IF there was a feast of races for runners from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club to choose from last weekend, the menu would have left the blue hoops uncomfortably full.

First off the blocks was Richard Bate who set an early mark for the best performance of the weekend by finally cracking the recognised good club standard benchmark of 40 minutes for the 10km distance.

Taking part in the Shakespeare 10km, a flat but sometimes wind affected race at Stratford Raceway, Bate came home in 12th place and 3rd in his age group in a time of 39.45 to finally bag a PB that has been a long time coming.

A husband and wife team took part in the Resolution Run at Arrow Valley in Redditch, with Pete Krivosic claiming bragging rights by finishing the 15km race in 1.24.43 to take 28th place with Sarah Krivosic finishing in 50th in 1.43.37.

With many putting finishing touches to marathon training there were plenty of half marathons to choose from.

Matt Biggs travelled to Wembley for the North London Half Marathon finishing in 1.23.04 to take 56th place, Stephen Grosvenor took part in the Bath Half finishing in 1.52.25 in 3585th.

A large group travelled south for the Silverstone Half Marathon around the formula one motor racing circuit, Mark Judge was first home in 282nd place in 1.30.23, Malcolm Beddall finished in 2.09.01 in 3895th with Jan Burbie clocking the same time but a place behind, Oliver Morrison was 4041st in 2.10.28 and Kimberley Ball was 4186th in 2.11.57.

And an even larger group journeyed to Telford for the Ironbridge Half with Simon Hughes bringing the hoops home in 1.25.59 in 24th place, Andy Weaver polished his marathon plan with a 1.48.23 finish in 222nd, Jacqui Elson-Whittaker was 340th in 1.56.32, Carol Fisher was 372nd in 1.59.23, Sue Payton was 393rd in 2.00.08 and Nigel Warrington was 459th in 2.05.12.

A couple of hoops went even longer in the Knighton 20 with Simon Blizzard recording a time of 2.24.22 to take 55th place, John Sixsmith was 163rd in 2.55.05 and Lisa Perkins finished in 3.56.30 in 302nd position. And going longer still in the Dirt Run Ultra, a 32 mile run along the railway walk and canal towpaths from Himley Hall, were Gina Collins who placed 46th in 7.30.37 and Alison Whitehouse a place and two seconds behind in 7.30.39 in 47th of 49 competitors.