The London Marathon is a highlight in the sporting calendar, attracting over 40,000 runners every year to the nation’s capital. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 has put pay to this year’s event with only elite athletes allowed to compete on the streets of London on the new date of 4 October. Non-elite runners can, however, take part in the Virtual London Marathon and must complete 26.2 miles on the Virtual London Marathon app on the same day. Two members of Frome Running Club will be hitting the streets of Frome to earn their medals and raise funds for charities close to their hearts. Paul Waterer and Neil Grist had already signed up to do the original event in April back in 2019. After it was cancelled, they decided to restart their 16-week training plan for the potential new date of 4 October – meaning they had to complete some of their gruelling training runs in the full heat of summer. Paul secured his place through MIND and has already raised over £2000 for the mental health charity. Neil...

Frome runners at the Longleat 10K February got off to a flying start for Frome Running Club with the Pilgrim’s Challenge, a two-day, 66-mile ultra marathon over the North Downs Way. Andrew Smallbone took part in the first day of the race on February 1, completing the 33-mile route in 06:05:53. The weekend continued in style with local favourite the Longleat 10K. Anthony Sprules (MV60) was the first Fromie to finish in a time of 00:44:27, bagging first in category. He was followed by Jo Fordham (FV45) in 00:47:25 (1st in category), Ben Spicer (MSEN) in 00:48:37, Stuart Stenhouse (MSEN) in 00:49:48, Barrie Knight (MV60) in 00:54:13, Lucy Williams (FV40) in 00:55:32, Neil Grist (MV55) in 00:56:58, Chapper Boulton (MV60) in 00:57:36 and Nigel Williams (MV60) in 01:10:48. On the same day, Frome stalwart Peter Clardy, took part in a very muddy Bowerhill Bomber. Peter completed the 10K route in 00:50:28, coming in in 16th position overall. The following Saturday saw a new addition to the ...

Frome runners at the Slaughterford 9 The seemingly never-ending rain failed to dampen Frome’s runners’ enthusiasm for the outdoors as the town’s club runners continued to rack up the miles in a range of local events in January, including Beyond the Far Side on 18 January 2020. This event gives participants the choice of running a 10K route or completing as many circuits of a 5.3-mile route on the edge of Salisbury Plain as they can manage in six, 12 or 24 hours. Mark Lee completed a total of 42.4 miles in 11:07:12. Alex Chesterton notched up 51.8 miles in 08:59:04. Harry Ebdon managed 26.5 miles in 07:18:38 while Andrew Smallbone also completed 26.5 miles in 05:53:38. A small but determined contingent of Frome Club runners was also present at the Slaughterford 9 on 27 January. This multi-terrain race covers nine miles of steeply undulating countryside in the Slaughterford valley, and has an infamous sting in its tail. Ian Holmes (MV50) completed the challenging route in 01:17:19, ...

Frome runners at Plain Crazy December got off to a cracking start with the ever popular Bromham Pudding Run on Sunday, 1 December. This flat, fast 10k race around the village of Bromham in Wiltshire rewards all participants with a Christmas pudding for their efforts as well as the chance for a PB time. And Frome’s runners didn’t disappoint. Jo Fordham (FV45) racked up a new PB time for a 10K race, completing the course in 00:44:36. She was followed by Lynn Brand (FV55) in 00:49:33 and Chris Steele (MV50) in 00:52:21. During the run-up to Christmas, Harry Ebdon found time to take on a major challenge in the form of the Portsmouth Coastal Ultra Marathon. This 50k multi-terrain route offers fantastic views across Langstone Harbour and gives participants plenty of opportunity to work up an appetite for their Christmas dinner. Harry completed the challenging route in 05:52:35. Frome’s club runners were back in action on the weekend after Christmas too at Plain Crazy in Warminster on 29 ...

Frome runners celebrate after the Roundway Revenge November is usually a time when nature starts to wind down for its long winter hibernation. In terms of facial hair, however, the 11th month of the year is traditionally quite a vibrant time as men across the country commit to growing a moustache to raise funds for men’s health. MoRunning events have been part of the month-long Movember campaign for ten years now and a contingent of Frome runners signed up to the Bristol 10K MoRunning event on Saturday, 10 November. Laura Ryder (FV40) was the first moustachioed Frome Club runner to cross the line in a time of 01:04:33. She was closely followed by Sally Brooker (FV50) in 01:04:34 and Bruce Lockyer (MV50) in 01:10:39. The following Saturday saw more local runners leading a charge up Roundway Hill near Devizes as part of the Roundway Revenge 8-mile trail run. Peter Clardy (MV60) was the first Frome Club runner to cross the line in a time of 01:10:57, which earned him 1st position in c...

Sunday 3 November saw the return of a local favourite: AVR’s Over the Hills race. This 12-kilometer trail run through the beautiful Avon Valley countryside starts and finishes in the historic Tithe Barn, in Bradford on Avon. Peter Larman (MV50) put in a sterling performance for Frome, crossing the line in 01:02:44. He was closely followed by Ian Holmes (MV50) in 01:04:11 and Alistair Smith (MV60) in 01:24:10. Over in Gillingham, local runners had the opportunity to take part in another local favourite over the border in Dorset. This 7.5-mile road race features a number of hills to keep things interesting of participants. Three runners were flying the flag for Frome at the race. First to cross the line for the club was Ben Spicer, who posted a time of 01:00:23. Hot on his heels was Ellie Burford, who finished in 01:01:35. She was closely followed by Christopher Steele in 01:07:05. Club runner Harry Ebdon (MV50) continued his Scottish odyssey, this time competing in the Strathclyde Mar...

Frome runners at the Shepton 10K The White Horse Gallop is a challenging 8-mile trail run along bridle paths up to the top of Westbury Hill. The route takes runners out along the Imber Range path and up to the White Horse. Hardy Frome runner Pete Clardy (MV60) took on the lung-busting challenge on Sunday, 20 October, completing the route in 01:05:30. Paul Waterer was flying the flag for Frome on the same day at the 10-mile Great South Run in Portsmouth. Joining around 20,000 other runners, Paul completed the route in a PB time of 01:17:28. The following Saturday, 26 October saw three more brave Fromies travel down to Sussex for one of the biggest off-road marathons in the UK, the Beachy Head Marathon. Alex Chesterton (MV50) was the first to finish for Frome in a time of 05:45:41. Hot on his heels was Giles Padfield (MV40), who posted a time of 05:46:48. He was followed by Dave Perrett (MV40), who crossed the line in 07:25:50. On Sunday, 27 October, local runners were treated to the...