THE HEATWAVE meant conditions for distance running were less than idea over the weekend.

This did not stop Dursley Running Club athletes, however.

The DRC run of the weekend was on Bank Holiday Monday. Stuart Gwilliam ran the Milton Keynes marathon.

He had targeted a London Marathon ‘good for age’ time, initially looking at a target of 3:15 hours then had had to recalibrate when ‘good for age’ went down to 3:10 hours.

He, no doubt, had to recalibrate a bit more when he saw the weather forecast. He produced an amazing run in incredibly difficult conditions, finishing in three hours 18:02mins, 61st out of a field of 1,615 and well into the top ten per cent and 18th M40, within the top five per cent of this category. He ran a personal best in the process.

James Everett took advantage of a little bit of shade to win the Two Tunnels Hilly half Marathon in Bath coming home in just under 90 minutes.

Alice Lewis was first F60 in the 10K event in 47:55mins with Rach Goatman finishing in just over the hour.

Saturday saw a big turn-out at the Brecon Beacons Trail Challenge. Amazing weather conditions meant hydration being the order of the day. Kate Browning, Francis Low and Tara Truman ran the marathon, with Anya Eames, Lisa Gillooly and Vicki Andy and Michelle Shapland running the half.

Low was looking for under five hours but just missed out, managing an awesome 11th overall and eighth in category. Kate Browning was also eighth in her category and Truman thoroughly enjoying herself. She announced she iss now into fell running!

The Shaplands led the DRC team home in the half with Eames completing her longest ever run.

Results: Marathon: Francois Low 11th 05:13:23; Kate Browning 32nd 5:55:50: Tara Truman 70th 06:28:56. Half: Michelle Shapland, 129th, 02:54:15; Andrew Shapland, 130th, 02:54:17; Vicci Phillips, 214h, 03:22:52; Lisa Gillooly, 268th, 05:59:22; Anya Eames, 269th, 03:59:23 It was another busy weekend at parkrun for DRC.

Tom Smith’s currently on fire with another PB at Wotton to record the weekends fastest parkrun time of 18:13mins.

Alice was taking it easy before Sunday 10K so Graeme Hawkins was able to top the age grading’s with 79.3 per cent at Kingsway with Alice 77.5 per cent at Wotton.

There were also parkrun PBs for Jo Sheen (Conwy), Kath White, Ellen Efford and Amy Raines at Kingsway.

The triathlon season has now started with a bang. Last week, Richard Pitts qualified for the World Age Group Duathlon and Aquathon championships.

This week he was back to the three disciplines. Pitts was a bit disappointed to be one second over the hour at the Cotswold Sprint Tri. Despite this slight mishap Rich was 28th overall and third in category.

Whilst over in Tewkesbury four DRC tri ladies took on the Sprint Tri, with swim and run the same distance but the bike a couple of extra kilometres. Leigh Allen, Liz McConnell, Jennie Marshall and Annette Heyings were led home by Marshall who was first in category.

Results: Jennie Marshal 1:15:01 1st WSV 50+; Leigh Allen 1:33:29 9th WV 40+ Annette Heylings 1:42:52 11th WSV 50+; Liz McConnell 1:47:00 12th WSV 50+ The Brewer Games athletics open meet took place at the Price of Wales Stadium Cheltenham on Monday. It saw James and David Durden competing. James Durden ran just outside his best for 800, a time of 02:31:4, he went on to win his heat in the 400 metres. Durden senior was just happy to complete his race, the 3k event, in scorching temperatures.