May’s racing challenges started on Saturday 10th with the Semington Slog, a 10K mixed-terrain race through the village of Semington and the along the Kennet & Avon Canal. First to finish for Frome was Alexander Fisher (MV40), whose time of 00:40:07 earned him 4th position overall and 2nd in category. Peter Reed (MV50) finished in 00:46:43 for second in age category, and Peter Clardy (MV60) also scored second in age category with his time of 00:54:18. On the same day, Frome runner Ian Holmes (MV50) took to the Ridgeway National Trail to take part in the Ridgeway 40, a 40-mile trail race from Avebury to Streatley-on-Thames. Ian completed the feat in 09:06:05. On the same Saturday, two more Frome stalwarts lined up for the West Country Ultra Hilly 50, a fifty-mile trail race along the North Somerset coast taking in 7337ft of elevation. Paul Horton (MV50) came in 4th overall with a time of 10:57:20 while Vicki Trundle (FV40) finished as seventh woman in 14:08:24.

On Sunday, 11 May, two Frome runners took to the streets of Bristol for the Great Bristol Half Marathon. Emma Yeo (FV50) was first past the post for Frome with a time of 01:57:13, followed by John Yeo (MV40) in 02:14:36. A few days later on 13 May, the third race of the Wiltshire Road Race League, The Westbury 5K, was held on a three-lap route of the Westbury Trading Estate. Frome again fielded a strong team headed by Michael Gorman (MSEN) who finished in a speedy 00:17:57. He was followed by Alexander Fisher (MV40) in 00:18:12, Dan Gaisford (MV40) in 00:18:40, Sam Baraud (MSEN) in 00:20:24 and Keith Vance (MV50) in 00:20:30. Emma Surridge (FV40) finished in 00:21:31, followed by Tallis Mason (U16), who earned first in category with a time of 00:22:42. Barrie Knight (MV70) posted a time of 00:23:41 for third in age category, he was followed by Megan King (FSEN) in 00:23:47, Jess Jones-Hutchings (FSEN) in 00:23:56 and Paul Goodwin (MV70) in 00:26:38.

Back in Somerset, Daniel Thomson (MSEN) lined up for the Portcullis 10K in Langport on 18th May. Daniel completed the 10K mixed-terrain route across the Levels in 00:52:39. Daniel Thomson was back in action on the 21st in the Town Tree Trail 10K Race, crossing the line in 00:48:46. Earning the prize for the most-far-flung race in May was Peter Clardy (MV60) who took part in the Memorial Day 4 Miler in Montgomery County, USA. Peter crossed the line for Frome in 00:34:40.

Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.

Always a busy running month, March saw a slew of challenges for Frome’s club runners, with distances to satisfy long- and short-distance fans. First off, on Sunday, 2 March, was local classic The Imber Ultra, a 33 ½-mile multi-terrain ultramarathon taking runners around the Imber Range Perimeter Path. A hardy band of Frome runners took to the starting line with Paul Horton (MV50) crossing the finish line first for the club in 05:18:39. He was followed by Sian Meaney (FSEN) in 05:57:57 and Vicki Trundle (FV40) in 07:26:21. On the same day, more of Frome’s finest lined up for the Chippenham Spring 10 Mile a fast, flat 10 mile route through the town and surrounding country roads. Alexander Fisher (MV40) crossed the line in a speedy 01:05:43, followed by Alan Brawn (MV50) in 01:23:18 and Nicky Thomas (FV50) in 01:23:21, Julie Chilvers (FV50) in 01:34:18 and Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 01:42:03.

The following Sunday 9 March, another band of Frome runners took a trip to the seaside (Seaton) for The Grizzly, a 20-mile multi-terrain route encompassing bogs, streams, beaches, clifftops and steep hills. Dan Gaisford (MV45) finished first for Frome in a time of 03:13:12, followed by Emma Surridge (FV45) in 03:45:38 and Ian Holmes (MV55) in 03:55:02. Next past the post was Ellie Burford (F35) in 04:07:27, Clare Dunning (F35) in 04:07:42 and Ben Spicer (MV40) in 04:19:58.

