Tavistock Athletic Club's Ray Bennett has completed two marathons within a week.

Ray is a member of the '100 Marathon Club' and has notched up over 140 marathons to date.

The first of his two races was the Dartmoor Vale Marathon at Kingsteignton organised by the Rotary Club to raise money for local charities.

Ray finished in 4 hours, 34 minutes, 54 seconds, winning his MV70+ age category and earning a gold award for his age/time.

Most runners would be happy to put their feet up for a few weeks recovery after such an excellent achievement, but six days later Ray was at Eastbourne on the start line of the Beachy Head Marathon.

This race is renowned as one of the biggest off-road marathons in the UK, taking the 1,299 competitors over challenging terrain in the open and hilly countryside of the South Downs National Park. Ray completed the race comfortably in the top half of the field in 5.14.22.

His results are truly inspirational and show that age is no barrier for someone who maintains his fitness, continues to push himself and loves the free spirit of running.

Over the same weekend, club member David Rickwood took part part in a two-day mountain marathon in the Cumbrian Howgills Fells. This event, attracting entries from around the world, requires that teams of two people carry all their clothing, equipment, tents, sleeping bags and food and be wholly self-supporting, navigating with map and compass around the testing course. David and his running partner did very well indeed, finishing in 18th place from a field of 59 teams in 12hours, 45minutes, 18seconds.

Finally, Jim Cole and 120 others embarked on the muddy and slippery 7.8 miles of South Molton Struggle. The eventual winner smashed the course record, but Jim finished very strongly in 2nd place overall to record a hugely spirited time of 46.05.