Trotters conquer all distances in a pre-London marathon weekend of racing

She Ultra

The She Ultra 50km, an all‑female ultra marathon, took place on Saturday 11 April along the exposed coastal trails of the Pen Llŷn Peninsula in North Wales. As expected for the region, conditions played a significant role in shaping the race. Competitors set off in hail, before facing long stretches of open beach where strong headwinds and gusts of up to 50mph made consistent progress difficult. Weather conditions fluctuated throughout the day, with occasional sunshine offering brief relief while highlighting the rugged coastal landscape. The combination of terrain, distance and challenging weather ensured the course provided a stern physical and mental test.

Representing the club, Pipin Shanklin completed her first ultra marathon, finishing the 50km distance in a time of 08:26:28. This performance followed a disrupted winter of training, during which Pip was affected by significant abductor tendonitis that limited her ability to train consistently. Despite this, she managed her race well in difficult conditions to complete a demanding event.

Well done Pipin!

The Newport Marathon

As part of the ABP Newport Running Festival, Mike Border travelled “over the border” to Wales to take on the Newport Marathon, a well‑established event that continues to grow in reputation. Conditions on the day were favourable for marathon running, contributing to an enjoyable and well‑organised race experience.

The Newport Marathon is known for its flat profile, with organisers advertising just two climbs on the course. The first comes early, around 4km in, as runners head onto a bridge, while the second appears late in the race when the same section is tackled in reverse at approximately 41km. Unsurprisingly, the early incline passed largely unnoticed, although the return climb late on did make itself felt. Overall, however, the course lives up to its reputation as a fast and accessible marathon route.

Mike produced an excellent performance, completing the marathon in a time of 3:56, securing his first sub‑4‑hour marathon and a personal best by 17 minutes. Executing a strong and controlled run throughout, this represented a significant milestone and a reward for consistent training.

The event was described as having the feel of a major marathon while remaining slightly more compact than races such as Manchester, striking a balance between atmosphere, organisation and scale. Mike would readily recommend the Newport Marathon to others looking for a well‑run event on a fast course.

And finally...

Run Exe 5K - Race 1

A field of 171 runners gathered under grey skies for the opening race of the Run Exe 5k series, with pre‑race rain clearing just in time for the start. Conditions proved fair, though the course itself offered a stern test. The race was split into two waves (sub‑19 and over‑19 minutes), with Trotters represented in both fields. Runners faced a technical route featuring sharp turns and a number of deceptive inclines that made consistent pacing a challenge throughout.

Alex Sparks produced a standout performance, finishing 2nd overall in a personal best time of 15:40. Ben Thorn recorded a strong run to finish 50th in 18:13, also a PB. Further solid performances came from Steve Weeks (81st, 19:33) and Chloe Weeks (85th, 19:40). A strong opening to the series, with encouraging performances across the board for the Trotters.

Dartmoor Marathon 

Rachel Brooks and Matt Steele took on the Dartmoor marathon last weekend with a joint finish time of 4hrs 16 mins - Rachel smashed it with 3^rd lady vet 50-55. 

A huge thank‑you to everyone who contributed to this week’s race report.

To help keep things running smoothly, please send the contributions by 7pm each Sunday to Jo Randall at press@teignbridgetrotters.co.uk.