HARDY runners swamped the streets for the 30th Taunton Marathon and Half-Marathon back in April 2013.

The annual showpiece - which has unfortunately been pulled this year - started and ended at Somerset College.

It saw 200 people tackle the 26.2-mile challenge and almost 1,000 the half-marathon.

A decade ago, after the run, race director John Lewis said: “We were a little bit down on runners this year because it was a bit cold and windy – some runners said the first seven or eight miles were great but once they changed direction it got harder as they were running against the wind."

Chris Ray won the full marathon in 2 hours, 41 minutes and 58 seconds and Emily Canvin, of Langport Runners, crossed the line as the first woman home in a time of 3:12.24.

In the half-marathon, Peter Monaghan claimed his second consecutive title in 1:14:48 with Ami Yetton finishing as fastest woman, clocking in at 1:22.49.

The two-lap marathon course took runners through the main streets of town and out into the countryside on the B3227 through Norton Fitzwarren before turning south through Oake and Bradford-on-Tone, and then coming back to the college on the A38.

As well as the feature races, dozens of youngsters took part in a fun run.

Sponsorship raised went towards Taunton Carnival and charities.

Carnival committee chairman Marilyn House said: “We’ve enjoyed sponsorship from many businesses over the past 30 years and it would be very difficult to promote the charity side of the day without it.

“We must also remember that many charities will benefit directly from the runners’ efforts on – at least £10,000 will have been raised that way.”

Pensioner Peter Smith, shortly before his 75th birthday, probably covered the most miles – he flew from Australia to run in the half-marathon 25 years after he last completed it.

He clocked 3:07:53 - compared to his 1988 time of 1:39.

Keiran Neale, 34, of Taunton, ran the half marathon in a heavy suit of medieval armour to raise cash for Diabetes UK.