Another busy weekend of races saw Okehampton Running Club members competing in various venues on Sunday.

Seven runners took on the brutal terrain and weather at the fourth Hartland Heartbreaker where a cold wind made the rain all the more unpleasant and the ground became very slippery. The options of the 9 or 18 mile routes divided the ORCs with four choosing the shorter route and three the full distance. This amazing race starts in the beautiful grounds of Hartland Abbey and takes the runners inland first and through woods that are smothered in bluebells before heading out north on the coast path to run around Hartland lighthouse and back on fields and tracks to the Abbey. Here the shorter route finishes while the 18 milers cross a river (with the option of drinking a cocktail just before) and head back to the coast path to head south along cliff tops with paths only inches away from vertical drops to the rocks below.

Other notable points were an ascent called the Wall, a beer stop at mile 17 and a section so steep a rope was supplied to pull yourself up. The runners returned through the woods with another opportunity to have a cocktail before the finish. Alison Holliday, Heidi Wills, Carole Cornwall and Katy Speak all completed the shorter course successfully, while Karen Skye, Lucy Skye and Jane Jackson took a little longer over the 18 mile course. Times to be confirmed.

Much better weather greeted the six ORCs who took part in the Crediton Crunch, another tough off road race, over 10k.

The course has been changed this year and at one point the runners came over the brow of a hill to find a motocross course set out below them and here they had to weave around the packed mud track and up and down all the undulations within it. Deborah Cunningham found this a bit testing with the Brighton Marathon still in her legs. Charlotte Radnor was the first ORC home in 59.39 followed by Ben Stevens in 1.01.54, Hannah Ramsay 1.02.22, Deborah Cunningham 1.13.38, Debs Crome 1.13.43 and Ruth Bushell 1.15.47.

Further away in Dorset, three Okehampton runners took part in the North Dorset Village Marathon. Starting in Sturminster Newton, this charming small marathon has an undulating though not hilly course, taking the runners through the lovely Dorset countryside and going through many pretty villages on the way. Despite its small size it is a very well organised and well supported race with people out through all the villages to cheer the runners on. Robert Kelly had a good run to finish in 3.23.53 and Chris Turner ran a PB in 3.29.00. Unfortunately Andrew Vallance had a good race until he pulled a calf muscle half way and had to retire.

Club helpers and runners were also out in force at the monthly Run in the Park on Sunday, with several who had run the London Marathon taking the opportunity to loosen up their legs with a 5k run.