THE sudden change in weather on Saturday to a taste of what summer should be like was not appreciated by Okehampton runner Jane Jackson who was making her first attempt at a 50-mile ultra marathon.

Having already completed several ultras of distances up to 39 miles, her choice for a 50 miler was Race To The King, a linear race starting near Arundel in West Sussex and following the South Downs Way west to finish on the steps of Winchester Cathedral.

Despite the undulating nature of the rolling South Downs it still packed in some long, steep ascents to sap the energy and strength from increasingly tired legs. Even more energy sapping was the hot sunny day, making runners want to linger in the shade where the path took them through woodland and needing to take on board plenty of fluids and salty food at the generously stocked feed stations.

Jane had been unsure as to whether to take up her place in this race having injured her knee some weeks before which was still giving her trouble and only deciding to have a go a week before the race. With her main aim being just to complete, Jane intended to take it fairly easy round the route (which turned out to actually be 55.4 miles) but still pushed herself to attack the hills and get as good a time as she could. This resulted in her finishing in a good time of 13 hours 35 minutes 22 seconds and winning the female veterans 60 age category.

Two ORC runners ventured out on Wednesday evening to take part in the Summer Solstice Fell Race on Dartmoor. Mervyn Rice and Christine Fritsch took part in an undulating five mile course starting from Merrivale. Mervyn finished first MV60 in a great time of 53.12 and Christine finished in 1.00.18, coming second in the FV45 age category.

On Saturday the sun was shining for the Tsunami Ocean Trail race series, with ORCS running in the seven mile, 16 mile, marathon and the ultra distances.  The race routes follow the north Devon and Cornwall coast path, with each race starting at separate points along the coast but all races finishing in Bude. 

Rob Richards was first to start racing in the ultra, setting off from Westward Ho! Next up was Gill Spinney in the marathon, starting from Clovelly.

Christine Fritsch, Jo Page and Jeremy Tandy began the 16 miler at Hartland Quay while Phil Spinney set off on the seven miler from Morwenstow finishing in 2.04.49. The 16 mile race saw Jeremy Tandy across the line in first place with a time of 2.56.32 seconds. Jo Page kept up the ORC winning streak, crossing in eighth overall and first female in a time of 3.18.45. Veteran Tsunami runner Christine Fritsch finished in 4.21.02. Gill Spinney, in her first-ever marathon, did superbly well to finish such a tough course in 7.49.31 while Rob Richards crossed the line in 11.43. 

On Sunday, it was the 21st annual Vancouver Half Marathon, known as Canada’s most scenic half-marathon. More than 6,500 participants ran past beaches and mountains, finishing in Vancouver’s beautiful Stanley Park. The race takes runners on a scenic point-to-point course with a net drop of almost 300ft and a competitive elite field. ORC lady Claudine Benstead ran an excellent time of 1.31.21 to finish first lady in her age category.

 On Sunday six ORCs took part in the Torbay Half Marathon, a two-lap course following the seafront from Paignton to Torquay. 

First home for Okehampton and finishing in 34th place overall was Hayden Bond setting an incredible new PB of 1.22.14. Next to finish was Mike Westland with a time of 1.51.02, followed by Gaz Williams finishing in 1.58.22. Both Catherine Walker and Cameron Whitelaw finished with two PBs, Catherine running in 2.09.58 and Cameron finishing a second later in 2.09.59. Liam Keen rounded off a good day for all finishing in a time of 2.11.30.