SPIRIT of Monmouth runners beat the heat in races, training runs and parkruns last week.

Holly Janes-Thomas took on the famously undulating Isle of Wight Half Marathon, covering the brutally hilly, sun-baked course in two hours nine minutes 20 seconds for 163rd overall, 30th female, and 11th over-35 woman.

Kyrby Brown took on the 20K road section of the Superhero Series at the London 2012 Olympic rowing and canoeing lake.

There were no cut-offs, no pressure, just pure joy as she blasted through like a superhero in 1.35.

Jeremy Creasey headed for the Bath Two Tunnels City Half Marathon, featuring long railway tunnels, viaducts, canal paths and city landmarks, coming home in 2.13.51, supported by Elizabeth Hattam marshalling.

During the week, members took part in training runs along the riverbank to Redbrook and back via the old railway line, while others explored routes in Jersey, Beaupoyet, Pembrokeshire, Tunisia, Dorset, the Peregrine Path, London, the Biblins and around Llandegfedd.

Seven Spirits headed for the trails, sculptures and hills of the Queenswood Country Park parkrun near Leominster on Saturday.

Matthew Visser covered the 5k course in 22.52 for seventh overall, Lee Davies 23.48 (13th), Renske Bouwens 26.25 (3rd woman), Nick Sloper 27.20 (4th in age), Michael Visser 27.33, Julie Gee 35.36 and Fay Visser 35.44.

Back home at Chippenham, Brian Evans finished in 21.56, Robert Nelson 23.28, Carol Oswell 23.33 (6th female), Andy Clifton 25.17, Stephen McMenemy 26.34, Elizabeth Hattam 29.33, Alison McMenemy 30.25and Catherine Eales 34.54.

At the Forest of Dean parkrun, Jeremy Creasey crossed in 25.07, Marina Wright in 28.18, Andrew Hillis 28.19 and Steve Reason in his 50th parkrun 29.43.

Holly Janes-Thomas warming up for the Isle of Wight half also ran the Medina IOW parkrun in 26.24.