What a Bloody Busy Week
Released On 18th Sept 2026
Super Half
From Sarah: A trip to Copenhagen for Super Half No 2 at the World Road Running Championships 2026. What an experience! A soggy photo as the heavens opened as I crossed the line Next stop Cardiff in 2 weeks' time.
Purbecks Marathon
From Dan: Purbecks Marathon completed. 2nd Place and 1st in age. Absolutely stunning route around the Isle of Purbeck. Great to see Darren Ragnar Mackle and Graham Malt as well. Definitely highly recommend this one. Marathon 85.
Man v Horse 2026
From Katie: Lots of eager horses, riders & runners gathered in a field in Over Stowey today to take part in The Quantock's Man v Horse ( a far gentler, less steep version of the one in North Wales but just as long and, as one runner who had done both told me, much prettier! Go Somerset! ) The runners set off 1st and we wound our way up and out of the village and into the pine forests. It wasn't long before we had to leap out the way as the horses ( who had set off 10 minutes after us) galloped past, never to be seen again! ...... or so we thought..... more later......!!
The 1st 15k was hard going and mostly uphill. Then out of the pines and on to the moorland where we saw ponies grazing & stunning views out to the Bristol Channel. My dreams of winning the race disappeared when l stopped to help Fiona ( a runner from Yorkshire ) who had fallen and split her hand open... she was fine! And the young man who was our sweeper after his mountain bike got a puncture & his chain came off a couple of times. I then ran across the moors with Fiona enjoying the chat ( miles always pass quicker when you've got company ) before turning at a trig point in heavy mist & dropping down into some beautiful woods full of ancient Oak trees. Everything from then on is a bit of a blurr but l do remember thinking " only 7 k to go " at the last check point only to discover 5 of those were up hill!!!! And VERY UPHILL..... think Balls Hill.... on STEROIDS!!!
With the hills finally conquered it was downhill all the way back into Over Stowey We were at the back at this point so we couldn't believe our luck when we finally caught up and overtook a male runner!! And then ...... only about a mile from the end, sore & tired ... WE WENT AND OVERTOOK A HORSE AND RIDER!!!! We couldn't belive it! So we crossed the finish line feeling triumphant & rather giddy with excitement. This is an amazing event well marked by red flags, great marshals & l was lucky to have a phenomenal support crew today ( shout out to my husband as always ) If you like horses then you'll love this ( though you only get to see them briefly at the beginning as they fly past- unless a horse & rider get lost and then you get to see them again at Mile 22.... sssh! Our secret is out! ) But there's plenty else to see like moorland, ancient woodland and loads of teenagers doing their Duke of Edinburgh! Oh.... and horse poo of course!
Mell’s Mash-Up
From Rach: In the glorious morning sunshine, seven eager Yeovil runners lined up on the start line of Mell’s Mash-Up! I’m not sure why they ditched the word ‘scenic’ from the race title because it was truly a really scenic run. The route took us through woods, beside rivers, across fields and along a never ending cycle track. Towards the end, we swooped down across a green field, past the beautiful local church, into the village of Mells and finished with a (long) lap of the playing field. We all had a great run but especially Jack who blistered home in 4th place. Well done all. (One gripe: we definitely did not need our trail shoes).
Ham to Lyme
From Felicity: Ham and Lyme 50k Autumn edition. Same great route with a slightly different vibe. A good turn out from Yeovil town RRC, I don’t think we actually managed to get everyone in one photo though. Dom Rowe politely declined being in the group photo and others were missing for varying reasons (I actually made it for once though!). The weather was cooler than July but that head wind across the fields was no joke! The rain also came in after about the 6 hour mark making it a different race from the summer edition.
I was so excited about the race that I barely slept the night before, which was less than ideal but I thought I’d try and head out and see if I could stick to my original plan, which as it turns out, I could not and I ended up walking more than I wanted to in some sections. But pulled myself together and managed to catch up some time in the last few miles. Nice to see the two front-running Yeovil ladies, Clair and Bonita as they came past me! Fantastic running from them both. Clair and Ricky sped off into the distance. Bonita was running her first ultra with her dad, she ran really well and eventually they too were out of my sights.
Matt and Leigh had a great day out and really enjoyed their trip to the sea! Rachael Quick and Abbey ran together and did brilliantly. I hear Abbey fell on barbed wire but carried on like an absolute legend! Sounds like Margarita had a great time and Sharon Hardy showed great strength getting to the end!! Sarah Davies ran brilliantly despite not doing a long run for a couple of months! Ryan Bromley was so fast he got in trouble with his partner as she missed him finishing Lovely to see Taryn out there smashing it too! She was just so encouraging as she always is! There were a couple of DNFs, a hard but sensible decision to make.
It was lovely that Yeovil runners who were not even racing came out to support friends on sections of the course! I’m not completely sure how everyone else got on but I hope you all had an amazing run and well done to everyone who ran and supported yesterday! Thanks as well to Andy Farrant for giving up his time to man an aid station. Fantastic support from everyone at the aid stations as always. In the end the top 3 female finishers were all Yeovil ladies!
