Local runners have travelled far afield in a flurry of endurance events, taking in the brutal and the beautiful.

The Original Mountain Marathon was founded in 1968 and is a two-day event completed in pairs, who must navigate the route while carrying their clothing and equipment.

This year’s event was on Dartmoor, starting and finishing at Okehampton Camp.

Several Ilkley Harriers competed in the elite level category, the toughest of eight possible courses, as it takes in 100km of tough, tussocked terrain. The weather offered wind, rain and low cloud cover.

Ilkley’s women’s team of Heather Dawe and Andrea Priestley proved a highly successful pairing as they claimed first female team in 16hr 19min 50sec, taking them to 40th position overall.

In another stellar performance, with a total time of 13hr 15min 38sec, Derek Fuller and Neil Lowry claimed 14th position.

Despite demanding weather on day two and a couple of chilly river crossings, Dave Wilby and Steven Hall completed the course in 14hr 17min 38mins for 23rd overall.

On October 31, thousands turned out for the Athens Classic Marathon to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon and Pheidippides’ legendary run from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC.

Kenyan Raymond Bett won over the classic course in 2hr 12min 39sec – still over 90 seconds slower than the former record set in 1969 by Coventry runner Bill Adcocks.

The course is difficult with inclines throughout and a particularly steep 30th kilometre between Gerakas and Akia Paraskevi.

Ilkley’s Martin Wright only just missed his four-hour target, finishing in 4hr 1min 34sec for 2,777th position of 10,084 finishers.

Back home, the Holmfirth 15 offers a stiff, hilly two-lap course.

David Watson of the home club led the field home in 1hr 23min 57sec – a two-minute lead on his chasers, fronted by Bingley’s Stewart MacDonald.

The men’s over-50s category was particularly competitive, with Mark Hall (Otley AC), Martin Firth (Queensbury RC) and Stephen Pickard (Baildon Runners) running home in fifth, eighth and tenth positions respectively.