TWELVE members of Camelford Up and Running completed the Plymouth Half Marathon on Sunday, May 20.

As the race drew closer, the runners ‘stepped up’ the training, sometimes daily to prepare themselves for 13.1 miles of road running.

A few group members treated themselves with a night away in Plymouth as 8.30am was the start time for ‘the off’.

For many, this was going to be a first run of such distance, and with temperatures forecasted to be hot from the start, sun cream and plenty of water was going to play a very important role for all 3,500 runners taking part. Camelford Up and Running is a small and very friendly Facebook group for local runners to share their runs and achievements to support and inspire others to run.

The 12 runners completed the distance with no major problems with Dave Allan (St Teath), Natalie Rogers (near Crackington Haven), Louise Hunt (Camelford), Simon Heard (Delabole), Latoyah Willcock (Camelford) and Michael Brereton (Camelford) doing their first ever half marathon.

Although Matt Allan (Camelford), Sam Allan (Camelford), Jenna Sleeman (St Teath), Chris Andrews (Wadebridge), Neil Gregory (Camelford), and Tim Deane (Camelford) had done it before, they had to take extra care and adjust their pace to allow for the higher temperatures.

Club spokesperson, Matt Allan, said: “It really was a truly fantastic effort by all and now we, as a group can look forward to our 29-strong team, who have entered Bude’s Lifeboat Run, which is a six-miler in June.

“Please check out our group on Facebook ‘Camelford Up and Running’. We welcome runners of all abilities.”