The final race in the 2024/25 Street 5K series took place on Wednesday, 12 March. Six Frome runners flexed their 5K muscles on the fast, flat route. Alexander Fisher (MV40) crossed the line in 00:18:50, followed by Daniel Thomson (MSEN) in in 00:20:39, David Lee (MV40) in 00:21:02 and Chris Dayman-Johns (MSEN) in 00:22:31. Barrie Knight (MV70) finished in 00:23:55 followed by Brett Sadler in 26:30.

The Bath Half Marathon made a welcome return on Sunday 16 March. As customary, Frome fielded a strong team, headed by Alexander Fisher (MV40), who again finished first for the club, posting a time of 01:26:50. Daniel Thomson (MSEN) was hot on his heels with a time of 01:39:21, followed by Stephen Jackson (MV45) in 01:41:08, Ben Spicer (MV40) in 01:47:37, Andrew Fowler (MV40) in 01:50:40 and Chris Chivers (MV40) in 02:16:15.

The following Sunday (23 March) saw the start of the Wiltshire Road Race League with this year’s inaugural race The Highworth 5. Frome got its campaign off to a great start with a very strong field of runners taking on the 5 mile race on country roads. Once again, Alexander Fisher (MV40) finished first in 00:31:33, followed very closely by Dan Gaisford (MV40) in 00:31:49, James Arnull-Culliford (MV40) in 00:33:23 and Sam Baraud (MSEN) in 00:36:28. David Alsford (MV50) crossed the line in 00:37:26, closely followed by Ellie Burford (FV35) in 00:37:56 and Barrie Knight (MV60+) in 00:39:45. Emma Yeo (FV55) finished in 00:40:04, followed by Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 00:40:14, Julie Chilvers (FV50) in 00:44:14, Paul Goodwin (MV60+) in 00:46:47 and Suzanne Ingle (FSEN) in 00:47:52.

On the same day, over in Hullavington, Paul Horton (MV50) took on the Hullavington 20, a twenty-mile road race through the gently undulating countryside of Wiltshire. Paul completed the course in a time of 02:26:53.

On Sunday, 30 March, Daniel Thomson was in action again, this time in Yeovil for the town’s half marathon, completing the route in 02:46:09.

Finally, to mark the changing seasons, more Frome club runners took part in the Spring Clock Change Challenge in Calne on 30 March. Alexander Fisher (MV40), finished in 00:39:39, followed by Emma Yeo (FV55), whose time of 00:49:34 earned her first in age category. John Yeo was next to finish in 00:50:54 followed by Emma Evans (FV50) 00:59:04.

January got off to a stormy start for Frome Running Club. But snow, hail and race cancellations didn’t dampen the spirits of club runners who eagerly took to the starting lines of a number of local events. First to kick off the action was Daniel Thomson (MSEN), who took part in the Sir Walter Raleigh Third race on Saturday, January 4. Starting and finishing in the coastal town of Budleigh Salterton in Devon, this 8.4-mile route (third of a marathon) visited the birthplace of Sir Walter Raleigh and the countryside where he spent time as a child. Daniel completed the picturesque route in 01:15:00. 

The next date in the running calendar for Frome’s club runners was perennial favourite The Longleat 10K on the 26th of January. As customary, Frome fielded a sizeable team of runners who braved strong winds, hail and cold temperatures to complete the gruelling hilly course around the Longleat estate and its grand house. First past the post for Frome was Alexander Fisher (MV40), who finished in 00:42:15, followed by Daniel Thomson (MSEN) in 00:49:22 and Andrew Fowler (MV40) in 00:51:02. Chris Dayman-Johns (MSEN) finished in 00:52:35, closely followed by Emma Yeo (FV50) in 00:53:04. Chris Chivers (MV40) was next, crossing the line in 01:04:24 followed by Tina Searle (FV60) in 01:17:37.

Rounding out the month was race 4 in the Street 5K series on Wednesday the 29th of January. With the original event on the 8th of January cancelled due to snow and stormy weather, three Frome stalwarts took to starting line to put their 5K times to the test. Once again, Alexander Fisher (MV40) was first to finish for Frome with a time of 00:19:20. Daniel Thomson (MSEN) completed a busy first month of the year with a time of 00:21:12, while Barrie Knight (MV70) posted a time of 00:25:21.

Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub.co.uk.