PENARTH and Dinas Runners went from one extreme to another as they took part in two very different races last week.

Not only did they take part in the SSAFA 5k race around Bute Park last Wednesday, May 21, but they also ventured up to Merseyside to take part in the BT Rock ‘n’ Roll Liverpool Marathon on Sunday, May 25.

It was a hugely successful week, with many runners notching up impressive personal bests in both races, with others tackling the 26.2mile marathon beast for the first time.

In the SSAFA 5k there were personal bests for Mark Taylor, Louise Hunt, Claire Phillips, Glenn Powell and Ruth Owens.

In the RNR Liverpool Marathon there were personal bests for Gary Brown, Richard Jackson-Hookins, Andy Jones and Marc Durkin, while Andrew Frayling, Danielle Rayner and Josh Davies tackled the marathon for the first time.

Several members from the club also took part in the RNR Liverpool Half Marathon, with Ruth Owens notching up her second PB in the space of a week.

In the marathon Gary Brown was the first Penarth runner to cross the finish line as he achieved a personal best of 3.01.09. He’s now reached the qualifying standard for both the Boston and Liverpool Marathons.

Richard Jackson-Hookins shaved six minutes off his PB to finish in 3.13.27.

Andrew Frayling, taking part in his first marathon, finished in 3.20.47.

Andy Jones took 14 minutes off his PB to finish in 3.27.47.

Marc Durkin took 25 minutes off his PB to finish under the 3 hour 30 barrier in 3.29.01.

Lisa Cleary ran consistently well to finish in 3.43.33.

Yvonne Williams, who was 1st in her age category finished in 4.13.45.

Lindsey Hunt followed in 4.14.45.

Chris Seal hit the wall at 17 miles but finished in 4.15.53.

Danielle Rayner and Josh Davies, who ran and supported eachother throughout the whole race, finished their first marathon in 4.27.28.

Several runners from Penarth also took part in the half marathon earlier in the day.

Debbie Evans and Ian Warburton were the first to cross the finish line in 1.39.46.

Andrea Hurman was next in 1.39.52.

Ruth Owens achieved a PB in 1.41.44.

Mandy Barringtonm followed in 2.00.57.

Andrea and Steve Goodfellow crossed the line together in2.03.03.

Rhodri Evans finished in 2.05.21.

Andrea Pace finished in2.08.00.

On Sunday Lyn Evans also took part in the Edinburgh Half Marathon and narrowly missed out on his personal best in 1.52.36.

There was also a raft of personal best times in the SSAFA 5k, which was part of the club championship, last Wednesday.

Clem Clement was the first Penarth runner to finish in 48th place in 19.21.

Andrew Palmer was next in 54th in 19.44.

Mark Taylor was next in 86th with a PB of 21.16.

Ian Warburton was just behind him in 87th in 21.23.

Louise Hunt was the first Penarth woman to finish in 88th as she notched up a PB of 21.25.

Debbie Evans was next up in 91st, and 1st in her age category, in 21.37.

Lisa Cleary was next in 97th in 21.59.

Glenn Powell was next in 100th in 22.08.

Andrea Hurman followed him in 101st in 22.09.

Pete Cottnam was 104th in 22.23.

Ruth Owens was 109th and notched up a PB in 22.35.

Abyd Quinn Aziz was 112th in 22.42.

Steve Hill was 123rd in 23.40.

Claire Phillips achieved a PB in 126th with 23.44.

Yvonne Williams was 128th in 23.50.

Amanda Lynch was 129th in 24.02.

Michelle Hoey was 135th in 24.36.

Lyn Evans was 143rd in 25.38.

Janice Clement was 145th in 26.08.