LAST weekend saw a bumper number of Bere Alston Trekkers (BATs) taking part in the Plymouth Half Marathon ? there were eight senior Bats in all, making it their biggest half-marathon effort. After ten days of rain and last week?s wet weather in Bideford, Plymouth offered the perfect conditions and a chance for runners to show what they could do on a longer route. The Plymouth Half Marathon attracts more than 3,000 runners every year and is rated in the top 15 road races in the UK. The route begins at Plymouth Hoe, winds its way through Plymouth, past the Barbican and through the attractive Saltram Country Park where there is a climb up, which can be hard going. From there it is on to Plympton and mile seven which has another long, tough hill. Once at the top of this it is mainly downhill back into Plymouth, over the cobbles at the Barbican, a last drag up the Hoe and back to the finish. Laurence Sargeant, running his first half marathon for the Bats, was the first of the team home and even though he was carrying an injury, achieved a great time, as did Helen Eggleton and Rebecca Harwood who were also running their first half marathons for the club. Well done to the Fruit Bats who ran the fun run: George Allan, Anna Kelly and Nicola Kelly. This week the Bats will be running the Race for Life, Sourton Scramble and Exmouth 10k.
