SPIRIT of Monmouth Running Club enjoyed another energetic and varied week of racing, training and community spirit, with members competing across the region and beyond.

The standout event was the Cheltenham Half Marathon, where three club members delivered excellent performances on the town’s scenic and winding course.

Matthew Visser led the Spirit contingent with an impressive time of 1:36:18, collecting multiple personal records along the way.

Michael Visser followed with a determined run, finishing in 1:54 after a fast start, while Helen Shepherd completed the trio, running a strong hometown race in 2:02:28, despite a challenging morning and limited sleep.

Back in Monmouth, Tuesday’s club night featured a demanding VO₂ Max session at Chippenham Fields led by coach Barry Burns.

Runners tackled repeated efforts at 5K pace, with strong performances from Tom Chinnick, Rachel Waters, Lee Davies, Liberty Barlow, Matthew and Fay Visser, and Renske Bouwens.

Thursday also marked the return of the club’s autumn Trail & Treats series, with members navigating the woodland climbs of Chepstow Park Wood under the guidance of run leader Nick Sloper.

Throughout the week, club members completed a wide range of training runs, from intervals and hill sessions to scenic outings in the Wye Valley, Portmeirion and the Forest of Dean.

Notable efforts included early-morning mileage from Vicky Roberts, challenging climbs from Keith Penny and Katie Adams, and a treadmill half marathon completed by Vicky on Saturday.

Parkrun participation was strong both locally and further afield.

At Monmouth’s Chippenham Fields, Chinnick ran an excellent 18:06 a fraction of a second behind first man home Jacob Jeffries, followed by Brian Evans, Rachel Waters, Holly Janes-Thomas and Stephen McMenemy.

Spirit runners also appeared at Worcester, Severn Bridge, Llanfoist, Mallards Pike, Stratford-upon-Avon and even Amager Strandpark in Denmark.

The week also marked a farewell to long-standing member Steve Reason, who leaves for Norfolk after two decades with the club. His humour, consistency and presence will be greatly missed.