This weekend saw two Chard Road Runners head off to Tollard Royal in Dorset for the OX Races, with Helen Baxter taking on the OX Epic while Paul Masters took on the OX Frolic.

First off on Friday evening was Helen with the start of The Ox Full Epic. The Epic is a series of up to four races over three days.

This challenge requires runners to complete The OX 50 mile and at least one other of four events, or as Helen decided to do, take of all four - The OX Dark (10k in the dark), The OX 50 (miles), The OX Light (10k) and The OX Half (13.1 miles).

On the start line of the first race, The Ox Dark, Helen set off at a steady pace save her legs for the next day. With head torches ablaze Helen navigated her way around this off-road trail along forest trails and footpaths and crossed the line 1h 11m 09s and 64th place.

Saturday saw Helen up for early start ready for the OX 50 - this race was a 10 lap off-road route.

Helen again set off with a plan of action to keep with a run/walk philosophy through the hilly route. With the halfway point reached Helen was in fine form joking "I haven't fallen over yet!"

Well the inevitable occured on lap 8 and sustaining a graze to the leg and some degree of hurt pride, Helen's pace slowed but after 12h 52m 40s Helen crossed the line in 28th place.

Sunday was another early start with Helen heading out on the OX Light - this was the same route as the Dark but now with no head torch required, Helen took this race by the horns and set off at good pace and the overall Epic challenge leaderboard was looking good for Helen who was in Third Place Female after the first two events.

With great pacing and with some good battles among the title contenders around the 10k route Helen crossed the line on tired legs in 1h 04m 35s in overall 40th position but now closer to the Epic goal.

With just over an hour to rest Helen was back on the line for the final Epic challenge the OX Half. With all to play for Helen set off on this hilly multi-terrain route with two firm goals, to complete the challenge and to go for The Epic podium.

Heading out strong Helen soon found that her tired legs, having already covered 63 miles, were definitely lacking in the early steep hills, as the route opened out Helen settled in and was soon overtaking her two rivals for the Epic crown, reaching the last aid station and realising the enormity of her position in this challenge, Helen gave a final push and cross the line 3h 06m 30s and in 92nd position and succeeded in her goals of completing the Full Epic challenge and and taking the 1st Female award.

Next saw Paul Masters taking on the OX Frolic - this event has a 12 hour time limit and runners can run as many laps of the offroad trail route as they want within the time.

Paul's goal was to cover 26.2 miles (five laps) and with any time pressures off Paul headed into the race in a more relaxed pace.

With three laps down Paul was starting to feel a lack of training and with no rain for some days the route was firm going all round, slowing over the last two laps Paul crossed the line in 4h 48m 27s.