12 Nov Long-distance larks and zombies in the forest
Nothing less than long distance would do for the runners of South Devon Athletic Club in recent races.
The arrival of autumn and the end of British Summer Time sent them scurrying for their off-road shoes and head torches as they tackled the trails and tried to stay one step ahead of the zombies.
Matthew Dalton set the bar high with another of his extreme distance runs, this time the 50-mile Potter Round The Otter organised by the Cornwall and Devon Long Distance Walkers Association.
The route starts and finishes at Budleigh Salterton, and combines arduous sections of the South Devon coast path with riverside paths and heathland. including ancient tracks and heritage sites.
Matt made light work of the hills and heathland, finishing the 50 miles in an impressive 12h 15m.
The Tavy Seven – organised by Tavistock AC – featured another ‘undulating’ course on the western fringes of Dartmoor. Just two SDAC runners made the trip west, with Vince Langdon finishing in 1h 02m 37s and Roger Webb crossing the line in 1h 14m 25s.
Kate Foley was the lone SDAC runner in the challenging Pentire National Trust 10k trail run over a course marked out over hilly coast paths and tracks. She finished in 1h 05m 27s.
There were zombies in Haldon Forest for the annual Purple Gecko Halloween 10k, with runners attempting to stay ahead of the undead on the trails through the trees.
The race was a wild card in the club’s Grand Prix series, and James Spalding and Neil Jordain managed to keep their nerve to stay out of reach of the ghouls. James finished in 1h 05m 13s with Neil clocking 1h 07m 19s.
The latest group of races was bookended by another long-distance foray into foreign lands, with three SDAC racers tackling the scenic Cornish Marathon from Pensilva, over a hilly route which takes in Golitha Falls, Colliford Lake, Dozemary Pool, Jamaica Inn, Bolventer Valley and King Doniets Stones.
Rob Foster was the first of the trio to get back to base in 4h 07m 22s, followed by Shaun Kirk in 4h 12m 56s and Cherry Powell in 5h 04m 45s.
The Grand Prix battle is currently deadlocked. With two races to go, Shaun Kirk and Colin Peters are level on 296 points in the men’s section with Rob Foster just one point back and James Spalding close behind.
The ladies’ rankings are led by Kate Foley, with Alison Ford and Heather Coverdale in hot pursuit.