1st Clair French in an amazing 4:56
2nd Bonita in a fantastic 5:15
And I staggered in 3rd a few seconds after Bonita!
From Margarita: So today, I did a thing… I ran to the sea! And honestly, I’m so proud of myself. I started the race alongside other runners, met some lovely people along the way, encountered a fair bit of wildlife, got slightly lost (because apparently following the route is optional ), had plenty of fun and, of course, found mud. Lots of mud.
It was tough. Really tough. But somehow, that makes reaching the finish line even more rewarding. And the best bit? I did it quicker than last year! There’s something about this race that pushes me, challenges me and makes me question my life choices at various points along the way… but once I’ve finished, I’m always so happy I did it. Today was about getting out there, embracing the adventure, getting covered in mud, enjoying the journey and reminding myself just how much I’m capable of. I ran to the sea. I got it done. And I’m bloody proud of myself.
Until next time…
100 Marathon AGM Marathon
From Bungy: The 100 Marathon Club always has a marathon in the morning before the AGM, Saturday was at Park House Sch in Newbury. The course was 8 out-and-back laps, mostly trail and a hard course but being an out-and-back you got to see all the other runners, and there was an old lady 70-ish with her 300 Half Marathon T-Shirt on and still going strong.
Big Sky
From Lindsay: So another Sunday and another marathon done lol. No 32 in have for both of us. Stephen Warren and i travelled to the new forest yesterday and camped at Gorse Farm. We cycled a mile to the start this morning..We then started the Big Events, classic elements trail series (AIR). I personally Didn't enjoy this from the get go. Body aches, got a blister at mile 1 on my foot, then blisters on my other big toe, then chaffing under both arms, then hips hurt then upper shoulders killed.. nearly pulled out but with a bit of nagging and support from Steve we got it done. Then cycled a mile back to the camp site where we then had to detour another mile due to a fallen tree right outside our campsite lol. What lush views and lovely seeing the horses running around the marathon route..no marathon 32 done x
Yeovil Primary Schools Cross Country Races
From Adam: Monday 21st September - tomorrow. Yeovil Rugby Club.
Any help any time between 2.00 and 5.00pm gratefully received
Thanks Adam
Weekend Running
From Helen: Sunday 12 miler completejust a small group of 5 of us today - out to Yeovil Marsh, Mudford, Trent and Over Compton we went. Lovely morning for it and we all seemed to feel strong today really enjoyed it so thanks all of course it wouldn’t be complete without a lovely social with some of the other groups in the sun after to enjoy my very yummy white chocolate raspberry cake thanks for the chai latte Emma.
From Angela: A half marathon training run. What started out as a request for routes for myself ended up being a trio run with Janine Carbine and Chris Holt Starting in West Camel heading towards Chilton Cantelo and arriving in Mudford at a nice pace. Quick photo then started off again through Ashington to Limington where we decided to head towards Ilchester to get the miles in. Here we took a quick selfie with Freddie before dashing off. Then the long slog past Yeovilton which always seems further than it actually is! Up past the Blue Camel to where Janine had left her car whilst Chris and I finished off down Howell Hill and through West Camel. Until I joined Yeovil Town RRC I never actually thought I'd run this far. Running is definitely better with friends.
Dark Night
From Graham: As the evenings are now starting to get darker, time to organise a T shirt & hoodie order. Please let me know the size, colour of T shirt, and name on the T shirt. The order will be placed at the end of September. Roughly 2 week turn around.
Park Runs
From Adrian: Celebration day yesterday with Jack 1st place again on his Birthday and my 250th Volunteers and lovely surprise my youngest joined us even if he still can clock 22min20sec with no training.
From Jo: Great to see our green & whites not only running at today’s Frogmary Green Farm parkrun but also doing their bit marshalling. Sadly after next week this parkrun will be no longer . For those wanting to attend next week, the theme is superheroes.
From Helen: Greendale Farm Shop Parkrun for us today, celebrating Rach’s 100th. Massive congratulations Rach Pep, such an achievement and thank you for organising such a wonderful morning. It was lovely spending it with you all, socialising over a yummy farm shop brekki, and of course some of us couldn’t resist stopping at Otter Valley en route home for an award-winning ice cream.
PUB RUN – SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP – (17TH SEPTEMBER 2026)
From Mark: Tonight, Guy, Stephen, Lindsay, Tim, and Rob ran fast.
Alison led the not so fast group with Alison, Linda, Mel, Rachael, JC, and myself. From the pub we set off across fields and reached Barrington house. We continued past cows towards Lake farm, and spotted a tree ablaze with a fire. This seemed very unusual. We stopped at the farm and Alison reported the fire. We continued across more fields and reached Rodwell lane. We then turned into West lane and ran down to West Lambrook. After viewing the books in an old phone box, we continued with a short off-road loop round the back of West Lambrook. For the final leg we ran down the lane back to Shepton Beauchamp. Thanks for the mostly off-road route tonight, Alison. It won’t be long before head torches will be needed.
Thanks for organising Phil. The food was good, just a bit slow coming out tonight for some.
