WITH changeable temperatures last weekend it was fingers crossed for the cooler side of the coin for three Chard Road Runners, who headed to the Bath Running Festival to take on the challenging Marathon.

This race route takes in the canals and hills around Bath and on the starting line were Rod, Stuart and Fiona MacLean.

Setting off from Bath University, the MacLeans initially kept together over the first loop before dropping down along trails to join the tow path of the Kennet and Avon canal.

Stuart and Rod started gaining places along the Foose Way while Fiona found her pace and was able to start picking off other runners.

Rounding the halfway point and heading back along the canal, Stuart and Rodney gave a final push back to the University.

The MacLean brothers crossed together in 4h 34m 10s, both being awarded 11th place.

Fiona was soon following over the line in a time of 4h 49m 24s, taking 28th position and second in her age category.

The next event for the Road Runners was the presentation of a cheque for the club’s charity of the year, Love Musgrove.

The presentation took place after Saturday’s Longrun Meadow parkrun as Martin Holly, Jeremy Taylor, Wayne Loveridge and Paul Masters handed over the first of what is hoped to be a number of cheques to Dan Varley, Love Musgrove community fundraiser.

The £1,000 will be going towards new facilities for the maternity department to help provide enhanced care within its ageing facilities.

Wayne Loveridge and Masters decided to do the parkrun with the former coming home in first place in 16m 56s. Masters crossed in 23m 12s (91/438).