In a week in between larger events, a few Striders took the opportunity to mix up their training and complete some more unusual events.

At the Dunstable Quarry 5K relays, St Albans Striders picked up 2nd mixed team, with Gary Warren, Wendy Walsh and Steve Buckle completing a combined total of 15km in 1:06:01. Graham Smith, Jonathan Bird and Stu Middleton got 2nd men's team as well, with a combined time of 1:10:37.

Closeby a number of Striders entered the revived Coombe Hill Fell Race near Wendover, a 7km course with 220m of ascent.

Jen Conway ran a new 5km personal best at the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5K race in Hyde Park, London, coming in at 19:02, beating her last PB from five years ago. She was the first female to finish the lunchtime race.

Nigel Aston ran his 200th parkrun, at Watermeadows in Belfast. Gladstone Thompson completed his 150th, at St Albans.

Bev Sullivan ran the hilly Hertfordshire Area of Natural Beauty 10K near Hitchin in 1 hour exactly.

Clair Drage completed the SIlver Phoenix Marathon in Walton-on-Thames in hot conditions on Saturday.

Dave Oh ran the Poole 10K in 54:01.

Report by Howard Bull

Photo of some of the Striders at the start of the Dunstable 5K relays, courtesy of Katie Bunting.

Photo of Jenni Johnston at Coombe Hill by Graham Smith.