WHILE Sabastian Sawe made sporting history smashing the two-hour barrier in Sunday’s London Marathon, Spirit of Monmouth’s Sarah Baker enjoyed a smashing time taking part.

She joined the record 59,000 field in beautiful sunshine and despite some cramp in the last six miles, she raced past Big Ben and Buckingham Palace to finish in 3 hours 39 minutes and 16 seconds, beating her 3.45 target.

The previous week also saw the ABP Newport Marathon Festival, where Vicky Roberts took on her seventh 26-miler, setting a superb 3.18.21 PB by eight minutes.

She also finished fifth in age and 25th woman, and gained qualification for next year’s London Marathon and the Boston Marathon in the US, while James Robinson also ran the half marathon in a fantastic 1.29.41, which Julie Gee crossed in 2.32.22.

in midweek, Nick Sloper and Julie Gee joined the 412-strong Rogue Runs Severn Bridge five-mile twilight race, Nick setting a course PB and third in age in 38.22 and Julie crossing in 48.18.

Saturday also saw the Malvern Hills off-road trail half marathon, complete with 2,530 feet of ascent, which Cathy Fletcher completed for a fourth time, finishing with a brutal climb up to the Worcestershire Beacon in 2.52.58.

The Cwmyoy Horseshoe fell race the same day – boasting 1,257 feet of ascent over 5.6 miles along the Hatterall Hill ridge straddling the England-Wales border – saw Sarah Heath come home first over-60 woman and fifth female in 50.45.

And on Sunday, Katie Adams headed for the Eastnor Mud Bath – the home of the Land Rover test centre, with over 60 miles of trails winding through the deer park and woodland.

Including fallen trees, gullies and knee-deep ooze, Katie did the 6km in in 35.48 to take the women’s over-40 class, while husband Guy Adams won the men’s over-40s in 45.33.