AFTER months of training Penarth runners tackled the Manchester Marathon at the weekend.

Every runner from the club taking part in the 26.2 mile race achieved a personal best, with two runners breaking the hallowed three hour barrier.

One Penarth runner, tackling their first marathon in Llanelli, also broke the four hour barrier.

With the sun shining and a gentle breeze in the air it was almost perfect conditions for running.

Whilst the runners tackled the crowds and conditions, their fellow club members tracked their progress online, urging them to reach their targets.

Both Richard Jackson-Hookins and Ben Butler-Madden, who had been training together in the months ahead of the race in Manchester, had set themselves the target of breaking the three hour barrier.

Not only would such a time be impressive in its own right, but it would also be the first time in many years that someone from the club had managed to run under three hours.

It would also mean they would qualify for both the Boston and London Marathons.

Richard, who had tackled both the London and Manchester Marathons last year, was the first Penarth runner to cross the finish line in 186th overall out of a field of 7,761 runners.

He took more than 13 minutes off his personal best (PB) with a time of 2.53.00.

Ben Butler-Madden, in his second attempt at a marathon, took nearly 30 minutes off his PB with an equally impressive time of 2.56.58.

Beverley Warburton, in her first attempt at a marathon, was delighted to finish under four hours as she clocked a time of 3.52.55.

Her partner Andrew Williamson was not far behind in 3.56.41.

Paul Whitmarsh, who had faced disappointment in his last few marathons in hot conditions, stormed to a PB by more than 22 minute in 4.22.36.

Meanwhile, in Llanelli, Glenn Powell was also running his first marathon.

He broke the four hour barrier in 3.58.19 in the Great Welsh Marathon.

The week before Pete Williams had also tackled the Brighton Marathon and clocked a time of 5.00.53.

Richard had been running the Manchester Marathon in aid of the Ty Hafan children's hospice.

He can be sponsored at: https://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Jackson-Hookins2

Pete Williams also ran the Brighton Marathon in aid of Dementia UK in memory of his mum.

He can be sponsored at: https://www.justgiving.com/Mariepwilliams/

This weekend Penarth and Dinas Runners will be tackling the London Marathon, with many of the club members also running in aid of charity.