FOG and rain did nothing to deter over 100 national and international athletes who set out on the gruelling Dartmoor Ultra Marathon last Saturday.
Runners from all over the country and from as far afield as Canada and Colorado left Princetown to tackle the hills of Dartmoor, taking in Two Bridges, Dartmeet, Ashburton and Widecombe before the home stretch to Princetown once more.
The 34-mile, 219-yard race is the brainchild of ex-athlete Phil Hampton of Plymouth — it is the third Dartmoor Ultra he has arranged.
The men's winner was Shaun Milford from Newquay Road Running Club in a time of 3:51:55, smashing the previous by almost five minutes.
In second place was Ian Anderson from Yorkshire, a member of the British Road Running Club. His time of 3:54:31 was also inside the former record.
Neil Holmes, an Erme Valley Harrier took third place with a time of 4:06:10.
Multi world record holder Hilary Walker from London's Serpentine Running Club was the first woman home in a time of 4:53:59. She was placed 28th overall.
Christine James from South London Harriers was second in 5:18:29 and Jan Farmer, also from Serpentine, was third in 5:28:31.
The winning team was Tipton Harriers and Martin Critchlow from the Tamar Trotters won the HM Forces trophy.
The oldest runner, a 72-year-old man from Bristol came in a very creditable 73rd place.
Of the 103 starters, 96 runners finished the course.