Dublin, Frankfurt and Snowdon offer all kinds of marathon fun. Speedy 5ks in Battersea, Barrowford and Hyde Park and cross country finally gets a bit muddy.

Morocco’s Taoufik Allam won Dublin Marathon in 2:11:30, holding off Ashenafi Boka (2:13:59) and Birhanu Teshome (2:14:28). In sixth place, Adam Bowden (GBR) clocked 2:20:16 and Irelands Martin Hoare was seventh in 2:20:22. The women’s gold went to Ethiopia’s Nigist Muluneh in 2:28:32, with Hawi Alemu Negeri (2:29:36) and Courtney McGuire (2:32:52) rounding out the podium.

Pre-race favourite Selly Chepyego Kaptich didn’t manage to break the course record as hoped, though she did look like she was at risk of breaking something else when she tripped over the finishing tape. Nevertheless, she’d already won by that point, topping the Frankfurt Marathon podium in 2:23:11 and leading a 1-2-3 for Kenya.

Aldershot’s Louise Small was 11th in 2:41:02 and Lara Bromilow 28th in 2:54:40. The men’s victory also went to Kenya thanks to Brimin Kipkorir Masoi running 2:06:11. Fastest Brits were James Dunne – 17th in 2:23:03, Gregor Yates 18th in 2:23:04 and Peter Huck 22nd in 2:25:23.

The heatwave put a brake on what might have been a crop of personal bests on the traditionally fast course but one record was set: temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius towards the end of the elite race made this the warmest Frankfurt Marathon in 33 years.

On the more gnarly end of the marathon spectrum, Marathon Eryri Snowdonia treated runners to hail, horizontal rain and some tasty climbs. Daniel Kashi of Sale Harriers still managed to knock out a 2:39:51 for the win – incredible. Equally awesome, Caroline Brock of Steel City Striders took her victory in 3:13:43 .

Talking of dodgy weather – after gales and torrential rain last year, runners at Leicester Half Marathon were treated to near perfect conditions today. Capitalising on that fact, the top four men finished under 70 minutes – Ryan Creech being the first home in 66:31. Local speedster Mo Hussein clocked 68:41 for silver with Danny Hallan 69:03 and Jason Bennet 69:43 just behind. It was a tight race at the top for the women with less than a minute in it. Kate Wells raced home for the in in 85:21, closely followed by Vicky Baddick in 85:35 and Rebecca Randell in 85:43.

5k speedsters

Podium 5k was back at Barrowford this weekend. Andrew Milligan topped the rankings in 14:23 ahead of Sam Charlton in 14:30 and Jack O’Leary hot on his heels in 14:33. Sophie Harris is making the most of the move up north, clocking 16:30 for her win. Eleanor Anderson was runner up in 16:48 and Sinead Bent third in 17:02.

Battersea Park Chase The Moon had a tight top three in the 10k as Connor Treris took the win in 33:17 with Samuel Barnes hot on his heels in 33:20 and Ben Goddard right behind in 33:31. Yanyan Jiao was first woman home in 40:41. Helen Gaunt (V40) was first woman in the 5k running a blistering 17:17 to place eighth overall. Nicky Payne came tantalisingly close to breaking 19, running 19:03 to take the runner up spot, followed by Harriet Lord in 19:25. Gus Withers was well ahead in the men’s race, taking the win in 15:02. Daniel Wolff (16:40) and Jean-Marie Wecker (16:42) rounded out the podium.

Also in the capital during the week, the Last Friday of the Month 5k. The top three dents dipped under 16 minutes – Ollie Garrod first in 15:21, Harry Allan second in 15:24 and Ben Short third in 15:55. Sophie Cowper topped the women’s rankings in 18:15 with Carolina Pena (18:30) and Susan Macdonald (19:20) next over the line

Elsewhere on the roads

City of Lincoln 10k produced some punchy times. Abbie Donnely ran a storming 32:51 to win the women’s race. Runner-up Sophie Wallis was hardly shirking with a 33:56 clocking and Emma Hodson in third with 35:44. Lewis Jagger logged a 30:32 to win the men’s race ahead of Shane Robinson’s 30:52, with Cameron Dockerill keeping it sub-31 with 30:55.

Wins at the Preston Western Distributor 10k went to Karl Hodgson in 34:49 and Gillian Draper in 41:17. The 5k race went to Adam Bartlett (17:45) and Hailey Fletcher (20:03). Accrington 10k was won by Aidan Holgate (33:34) and Sally Armitage (38:54). Hove Prom 10k saw James Baker cross the line first in 33:21 and Bobby Searle (F) in 37:50.

Run Chester Zoo 10k can’t be an easy course (having spent hours going up and down the hills and round the wolves there!) but that didn’t deter Jack Bromley (32:18) and Eleesha Charnley (38:16) who both went home with top spots. Lee Valley Velo park hosted a range of distances, with the results being as follows: Half Marathon – Daniele Biagi 77:05 & Hester Scotton 1:31:01, 10 mile – Rob Lowe 58:30 & Annabel Rutherford 85:38, 10k – Jonathan Hilling 34:39 & Fer Nakoneski, 5k – Michael Mcccarthy 16:34 & Martina Mazacova 20:04.

Cross Country finally gets some mud

The British Masters Cross Country Relays saw V35 upwards hurtling around Long Eaton in Derbyshire yesterday. Fastest legs across all female runners were Gemma Steele and Joanna Marsden both V3 and both clocking 14:02. Carol Parsons (V45) was just a second behind. Charnwood won the W3, Cheshire Dragons W45, Bristol & West W55, Hogweed Trotters W65. For the men, Tipton Harriers won the M35, Dulwich Runners M45, Leicester Coritanian M55, Bristol & West M65. The fastest legs all came from the M35 runners – Karl Darcy 11:24, John Beattie 11:25 and Joe Smith 11:26.

Surrey Vets XC also took place on Saturday in Nonsuch Park. There were two races – 6k for W35 & M60 and over, then 9k for M40 plus . We don’t have official results but are told that the ladies winner was Gabby Reynolds of Herne Hill and men’s winner was Duncan Walmer of Walton.

At the South East Lancashire Cross Country League in Heaton Park, Bury AC won the women’s race as Rachel Marshall logged 30:17. East Chesire’s Joe Hudak was first home for the men in 33:35.

Over in the States Charles Hicks won the Pac-12 XC Champs representing Stanford.