LONDON was the focus of the weekend’s racing for the Bere Alston Trekkers who had trained long and hard over the cold, dark days of winter in preparation for the capital’s annual marathon.

The annual London Virgin Marathon was first staged in March 1981 and has been held each spring ever since, and attracts a field of more than 40,000 competitors.

The event has grown in importance as a fundraising event, helping hundreds of good causes, year after year, and is an iconic race taking in many of the city’s most famous and recognisable landmarks.

Taking part this year were BATs Lisa Birch and Sally Dunn, both of whom were fund-raising for the charity Brain Tumour Research, Brains Trust, a young brain tumour charity that supports people living with a brain tumour in the UK, and The Mustard Tree Cancer Support Centre at Derriford Hospital, all of which are causes close to Sally’s heart.

Other BATs taking on the capital’s challenge were Northern BAT Andy Cowden (4 hours 20 minutes 16 seconds), Murray Turner (3.44.55 personal best) and Marcia Macey (4.29.46). Sally and Lisa crossed the finish line together in 4.24.26.

On the same day, and this time in Plymouth, three members of the BATs joined the 3,300 other starters at the Plymouth Ocean City Half Marathon.

Under new organisation and with new sponsors this year, the race route followed previous years, and saw competitors heading out through the city’s historic Barbican, and continuing out to the grounds of Saltram House via a long gradual ascent up Billacombe Road, before competing an ‘out and back’ along Embankment road and returning to The Grand Parade on Plymouth Hoe and the cheers of the many spectators.

Running her first half marathon since joining the BATs, and first home for the club, was Lorna Lapthorne (1.54.29) followed by Fran Morgan and Alison Greaves (2.13.45 and 2.13.56 respectively).

Over the course of the weekend, intrepid BATs Julian Setterington and Jennie Smith, accompanied by Laura Hogan took part in the Wellington Boot. This circular 100k challenge is organised by the Devon and Cornwall Long Distance Walking Association and is a continuous self-navigation route, which includes 7,200ft of ascent on foot within 26 hours starting and finishing at Wellington in Somerset The route includes a view of the sea and with even a view of Wales, and reaches heights of over 1000ft. It follows the Tone valley, ascends the Quantocks, drops down to Holford, re-crosses the Quantocks, goes through the Brendon Hills and part of the Exmoor National Park to reach Clatworthy Reservoir, travels south through West Somerset and part of Devon, follows the Culm Valley, ascends the Blackdown Hills to reach the Wellington Monument and then returns to Wellington.

Injury forced Julian’s retirement at 66k and his companions Jennie and Laura continued to complete this arduous challenge in a time of 26 hours, 18 minutes.

The next outing for the BATs will be next weekend’s Hartland Hartbreaker.