LONG distance running was the theme of this weekend’s racing for members of Bere Alston Trekkers.

In East Devon, nine BATs took part in Axe Valley Harrier’s 30th anniversary of The Grizzly with all members opting for the 20 mile distance. This muddy, hilly, boggy, multi-terrain running experience takes in sections of shingle beach, rivers, cliff climbing and mud-wading and after recent rain, the course was very slippery. But the support of the race hosts and residents of Seaton, Beer and Branscombe combined to create a carnival atmosphere with music and entertainment on many sections of this tough race, and this along with the usual huge crowd of spectators for which this race has become famous, made for a memorable race. All BATs ran strongly and club veteran Derek Hicks bagged a course PB in a chip time of 4.14.00.

Meanwhile, lone BAT Murray Turner travelled to the Wilshire Downs to take part in the Larmer Tree marathon. This off-road race is one of four distances staged over the weekend by race organisers White Star Running in one of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes and sees competitors enjoying the tracks and trails around the 7,500 acre grounds of the Rushmore Estate which is contained within the Cranborne Chase, an ancient deer forest and once known as one of the grandest, most enchanting country parks in England.

The Larmer Tree Marathon is a demanding race which starts in the beautiful surroundings of the Larmer Tree Gardens on the border of Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset and is demanding in places but runners are rewarded with the fantastic scenery of the Wiltshire chalk downs and forests and green hills of Dorset.