Spartan Andy Jay enjoyed the Sandy sunshine and finished the 10 mile race in one hour 26 minutes 22 seconds.

Julie Shadbolt was delighted to complete her longest race so far in 1:39:21 and thanked Karen Ellis and Maria Thorne, both 1:39:23, who supported her all the way round.

Karen Liddle, Tricia Hopper, Barry King and Paul Holgate all ran the Caythorpe off-road marathon on Saturday.

This was Liddle’s 50th marathon and she, along with Hopper and King, finished in 5:44:36 while Holgate ran 6:11:23.

Two Spartans ran the off-road Cambourne 10K, a gently undulating, mainly off-road, route on parkland trails. Jordan Quicke finished in 54:59 and Ken Jude in 55:40.

Sharon and Mike Crowley took part in the Calderdale Hike on Saturday.

The 26.2 miles included over 4,000 feet of climbing – nearly the height of Ben Nevis.

This was no ordinary marathon: there were no marshals, no route description for participants, just map references for the checkpoints plus a mountain rescue team who did a kit check before runners could start.

The start and finish were in Sowerby Bridge near Halifax and the Spartans finished in eight hours 48 minutes, 54 minutes faster than last year. Sharon was third woman to complete the testing course.

The Ashford and District Marathon is held on the edge of the Downs, starting from the Kent Village of Charing and is a two-lap event.

A late enforced course change meant a very hilly opening four miles, but the rest of the course was over generally quiet roads.

Roger Biggs completed the race in 4:54:32, good enough to win him the veteran (65 plus) category.

Two Spartans headed to the St Albans Parkrun.

Craig Halsey showed again that he’s in fine form as the London Marathon approaches.

He finished first in a field of 329 in a time of 16:36, and looked extremely impressive as he led the second placed finisher by around a minute.

Dave Smith also ran well, finishing 44th in 20:53 for a second consecutive course PB.

At Panshanger Park Tim Robinson finished 68th of 210 runners in 25:27.

Verity Fisher was 48th overall and ninth woman in a field of 244 runners at Huntingdon as she crossed the line in a course PB of 24:16.

Emma Poulter is improving all the time.

She made her third visit to Cleethorpes this year and was 111th and 35th woman.

She finished in 34:51, a new course PB.