The top of Wales was the target for many runners as they tackled the slopes of Snowdon.

The Snowdonia Half Marathon takes runners up 1,300 metres in total with some sections too tough to run.

That didn't stop North Herts Road Runners pair Adam Wilson and Andy Grudzinski give what some described as the UK's toughest half marathons a go.

Grudzinski said: "From the moment we crossed the start line, it was up, up and away.

"The run continued around two lakes with a small hill in between, before descending to the start of the last hill around 11 miles, with its 14 per cent gradient.

"But when you get to the top and realise you've got to drop 160m, the fun continues and the quads start to dream of a finish line."

Both crossed the line in two hours 22 minutes 18 seconds.

Lewis Green of Stevenage Phoenix also took up the challenge, completing the 50k ultra-trail though.

That had a time limt of 14 hours and although many dropped out, most due to the heat, Green pushed on and came home in 13:03:26.

The Marlow 5 was another popular destination for a fast and flat five-mile race.

Chris Leigh of Phoenix was completing his ninth participation at the event, joined by Fran Levy and Greg Bradbury.

The latter was the first to finish in 34:07 while Leigh managed 43:09 and Levy got a new age group club record of 45:31.

Stevenage Striders had 17 involved, with some PBs to show for their efforts.

Matthew Robinson was one of them as well as the first from the club to finish, crossing the line in 32:42.

Lauren Pegg's 49:11 was a distance PB while the 48:39 from Ian McClements was a course best for him.

Teresa Sutherill was the first female Strider back in a time of 41:40, Tracy Bullot (43:46) and Molly Davis (44:06) completing that podium.

Martin Scales (34:56) and Stuart Cuzner (37:00) were the second and third male Striders.

Fairlands Valley Spartans had a different challenge as their masters' team went to Milton Keynes for the first EMAC track and field fixture.

And it was the women who stole the show with a thumping 143 points, 55 more than the host club.

The event is open to athletes over the age of 35 and there were plenty of wins for FVS.

Newcomer Paula McMahon won the W35 400m while other wins on the night came from Joylyn Saunders-Mullins (W60 100m), Christine Lathwell (W35 3,000m), Andrea Westcott (W50 400m, high jump, and triple jump), Yuko Gordon (W60 3,000m), Sharon Crowley (W60 hammer) and Marian Morley (W50 shot put).

The men had wins in the M60 hammer and the M35 3,000m.

Away from the racing and one member of Stevenage Striders headed out to Bali to visit the Kingdom Orphanage and donate bags of toys, books and other gifts for the children, as well as some of the surplus T-shirts from last year’s Stevenage 10k.

Tracy Bullot said: "These children have very little of their own and clothes cost the earth so these donated tops meant the world to them.

"They were so polite and tried so hard to speak English to us.

"It’s good to make a difference to others no matter how small it is to us as it means a whole lot more to them."