MARILYN Cooper of Okehampton Running Club was among the 32,000 runners in the 118th Boston Marathon in the United States of America — the oldest annual marathon in the world and the only event of its kind that you have to qualify for. She travelled to the historic city accompanied by her family and found it to be the most amazing experience being part of such a great event. She finished in 4hrs 00 minutes 57 seconds – earning a personal best and uka diamond award time. After the tragic events of last year, this was always going to be a very special race. The people of Boston were determined that nothing was going to prevent them from getting their marathon back. The atmosphere was building days before the race, with the blue and yellow colours of the Boston Athletics Association in every corner of the city and ribbons decorating the shops, pubs and cafes. The 'Church of the Finish Line' had had 36,000 scarves woven in blue and yellow to give to every runner, banners welcomed them, wishing them luck and large blue flags proclaimed 'Boston Strong'. There were poignant reminders and memorials along Boylston Street for the four people who lost their lives and the 264 who were injured in the bombings of 2013. The day of the race dawned warm and sunny with temperatures rising to 70 degrees. The eight towns along the route were lined by cheering spectators high fiving the runners, with the girls of Wellesley College forming the traditional 'screaming tunnel' at 12 miles. After Newton Fire Station came the famous Heartbreak Hill and by the finish at Copley Square the crowds were ten deep and deafening with their shouts of encouragement and applause. The runners had 'Run as One' and Boston had its marathon back. There were six 'fine fillies' from Okehampton Running Club entered in the Haldon Trail Runners Heartbeat Race starting from Exeter racecourse with a course distance of 8.21 miles and an elevation of 650 feet through forestry and woodland tracks. Katie Littlejohns was the odds-on favourite for ORC. Keeping up a steady gallop throughout she led her stable-mates home to finish in a great time of 1.09.24. Hot on her heels and running closely bunched together were: Abby Williams 1.25.17, Heather Richards 1.25.18, Ali Holliday 1.28.05, Carole Cornwall 1.28.16, and Tracey Mills 1.29.07. Just two weeks after completing the London Marathon, the evergreen Roger Voaden came 33rd from over 5,000 competitors in the Plymouth Half Marathon in a great time of 1.23.15 (gold uka award). The people of Plymouth turn out in force to support the runners all along the traffic free course which starts on the Hoe, passing along the harbour and over Laira Bridge, climbing up to Saltram House before returning to finish on the Hoe. Also from ORC were Emma Sizmur 1.40.41 (bronze), who ran a personal best, Charlotte Radnor 1.49.32 (bronze), and Kerry Morashti who ran really well for a personal best and also gained her first gold award in 2.00.58.