While the international athletics focus over the weekend was on Copenhagen and the World Road Running Championships, the majority of Ryston Runners competing had opted for off-road races.
An exception was Thomas Semmons, who was also treading the Tarmac in the Danish capital and completed the half marathon in 1hr 38mins 45secs, a mere 40 minutes slower than the championship winner, Andreas Almgren from Sweden, who broke his own European record in the process.
A dozen members of the club made their mark on the paths and trails of Norfolk, competing over 10K, half marathon and full marathon distances.
In the North Norfolk Beach Runners’ Norfolk Coastal Trail event, Graeme Leeson was 11th overall in the marathon and topped the M55 category, 3:55:14, while Chris Chaplin, was just three minutes behind, 3:58:34, 14th overall and third M40.
Graeme Reynolds came 44th/eighth M45, 4:33:50, and Adam Dye ran 5:01:42 to finish 79th/12th M55.
The marathon began in Holme next the Sea but the half marathon start was at Burnham Overy Staithe, with the finish for both in Morston. It meant several of those involved were on familiar territory, having covered that route the previous weekend in the Round Norfolk Relay.
The half marathon saw four category win for Ryston Runners, Nic Bensley was fourth overall and won the M55 category in 1:32:27. Lesley Robins took her customary place atop the F50 category, 17th in 1:43:29.
Lynne Howlett won the F70 age group, finishing 96th overall in 2:10:03, and, despite Nordic walking much of the course, Jane Ashby topped the F75s in 236th place in 2:39:50.
Finishing just ahead of Ashby, Helen Driver ran 2:33:09 for 229th place, 12th F55.
The following day, the irrepressible Lynne Howlett, who had competed in the Dock2Dock 1500 metre swim in London the previous weekend, was first F70 in the Marriott’s Way 10K, running from Aylsham to Reepham in 55:45 to bag 181st place overall, just behind clubmate Pauline Drewery, whose 55:36 earned her second F55 and 174th place overall.
Topping them all, in terms of endurance, Phil Thompson ran for almost 25 hours in the Equinox 24 multi-lap event in the grounds of Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, where he was 10th man overall, and first 50-plus runner by dint of covering 16 laps in the allotted time (virtually 100 miles).
Thomson was supported at the event by his partner Becky Taylor, and friends fellow ultra runner Dickie Ebbs and his wife Natalie.
