Lenton fastest at Salcombe Coastal Marathon

Seven AVRs ran, walked and (in one case) staggered along Saturday’s Salcombe Coastal Marathon, writes Dave Mutter.

The route along the coast path from Torcross to Bantham was extended by three miles due to two cliff fall diversions so with the addition of a stiff headwind all day, it was a little tougher than usual.

The event is so low-key that runners time themselves and are allowed to stop their watches for the ferry crossing at Salcombe and for visits to the pub/chippy/whatever!

The fastest runner was Tim Lenton who stuck close to the normal route by rockhopping along the beach around the diversions.

Alex Todd and Matt Clist had been running with (ie held up by) Garry Perratt who crashed and burned for the second time in two weeks, but left him (at his request) flaked out on a track about three miles from the end, finishing in 5:08.

Eleanor Wood, Jon Day and Robin Carter ran together on and off with Wood and Carter pulling away towards the end and finishing about ten minutes before Day.

After resting awhile, Perratt pushed on from his collapse point and with another couple of five-minute flakeouts finally reached the finish some time late as the others were starting to walk back to the car.