The two biggest events of the week for running clubs came in London and Brighton - with the landmarks half and the full marathon.

The events herald the start of the spring marathon season and there were a couple of PBs on the south coast for Fairlands Valley Spartans.

The Comet: Marie Colluci of Fairlands Valley Spartans. Picture: FVSMarie Colluci of Fairlands Valley Spartans. Picture: FVS (Image: Fairlands Valley Spartans)

Marie Collucci finished in three hours 50 minutes 44 seconds while Keith Hooker went under four and a half for the first time in his sixth attempt, clocking 4:23:26.

Michael O'Keefe (5:10:57), Tim Robinson (5:55:18) and Hazel Smith (6:28:04) were the others from the club.

North Herts Road Runners' Matt Ankers was completing his first marathon and finished in 4:00:50, despite suffering bad cramp, while a dogged foot injury hampered Colette Cooper of Stevenage Phoenix, although she battled through to finish in 5:19.

Jo Heasman took on the 10k and chopped a further minute and a half off of this year's best time in 58:39.

There were several Phoenicians in the highly popular London Landmarks Half Marathon too.

Richard Moore was the first of them home in 1:59:40 closely followed by Ashley Bates in 2:00:02.

Katka Loughton was the club's first lady in 2:08:35 followed by Sam Webster who had a strong run in 2:1124.

Simona Leadbetter finished her first half marathon in 2:30:04, Charlie Day clocked 2:54 despite helping a fellow runner at 15k and Denise Ricot 2:40:59.

For Spartans Carmel Thornton finished in 2:14:13 and Linda Nolan managed 2:12:17.

There were other events for people to sink their teeth into.

North Herts RR had Nicola Withington doing the Paris Marathon and she shaved 17 mins of her PB whilst with 4:19.

Sue Foot was in the Suffolk countryside at the Haverhill Marathon, finishing on the podium place as second lady over the undulating course.

Lee Varley meanwhile tackled the Ultra Marathon Windsor, finishing first overall in 4:23.

Phoenix had Emma Mead in ultra action too, running the off-road Woldsman 50 near York, finishing in 14:21.

Garry Wallace and Louise Chancellor took part in the Powderham power run events over multi-terrain routes near Exeter.

Wallace finished in 1:57:01 in the 10 mile event and Chancellor managed 1:02:59 in the five-mile run.

FVS meanwhile sent Linda George (2:15:29) and Martin Jacob (2:04:31) to the hilly Sheffield Half Marathon while Dave Stephenson was in Portsmouth for a track & field open meeting, his first races for a year.

He finished the 100m in 14.27 and clocked 29.64 in the 200m in his first full season in the over 60 category.