IT was an exciting and historic weekend for Thornbury Running Club as they saw one member take on their first triathlon, one represent Great Britain for the first time, and another take a club record that has stood for over twenty years.

Meanwhile, other runners got their heads down, and battled on with what they most enjoy which is simply running and racing

Liz Dix has been a mum for just over a year now, and had decided that her return to fitness would include training for a triathlon, and which better for a first one than the First Tri at Lydney in the Forest of Dean, specifically tailored for those giving it a go for the first time.

The 400m swim was done in a pool followed by 22km bike and 5km run. Dix finished 150th in a total time of two hours13.11mins which saw her have a good swim and good transitions, though the bike section was hilly, giving her tired legs for the run.

Arthur Renshaw, Thornbury's latest qualifier for GBR team colours, had a great day out at the European Duathlon Championships in Alcobendas, near Madrid.

Often plagued by injuries, he had stayed strong and fit during his training, and was rewarded with fourth place in his event.

The big athletics event of the weekend was, of course, the London Marathon although, of the 37,675 who completed the course, only three were entitled to wear the running colours of Thornbury Running Club.

The best of these almost failed to make it to the start after forgetting his photo ID without which he would not have been able to register and receive his number. The omission was realised before leaving Bristol and all was well.

Blackheath was a damp, cold and windy place at 9.30am on Sunday, but the rain passed and conditions were near perfect once runners had reached the shelter of the capital's streets and the warmth of fellow runners and spectators.

The club record for the London Marathon has stood since 1989 when Richard Illingworth completed the course in two hours 57.33mins, and no-one will be more pleased than Illingworth to see Rob Watkins take the crown with a new best time of two hours 56.15mins.

Both Rob Hopkins and Judy Mills have run the distance faster than their Sunday times, but both achieved their best times for the London course. Hopkins completed it in three hours 12.11mins and Mills in four hours 26.20mins.

Elsewhere, Rob Cowlard took on the shorter but tougher Offa's Orror, organised by Chepstow Harriers, and came a great 14th in one hour 33.14mins.

A few park runners were out on Saturday, where Anne Palmer ran just three seconds below her best in 30.54mins and was first in her age category at Chipping Sodbury.

Also at Sodbury, Daniel Harding ran in 29.44mins, perhaps keeping someone else company, as his best time is over ten minutes quicker.

At Little Stoke, Gary Slater came in first for the club in 19.24mins followed by Kevin Cundy in 22.06mins and Jon Welsh 23.01mins.

Even the greatest runners have to start somewhere and new members are always welcome. For complete beginners, a new course will be starting on May 14. The club meets at 7pm at the Leisure Centre on most Thursday evenings. Check the website thornburyrunningclub.co.uk for details.