Sidmouth Running Club's David Chipping and Martin Barnard ran the East Devon Round on Saturday (6 May), 107km of absolutely stunning East Devon countryside. Although Martin said there was a fair bit of walking, shuffling and a dose of hobbling too!

With wake-up alarms set for 03:00 and a 05:30 start time at Ofwell near Honiton they saw the best of the day with a beautiful sunrise along with SRC's Jess Watkins, Grahame Womersley-Westlake and David Wright who were running the 35 mile ultra option. 

Ruby Red Running the organisers behind The East Devon Round were amazing and had planned a fabulous route, with endless bluebells and a constant chorus of bird song with the countryside being the real star of the day. 

David and Martin stopped for ice creams at Lyme Regis, bumped into fellow SRC members doing the 'half' distance and enjoyed plenty of snacks at the wonderfully stocked aid stations.

Martin said by linking up so many places they knew and discovering so many more made the time fly by and it was only at about the 80k mark when the endless soup, cake and crisp supplies started to struggle to keep the fuel tank full.

As night fell and torches were fired up the two Mighty Greens were met by family and friends which gave them a great boost and a couple of those legends joined them for the last 10K to provide some new conversation topics, a gate opening service and to protect them from some frisky bullocks.

The pair eventually finished just after 22:30, a full 17 hours after the start and quickly got stuck into some sticky toffee pudding. There were 35 finishers and they came in joint 24th, but for them it was never about a position, it was a journey to look back on for years to come and smile. For David looking down at his 10 black toes is a reminder of his amazing achievement!

For anyone who has thought "I can't run that far, but I'd like too" no matter what that distance is, Martin has just learnt you probably can, give it a go. And if you want to see East Devon in all its glory, do the East Devon Round, it's a belter. 

David and Martin enjoyed an ice cream on their epic ultra run (SRC)

In the 35 mile ultra, Jess was very happy to finish first lady in 7:30:00. The Mighty Green highly recommends the race for the beauty of the scenery and the support given.

Running his first ultra, Grahame was delighted to finish in 8:15:00, 15th overall and 9th male and said he had a great day, enjoying every minute and is now looking for his next challenge! David Wright ran a marathon distance before stopping at checkpoint 4.

Meanwhile in East Devon, eleven Mighty Greens ran the Sid Valley Ring Half Marathon organised by Climb South West. Starting with an uphill climb the race takes you through quiet country lanes and footpaths to a height of 236m before dropping into Sidbury, follows a section of back lanes through Harcombe, a steep climb to Dunscombe cliffs and the coast path before a short excursion inland to Salcombe Regis, through the woods and back onto the coast path back to Sidmouth. 

Colin Ryan had an exceptional run finishing 22nd out of a field of 75 in 2:11:29 and Beccy Johnson who was running her first half marathon was very pleased with her time of 3:20:37.

Results: Colin Ryan 2:11:29; Christine Farnham 2:50:01; Karen Farnham 2:50:01; Beccy Johnson 3:20:57; Sarah Watkins 3:20:57; Kerry Salter 3:21:00; Jim Hudson 3:27:46; Liz Wright 3:46:32; Carol McManus 3:46:32; Donna Womersley-Westlake 3:50:56; Clare Luke 3:50:56