ON Sunday, Bere Alston Trekker husband and wife Dave and Pam Adams travelled north to take part in the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, a race which has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the White Rose county’s sporting year.

This popular and picturesque run, with fantastic personal best potential, takes participants past some of York’s splendid historic sites and along scenic country lanes, making it an attractive prospect for runners of all abilities.

Described by a national newspaper as the ’number one alternative to London’, and another rated it as a perfect run to ’nail your PBs’, the marathon is staged by the sister organisation behind the popular Leeds, Hull, York, Nottingham and Burnley 10Ks and the Leeds half marathon and Yorkshire half marathon-Sheffield.

The marathon starts and finishes at the University of York’s Heslington campus. Its route travels through the historic city centre – passing through the medieval walls – and takes runners north eastwards out of the city.

Participants travel through, or close by, Stockton on the Forest, Grange Wood, Upper Helmsley, Stamford Bridge, Gate Helmsley, Turkers Wood, Murton, Osbaldwick and back towards Heslington. Dave and Pam crossed the finishing line in 3 hours 44 minutes 58 seconds and 4.47.05 respectively.

Meanwhile, closer to home, Mairi Milne ran the Plymouth Ocean City 10K along with a team of fellow fund raisers in aid of the Shark Trust, raising around £400 pounds towards a cause close to her heart.

Mairi was one of 3,000 runners taking part in this fast course which sees runners heading out from the city centre past the Barbican and out to Prince Rock via Exeter Street before a sprint over the Embankment, then turning and returning home on the same route.

Mairi finished her race in 1.08.00.