THERE was plenty of distance covered by athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club over the weekend as the autumn marathon season got into its stride.

On Saturday, a group of blue hoops took on the iconic Snowdonia Marathon, a gruelling 26.2 mile epic starting and finishing in Llanberis.

The course was a tough one with the first five miles an uphill section climbing 1,100 feet to the top of Llanberis Pass before plummeting down the other side.

The course then followed an undulating route until around the 22 mile point when it climbed again topping out at 1,200 feet before a sharp downhill last mile and a town centre finish.

Dave Norman was first back for the club in a time of 3.27.52 in 152nd place, Steve Wood was 319th in 3.43.05, Mark Homer was 440th in 3.51.53 and Mark Judge came home in 4.08.50 to take 695th place.

Elsewhere, Ben Foster took part in the Venice Marathon, a point to point race finishing in the Piazza San Marco.

Foster finished with a massive marathon PB finishing in 2.47.28 to finish in 37th place and first British runner home.

Whilst in Dublin there was another marathon PB for Alison Whitehouse who clocked an impressive 4.15.48.

Nearer to home, Gary Bonner travelled the short distance to Wolverhampton for the Coven Canter, a 10k race mainly on tarmac, coming home in 39.57 taking 17th place. And Helen Tromans had a successful trip to Bridgnorth for the Bridgnorth Severn 10k, not surprising a very hilly race, claiming the second ladies prize in 45.59.