THE 30th Taunton marathon and half marathon took place last weekend with six members from Bere Alston Trekkers taking part.

The half marathon course is one lap, the full marathon course is two. Both races start and finish at the Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton.

From the college the route is through the main streets of Taunton out into the Somerset countryside through Norton Fitzwarren, turning south through Oake and Bradford-on-Tone, then back to the college on the A38.

The course is undulating with hills at 11 and 22 miles, once the hills were conquered it was a fast downhill and flat romp to the finish for both distances.