THERE was more marathon action for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club at the weekend as a couple travelled to the south coast to take part in the Brighton Marathon, a race which is rapidly becoming more and more popular as an alternative to London.

Starting inland, the 26.2-mile classic distance runs down to the coast and follows the coast road first in one direction and then the other to finish within the shadow of Brighton Pier.

Gina Collins was first hoop home in 4.35.18 to take 1,666th place and Natalie Litchfield bettered her PB by nearly 12 minutes to take 1,811st place in 4.39.41.

A little closer to home, and over a much shorter distance, Matthew Hawker took part in the Fordhouses Flyer 5k finishing in 24.59 to take 80th place.

Earlier in the week a sizeable group travelled to Shropshire for the first race of Telford AC’s midweek Sexarathon Series, the Lilleshall 5. They were led home by Simon Blizzard fresh from his Manchester Marathon performance in 46th place in 31.22 closely followed by Dave Norman in 48th in 31.31, Simon Hughes, also with Manchester in his legs recorded 32.16 to take 58th, followed by Mark Judge in 60th in 32.22, Mark Homer in 62nd in 32.24, Helen Tromans in 65th in 32.29 but also claiming an age group prize, Gary Bonner was 74th in 33.20, Pete Hood finished 80th in 33.43, Richard Tonks was 82nd in 33.49, Sergej Lyubovnikov was 84th in 33.58, Roger Beddard also claimed an age group 3rd place in 122nd in 36.29, John Andrews finished in 38.40 to take 139th place, Rory Campbell was 80th in 39.50, Sarah Cox was 204th in 41.13, Jane Campbell was 244th in 43.40 and Meg Down was 266th in 45.41 with John Glover a place and five seconds adrift.

Meanwhile, It was another busy weekend for Stourbridge Running Club when members turned out in force for the Lilleshall Monumental 10k.

Robert Woodward was first home in 45.49. He was followed by James Bellamy in a time of 45.51, Steven Burch in 46.40 and Kevin Burke in 47.29.

Mark Lawton stopped the clock in 48.13 and followed by Adrian Phillips in 50:03, Stacey Pagett in 50.04, Chloe Pearson in 51.47, Joan Clarke in 51.48, Alistair McIntosh in 52.21, Sebastien Nicolas in 52.33, Paul Bradley in 55.51, Steve Moss in 57.23 and Philip Elwell in 58.22.

Meanwhile, in the CSSC Capital Challenge 10K at Olympic Park on April 13, Ed Davies completed in 40.09.