners have been travelling far and wide to compete.
Trevor Williams ran closest to home when he competed in the race at Abingdon in Oxfordshire.
Competing against more than 700 competitors completing the figure-of-eight course. Trevor enjoyed the flat racing conditions and he ran strongly to finish in 3 hours 52 minutes, 10 seconds.
The same weekend, Paul Marshall and wife Samantha competed in the Amsterdam Marathon. This was a larger event by far, with an international elite presence and nearly 9,000 entrants. Ethiopia's Getu Feleke won the event, in a new course record of 2.05.44. The course, which Sam described as 'pancake flat' started and finished in the newly renovated Olympic Stadium, built in 1928 and took runners through the heart of the city, passing the Rijksmuseum and through nature reserves on the banks of the Amstel River.
Both Paul and Sam had trained long and hard with the Club, mainly on the track at Tavistock College. Their effort was rewarded when Sam gained a personal best, finishing in 4.12.49 and Paul cruised home in 3.47.00.
Dublin hosted a yet-larger event, and Jane Carroll travelled to compete, along with more than 10,000 others. Jane ran through the scenic Phoenix Park, past University College and finally crossing the Liffey to finish in in 4.51.31 - shaving 1 hour 15 mins of her previous time for the distance.
This month's TAC Athlete of the Month is the entire New Forest Half Marathon squad. Coach Dotty Allan was impressed by the commitment and training all the runners put in and so gave them all the award.
n The club's 25th anniversary party is being held on November 19, at The Terrace, (above the Ordulf Arms), Pym Street, Tavistock, at 7pm. Tickets cost £17. Call 01822 612577 or e mail [email protected]">[email protected]