Rome, now, today, right now, as two thousand years ago. Rome the invincible and eternal. Rome forever. The city of Fellini’s “La dolce vita”, where you fall in love with every step and where every step can make you feel like a glorious marathon runner.

The marathon in the Italian capital has a strong tradition. We could go back over a century to 2 April 1906, when the Emilian Dorando Pietri won the marathon, crossing the finishing line in Piazza di Siena. We could go back 60 years, to that magical night of the 1960 Olympics in Rome, when Ethiopian Abebe Bikila opened the season of African marathon runners, running the whole race barefoot but the marathon we all know today originated in 1995 with the Italia Marathon Club

A route that is unmatched anywhere in the world, starting from the Imperial Forum, with the passage in front of the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the runners gaze upon the Palatine and Circus Maximus, passing in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, on Viale della Conciliazione with St. Peter’s Basilica, the Foro Italico and the Mosque, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna with the famous Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the stairways of Santa Maria in Aracoeli and the Campidoglio, the Theater of Marcellus, runing next to the Circus Maximus, the last km with the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum again right in front, the final meters with the finish line again at the Imperial Forums.

Veni, vidi, vici On Sunday 17th March, Eighteen Trotters braved the heat and there where some great times plus club records, First marathons and PB's.: Do not have finisning place or age grading due to entry system:

First Trotter home was James Saunders 03:11:18 Mandy Wheeler Broke her own club record 03:24:49 Ben Elphick 03:30:47 New BP by 15 minutes Matthew Steele 03:33:56 Rachel Steele 03:36:51 Debbie Elphick 03:37:16 Jacki Woon 03:45:31 Tim Hassell 04:01:04 Neil Rutley 04:06:57 Sarah Burningham First marathon in eleven years 04:17:00 Will Hassell 04:22:07 Nigel Barnett 04:24:46 Clare Youngman 04:29:30 Roger Moss 04:37:39 Russ Wheeler 04:42:27 Pete Aston and his first marathon 04:43:25 Sarah Keatley 05:47:18 Richard Keatley 05:47:24

There was 7,471 finishers

Julie Moss took part in the 5k race

Debbie Elphick quoted Rome Marathon!!! Finished in a time of 3.37.16 Hot as hell but a fantastic experience. 

The Grizzly ( first held in 1988.) is a multi-terrain race across the glorious East Devon coastline and countryside and the major event in the calendar of Axe Valley Runners. with more than 2,000 runners taking part in the 9 mile or 20 mile race

The Grizzly has more than 3,000′ft of ascent in its 20 miles. There are two sections of beach (pebbles), totalling well over a mile; two energy-sapping bogs, where runners are often up to their waists in water and mud; and the infamous “Stairway to Heaven”, a steep path up the side of a cliff.

Two of our Trotters braved the 20 miler on Sunday 17th March . Tim Synge finished in 5:00:18 880th out of 1306. Ruth Johnson was 1015th in 5:17:49. There was 1307 finishers

Tim quoted "This was my first Grizzly. I haven’t seen the results yet, but I think it was one of the wettest and muddiest years ever - the conditions probably added the best part of an hour to everyone’s finishing times."

Ruth also quoted "Worse muddy conditions ever, very slippy making a lot of the down hills difficult to run. Great fun as always"

Dermot Smyth took the the street's of Bath on Sunday 17th March for the Bath half marathon and in his own words I will let him paint you a picture.

What better way to celebrate Ireland winning the Six Nations Rugby and St Patrick’s day than to run the Bath Half Marathon along with 15000 like minded souls?

Conditions were ideal, still and dry if a little humid with the sun showing itself mid way through the run. Very well organised if perhaps slightly chaotic at the start, a runners village and easy transport in via the Park and Ride shuttle buses. On a two lap course which started and finished in Victoria Park in front of the historical and iconic Royal Crescent, the course basically followed the line of the River Avon. Support was very strong and enthusiastic almost the whole way round, cheering crowds were supplemented by live rock bands Taiko drumming boom boxes and even a fantastic choir! I had to stop and (try) to join in. Having your name printed on your race number is a novelty ive never experienced, and having people call out my slightly unusual tag while cheering me on was absolutely fantastic! Lots of banter, clapping and cheering with the crowds as I went which helped to take my mind off my screaming quad muscles in the later stages.

Cheeky little uphill finish to cross the line in 2hrs 19 mins, pretty much bang on where I thought I would be.

Well done Bath!!

Run Exe Winter Series staged by city runs is a 5-mile and 5km race taking place on Exmouth seafront promenade on Wednesday 13th March. This is a exhilarating midweek winter series of runs. The course is completely flat, making it great for runners of all levels aiming to achieve their best time. Melaine Brooks took to the dark streets on the 13th March along with 44 other racer's to compete in this event and Finished 18th in a time of 00:32:33 and was first F45 Female.

Mel quoted, I thought I’d do some mid week racing and try the Exeter City Runs winter series 5 mile race. Great conditions and I actually enjoyed running in the dark with the sound of the sea! I was really pleased with my pacing & finished 3rd lady. 

Red running events Pasty and Pie challange took place over the weekend of the 16th and 17th March starting at Chapel lane along the old railway line. The route is a 5.29k lap so 4 laps is a Half Marathon, 8 laps is Full Marathon 9 or more is an Ultra.

Three Trotters raced up and down on Saturday. Robert Faulkner 6 laps 03:09:46 Allen Taylor 6 laps 03:09:53 Steve Clark 2 laps 01:15:08

Allen quoted " He entered it as a training run for Manchester marathon and ending up running 20 mile. Nice relaxed atmosphere on an undulating out and back course and the pasty at the end was well worth it

Four Trotters took part on the Sunday. Kris Ward 8 laps 1st 03:33:49 Cheryl Dunn 4 laps 2nd 02:20:39 Kim Bindon 2 laps 01:00:57 Victoria Hayles 2 laps 01:35:00