Taunton half marathon will be a big test – Dyke
The Tiverton college lecturer notched up win number seven this year in the Great West Teignbridge 10 miles road race last weekend but eased to victory without being pushed.
"I was pleased to win but disappointed with my time of 61mins 04secs as it was well outside my PB of 59:27 from the Plymouth Hoe 10," said Dyke. "There just wasn't the depth in the field.
"But Taunton has a good reputation for attracting good runners in the past few years and I ran my personal best on the course last year."
Dyke won Taunton in a time of 79mins 38secs 12 months ago, a time she has since improved to 79:16 and is clearly able to dip under 79 minutes this weekend.
There is a record entry of almost 1500 runners for the half with more than 200 entered for the full marathon.
Westbury Harrier Maurice Cowman holds the men's marathon record with 2hrs 16mins 45secs set back in 1983,which would easily put him among the top Brits this year.
Bristol & West AC's senior women carry the club's hopes at the Midland Counties Road relay Championships at Sutton Park, Birmingham, today.
With injury, illness and a wedding having ripped apart the men's hopes of a medal team manager Mike Down believes a youthful women's squad offers the best chance of success.
Emily Merrick, who only recently turned 18, will make her senior debut and join the experienced trio of South West champion Kate Goodhead, Imogen Ainsworth and Claire Hallissey – the latter two the only survivors from the silver medal winning squad twelve months ago – plus Nicky Brookland and Suzanne Richards in the six-strong squad.
Entries are still being taken for the Easter Bunny 10km which takes place at RNAS Yeovilton on Easter Monday, 13th April – entrants must be aged 15 or over and details can be found on the Club website www.yeoviltownrrc.com
If the 6.1miles of the Bunny seems too far, the first race of the Summer 5km Series, also organised by Yeovil Town Road Running Club, takes place on Wednesday (7.15pm/April 8th). Entries are taken on the night only at the race HQ opposite the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton.
Entries will be taken on the day for the Calne 10k at Bowood House on Sunday (10am) costing £6.
A big entry has been received for the Exe to Axe 20 miles Coastal Challenge from Exmouth to Seaton tomorrow (10am).
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