IT was a weekend of extremes for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club with some competing at the 5k distance and other going long with marathons to complete.

Helen Tromans made her marathon debut in the Shakespeare Marathon in Stratford-upon-Avon completing the 26.2 mile, two lap course in 3.20.31 to take the thrid female prize and first in her age group.

It is a performance that ensures Helen's automatic qualification for the London Marathon next April should she choose to take up the option.

Also in Stratford, Dave Hickman completed the one lap half marathon in 1.49.20.

Further afield Ingrid Cain took part in the Madrid Marathon finishing in a time of 4.25.20, another good finish in what is rapidly becoming a world tour.

Over a much shorter distance of a fraction over three miles, Ben Foster just missed out on a podium place at Wolverhampton and Bilston’s Fordhouses Fast 5k by a matter of seconds, finishing in fourth place in 16.51. He was joined by club stalwart John Andrews who took 43rd place in 21.37.