AMONG the record 37,675 runners who took part in this year's London Marathon was an all female team of seven from Okehampton Running Club. 

As they gathered at the start on a chilly Blackheath the rain and drizzle gave way to dry, cool conditions, ideal for running and to take in the amazing atmosphere with massive crowds cheering the runners on their way along the entire 26.2 miles. 

The ORC ladies put in magnificent efforts with all four of those who had run the race in previous years getting course personal best times. 

First home for ORC was Marilyn Cooper who kept up a steady pace to cross the finish line in 3 hours 59 minutes 37 seconds. Abby Williams, on her marathon debut, put in an excellent run to complete in 4.06.05, with Karen Vallance just behind in 4.08.42. 

Next was Abby Metherell who was delighted to take 35 minutes off her last London run to post 4.17.19. Tracey Mills, despite having missed a lot of training with injury and being in pain at 15 miles, still managed to finish in 4.25.31 and marathon first timers Lorraine Guscott and Debbie Bryant completed in 5.45.14 and 5.56.17 respectively.

The day was not just about running as between them the girls — together with Cathy Carey, Keri Quertier and Jo Camies who ran the Brighton Marathon — had put in another huge effort to raise in the region of £7,000 for the charities Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF), Cancer with Children UK, Macmillan, Force and Scope.

n FIVE runners from Tavistock Athletic Club were fortunate enough to have places for London Marathon. This year there appeared to be even more supporters that previously, perhaps due to spectators getting their last chance to see Paula Radcliffe.

Andy Houghton from TAC said: 'All five Tavistock Athletic runners had different starts and didn't make contact during the race but at the finish area it was amazing how local runners kept popping up out of all the thousands present.'

 Sarah Wright in her first ever marathon running for the MIND charity ran the course in 5 hours 30 minutes. Graham and Caron De Val, both in their  50-54 age categories and running for the NSPCC, completed in 3.56 and 4.39 respectively. This was also the first ever marathon for both of them. Gary Chater (45 to 49), normally not a runner over this distance, finished in 3.59. Gary's wife, Anne-Maria, also a marathon runner, had a place last year but deferred until this year to run with her husband, only to pick up an injury that prevented her running.

Andy Houghton (65 to 69) finished in 3.46. This was his fifth and fastest marathon — and avoided 'hitting the wall' for the first time!