CHARD Road Runners were off to Sydling St Nicholas, in Dorset, and across the border to Swansea at the weekend.

First to head out into the sunshine were Helen Baxter and Paul Masters with an 08.30 start from Sydling St Nicholas, along with 500 other runners. The Giants Head Marathon is a tough hilly off-road trail race.

Setting off with a game-plan to finish was the most sensible approach as runners came to the first steep hill.

Masters ran the early part to avoid the initial crowd but soon found walking to be faster.

Baxter took the wiser route in keeping to the shade and not over-heating, with the race progressing the heat was becoming a real issue with many runners but a nice section down through the woods and shade soon had runners whooping for joy.

With the halfway drinks station behind Masters and Baxter, it was now time to focus on the finish and how keep cool.

Running out of the last drinks station with just one more uphill challenge and then the sprint downhill on to the Village Green and the finish line, first for CRR’s was Masters in 5h 15m 20s (72nd/476).

Next, with a flourish towards the line, was Baxter in 7h 16m 30s (354th), a fantastic result in the heat.

Next to take on a sunny race was Matt Baker, who was off to the Swansea Half Marathon.

This large event attracted a strong field of 5,000 runners.

Being a flat road race, Baker had his eyes on a sub two-hour race and, setting off in such a vast field of runners, he took slightly longer to get into pace with all the jostling for space.

By mile three, Baker had settled well and was making good progress; by mile eight, he realised the heat was having an impact, but still pushed hard for his sub two-hour goal.

With the last mile marker being passed, Baker gave his all to the line and crossed in 1h 59m 11s (1,967th).