Devon Races in May

1 Great West Run - Exeter 1030 (full)
5 Lynton/Lynmouth Festival - Lynmouth 1845
6 Torrington Round the Tree - Torrington 1900
8 Gables Gallop - Plympton 1030
14 Ivybridge 10K - Ivybridge 1830 (full)
22 Bideford 10K - Bideford 1100
29 Plymouth Half Marathon - Plymouth 1000 (full)
 

Farringdon 4.5

Poor Jenny... I've just received this note from her:

"Just to let you know I was first lady at the Farringdon 4.5 miler yesterday, however I ruptured my plantar fascia on the way round so spent the afternoon relaxing in casualty... It was worth it though as it was a really fun, friendly, local race with excellent organisation and I promised them there would be more Harriers there next year! Proceeds go to the lovely old Norman church in Farringdon so a worthwhile cause too".

Jenny Timms

Oh Jen... what a disaster. I've been there myself and know all about plantar problems. ALL OF US wish you a speedy recovery.

Roger

London Marathon 2005

While the West Country was being hit by rain and wind last Sunday, the twelve Exmouth Harriers who were among the record-breaking 35,680 runners who started the 25th London Marathon, had the benefit of bright sunshine and a calm morning. An overnight frost ensured that conditions were cool for the 9:45am start of the event, but the rising temperature during the morning took its toll on many runners in the closing parts of the race.

David Stone was Exmouth's star man, recording a time of 2 hours, 39 minutes and 40 seconds for 174th place in the men's race, although he slowed down in the second half of the race after going through the half-way point in 1:15:56. David briefly led the whole race running the first mile at 5-minute pace -- so we could say he lost 173 places in 25.2 miles! The second Exmouth runner to finish was Steve Hockings-Thompson in 2:51:20, who also lost time in the second half.

Hannah Dupain (3:26:41) and Caroline Prescott (3:29:21) were the next Harriers to finish, running much more evenly paced races. They went through half-way together in 1:43 with Stephanie French, who eventually recorded a time of 3:43:39 after slowing down quite dramatically in the last 13 miles. Lesley Godfrey and Gillian Saunderson completed the Harriers women's contingent at this race - Lesley finished in 4:19:28 and Gill's time was 4:31:09. Among the men, David Woodley (4:05:03) was the first Exmouth Veteran to finish. He was running in the Male Vet 50 category with Trevor Cope, whose finishing time was 4:27:42. Chris Dupain finished in 4:14:56 and Guy Somerfield (Male Vet 40) recorded a time of 4:28:41.

Exmouth's 12th man was Roger Rowe, who picked up an injury last Tuesday evening running down to Orcombe. From the off he was never to get within 20-seconds-a-mile of his target pace. He gave up the ghost at 20 miles having limped to that point in 2:16:11.

(Andrew Johnson & Roger Rowe)
 

Exe to Axe (and Taunton 13.1)

(Camilla smiling at the camera)

The third running of the Exe to Axe race, which covers 20 miles of coast path from Exmouth to Seaton, took place last Sunday. The grey, cold and relatively calm day was welcome weather to the 74 runners who took part in this tough event, which includes over 4000 feet of climbing, with seven ascents and accompanying descents to sea level along the route. Competitors came from afar a field as Wales, the Lake District and Derbyshire to take part in what is officially classified as a fell race, but it was a local runner - Sidmouth's Malcolm Bayer - who took the honours, winning by a margin of nearly 4 minutes in 2 hours 44 minutes and 12 seconds.

Exmouth's Camilla Sharpe won the women's race in 3:23:54, 9 minutes ahead of the second placed female. Exmouth also took the honours in the relay event, with Phil Bater, Paul Champion, Richard Selby and Steve Merry recording a time of 2:52:24. Andrew Johnson was the first male Exmouth Harrier to finish, in 3:16:18, for 13th place, followed soon after by Jim Pyne (15th in 3:17:59), Tim Gent (25th in 3:23:54) and Lorraine Croome (41st, 3:46:39).

Adrian Kearns and Shaun Lock took part in the Taunton half marathon, recording times of 1:25:14 and 1:31:05 respectively.

(Andrew Johnson)