Okehampton Running Club’s flagship event of the Summer Series, the Oke Croak, took place on Saturday in the typical Dartmoor weather conditions of four seasons in a day. 
Early heavy rain that may have deterred some from entering, cleared to sunny spells with occasional downpours of rain and even hail at higher levels, but it was the relentless wind that really affected the runners.
Moved from its traditional date of August Bank Holiday to avoid clashes with other races, torrential rain the day before had also made it very wet underfoot. The course starts in Simmons Park and takes the runners out to the moors via footpaths to Chapel Ford. From here it is very much self navigating out to Oke Tor, where they all have to run through a natural stone arch. The route then turns downhill before taking in East Mill Tor and finally climbing to the top of Yes Tor. From there it really is all downhill, although the boulder-strewn slopes of the tor don’t make for a fast descent but there is some better running from the Army Camp back down to the finish in the park.
With many ORCs out marshalling and another big race on the Sunday, just six Okehampton runners took part. 
First home was Chris Turner who had only decided to run at the last minute, finishing in 1.34.04. He was followed by Mike Baker in 1.44.59. and the first lady ORC, Katherine Murray, running well in her debut Oke Croak to finish in 1.53.11 and be 2nd Lady. Next was Robert Richards in 2.04.58 and Christine Fritsch who claimed the first FV45 despite not feeling well.
Sunday saw an improvement in the weather for the big turnout of ORCs at the Ruby Run Half Marathon. This is a linear race which runs between Holsworthy and Hatherleigh, with the start and finish points alternating between the two towns each year. It didn’t take place last year after the organisers struggled to get enough help for it, but has been taken on by Hatherleigh Rotary Club and as usual Okehampton runners turned out in force to support this local race.
A last minute change of course due to roadworks extended the route slightly to almost 13.3 miles, but there were still some fast times and new PBs posted by ORCs.
First home for the club was Geoff Hill who had a tussle wit
h club mate Hugh Robinson over the last 200m of the course. Hugh had slowly chased down and overtaken Geoff who then mustered a final sprint to regain his position and finish 6th overall, taking the 1st Local Male trophy and setting a new PB in 1.24.36. Katie Littlejohns had a superb run turning up the speed and overtaking the leading lady in the last four miles, to finish First Lady in a magnificent 1.31.
58, setting a new PB over a tough course. Andrew Vernon also had a great run to be 1st M50 in 1.28.14, while Kate Wilson claimed the F55 prize coming home in 1.58.35. Other ORC times; Hugh Robinson; 1.24.45 (7th overall), John Binns; 1.45.10, Emma Dean; 1.48.00, Paul Evison; 1.48.27, Tom Andrew; 1.51.24, Karen King; 1.51.24, Anne Binns; 1.53.01, Gaz Williams; 2.03.11, Alan Luffingham; 2.07.42, Peter Bolom; 2.07.42, Cameron Whitelaw; 2.10.56 (new PB), Liam Keen; 2.11.31(new PB), Catherine Walker; 2.11.45 (new PB),Rachel Haydon; 2.12.00.
Three Okehampton runners found some sunshine on Sunday when they took part in the Coast to Coast Half Marathon organised by 
Pretty Damn Fit in Cornwall on Sunday. The route follows the popular cycle trail from Devoran on the south coast along the Mineral Tramway to Portreath on the north coast, a lovely, varied, scenic route with a mixture of terrain. Tracey Mills finished in 2 hours 15 minutes, Carole Cornwall and Katy Speak coming in at 2 hours 30.
During a brief visit home from working abroad, Okehampton’s Jo Page found herself a race and took part in the Arlington Court 10k on Sunday. Organised by North Devon Road Runners, the route follows trails and paths through the beautiful Arlington Court Estate owned by the National Trust. It is well known for being a tough, hilly and often muddy race but Jo took on the challenge with her usual enthusiasm and was rewarded with the First Lady prize, finishing in 46.21.
It was race three of the Run Exe 5K Summer Series last Tuesday. 166 runners turned up to do battle on a windy night down at Exwick. This regular race is a traffic free and fairly fl
at 5km taking in two laps of the footpaths and cycle tracks around Exwick Playing Fields and the River Exe Flood Relief. First ORC home was Andy Vernon in 18.47. First ORC lady home and winning her age category was Claudine Benstead in 19.53. Next home and third in his age category was Paul Evison in 22.51. Jo Bradford finished in 23.24 placing fourth in her age category. Karen King was delighted to get a new PB of 23.52. Mags Jarvis finished in 25.01 placing third in her age category.
