Sunday saw Sidmouth Running Club’s very own race, the Exe to Axe, take place, with over 200 runners taking part including 21 Mighty Greens.
There was a lot of last minute suntan lotion being applied before race director Adrian Harris started the event on Exmouth seafront under a clear blue sky and a blazing sun.
There are four options, a relay, Sid to Axe, Exe to Sid and the whole 22 miles of undulating coast path, Exe to Axe. The club had entrants in the latter two with 9 running the Exe to Sid and 12 running the Exe to Axe. Mighty Green Clive Gilbert was the first to finish the 12 mile E2S in 1:54:20 and first in his age category V50M. Christine and Karen were the first MG females to finish this section in 2:24:16, also finishing 1st and 2nd in their age category V60F, with fellow MG Julia Haddrell claiming 3rd in 3:26:23. It was also a SRC 1,2,3 in the V50F age category for Sarah Clapham 2:30:14, Alexa Baker and Kerry Salter 2:42:59.
SRC’s Martin Barnard was the first male to cross the finish line at Seaton in 4:05:51 and Louise Dalton the first female SRC in 4:21:21. Not content to stop there Louise ran on to Lyme Regis to get 50k in as part of her training for a charity 100 miler in June!
Three more Mighty Greens also pushed themselves; disappointed when the marathon option got cancelled Cathy Miller, Helen Palmer and Jane Hemsworth decided to run four miles prior to the start of the race and went on to complete the Exe to Axe in 6:18:21.
All the runners thanked and appreciated the marshals, many of them mighty greens themselves, the aid stations were well stocked with delicious falafels, flapjacks, crisps and coke and new for this year the Big Noise Street band played the runners on towards Seaton from the balcony of the Watersports hub, sounding amazing in the sunshine. All this would not have been possible without the small but dedicated team behind the event, Adrian, Tim Clay and Rob Edwards-congratulations and thank you.
Further afield head coach Kyle Baker took part in his first marathon at Brighton alongside 12,000 runners including his partner Nikita Kay and her dad Allan. They had all put in the training but had not accounted for how the 20o heat would affect them. Despite this Kyle finished in a very respectable 4:28:22 and all enjoyed the atmosphere.
The juniors finished the term with an Easter egg hunt in Connaught gardens and many have plans to take part in park runs and events over the holidays. Emily Smith represented the club at the recent Minster 5K challenge organised by Ruby red running. Emily finished in the U14 category in 33.15.
Exe to Sid results: Clive Gilbert 1:54:20, Christine Farnham 2:24:16, Karen Farnham 2:24:17, Sarah Clapham 2:30:14, Kerry Salter 2:42:59, Kathy Jordan 2:42:59, Alexa Baker 2:42:59, Julia Haddrell 3:26:23, Ann Cole 3:27:10
Exe to Axe: Martin Barnard 4:05:51, Roger Worthington 4:13:33, Josh Solman 4:18:54, Colin Ryan 4:20:07, Louise Dalton 4:21:21’ Martin Truman 4:43:07, Mark Andow 4:55:31, Alice Gill 4:57:05, Chris Heyworth 5:21:26, Cath Miller 6:18:20, Jane Hemsworth 6:18:20, Helen Palmer 6:19:52