EXE TO AXE SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2008

The skies cleared, the rain stopped, the wind dropped. What more could the runners in the Exe to Axe ask for apart, perhaps, for a few less hills and some bigger sign posts. Conditions were in fact right from the start with the going soft underfoot but not slippery and cloudless skies all the way.

The run is not easy, taking in 20.3 miles of the Coastal Path from Exmouth to Seaton and over that distance it is easy to take a wrong turn somewhere along the line. That is all part of this particular race and a few runners did clock up some unnecessary miles. The local runners of course have no such navigational problems and it is this knowledge that leads many of them to opt out of the much tougher second half, from Sidmouth onwards.

The early leader James Walker, was the first to go off course, heading inland at Budleigh Salterton after the loop to the bridge crossing of the River Otter. This left Nathan Montague, Terry Conway and Alex Pilkington to take control of the race and indeed they finished in that order despite all 3 also taking a slight detour.

Amongst the Ladies Linda Cummins led all the way, that is until the last few yards! Janet Wilson had lost contact with her at the start but picked it up on the last leg from Branscombe. With Linda in her sights she pipped her at the post by mere seconds after 3 hours and 24 minutes.

94 individuals and 8 Relay Teams completed the race.