As summer becomes a distant memory and the leaves on the trees start changing colour, it s the time of year when runners start preparing for the cross country and off road season, so coaches need to work on strength and endurance.

As summer becomes a distant memory and the leaves on the trees start changing colour, it's the time of year when runners start preparing for the cross country and off road season, so coaches need to work on the strength and endurance aspects of their athletes to aid performance on long, muddy and hilly cross country circuits.

Last Sunday, five of the U23 training group went off to Plymouth for the first Brooks Westward League fixture of the season. Races are within age groups and the competition is between clubs from Devon and Cornwall. Distances vary according to age group and between 2.6k and 8.2k. This course wasn't so hilly, but had enough turns to make it interesting.

In her first ever competitive cross country race, Polly Burns had a good run in the senior women's race, despite not wearing spikes, but she thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. In the Under-13 race for girls, Georgia Hanson (with spikes) had another fine run and finished 14th. The Under-13 race for boys was a real competitive affair with Nick Smith (9th) just catching Grey Grierson (10th) on the line. A great run from both of them.

A quality field was on show in the U15 boys' race, and Kit Grierson had a terrific run to finish ninth. A good team performance so early in the season.

l This Saturday morning (October 17) the club has a training session with Viv Matthews, a UK Level 4 coach, at Sidmouth College starting at 9am and then, in the afternoon, a family Hash from the Muttersmoor Car Park at 3pm.

For more details phone Malcolm Bayer on (01404) 812186.

l Also on Sunday was the first Eden Marathon and Half Marathon organised jointly by the Eden Project and St Austell Running Club to showcase the Biomes, the surrounding countryside and mining areas and the regeneration of the local environment.

It was good to see Jane Hemsworth back on the marathon trail and her time of 4.39.44 did justice to the figure of eight course, mostly off road on clay trails and good paths.

From the highest point on Carloggan Downs you should be able to see all over Mid Cornwall, Bodmin Moor and the North and South Coasts but the fog and horizontal rain and wind put paid to all that!

Adrian Organ and Bev Tarry went for the Half, finishing in 1.14.35 and 2.23.52, respectively, and all three club runners praised the organisation and brilliant marshals who were extremely helpful.

Bev, a stickler for punctuality, was disappointed that it started seven minutes late and then, to add insult to injury, she was stung by a wasp. All was however forgiven when they were presented with a huge pasty and a pint of ale at the finish, together with a fancy T shirt to prove that they had really 'been there, done that'.