IF you had a choice to do a marathon, hockey match, 10mile races or a seven a-side football match on the weekend - you would probably normally pick one, but not Tavistock marathon man Adam Holland.
He did all four over the weekend, starting off with the marathon. Adam, with the help of Ann Marie Holland, who gave him a lift to the Endurance Life South Devon Trail Marathon.
Adam said: 'It was a fantastic day out for all concerned — stunning scenery, a challenging course and lots of mud greeted the runners.'
The marathon had about 200 starters. In an effort to ease congestion on the narrow paths the organisers trialled a system of staggered starts. The first 11 or so miles were along narrow rocky coastal paths past the Start Point Lighthouse round to Salcombe with large sections being tricky single file. At Salcombe the route left the coast and headed inland for the steep and muddy hills of South Devon. The course included some roads but wherever possible there were steep and muddy options available; the route winding north along bridle trails, crossing fields, ditches, stiles and fences. The course continued north inland and past the start before turning east to the coast at Slapton Sands for a final punishing 2.5 miles back over one last hill and to the start/finish.
In a fitting tribute to the difficulty of the course, the marathon measured about 28.1 miles A beautifully run event with stunning scenery and great camaraderie made for a memorable run. Adam finish time was 04.11.36sec. The fastest he has done this event in.
After a long drive back to Tavistock after an hours rest he was ready to play for Tavistock Hockey Club's second team in their 0-0 draw with Truro fourths. The next day, Adam when to Plymouth to take part in the Plymouth Hoe 10. Less than 24 hours before the event. Adam was asked if he would run for Devon. After three miles front runner went the wrong way — as did Adam — adding about a mile extra. Despite this he still finished 62nd in a time of 1.06.30.
Later in the afternoon Adam was asked if he would fill in a place in a seven a-side football game. Not a bad sporting effort for one weekend!