The 34th Bungay Black Dog Marathon provided an intriguing race for second place, in almost ideal conditions, as Andy Kett led from start to finish with the battle going on behind him.
For a while Adam Howlett, of Framlingham Flyers, stayed close to the North Norfolk Beach Runner, with Mark Thompson, of Waveney Valley AC, in close attendance in third.
That was still the order going through Beccles on the first lap of the picturesque Waveney Valley course, but by the time they got on to the second lap Kett had stretched his lead, with Thompson taking over in second place and Henry Chancellor (unattached) in third as Howlett faded.
But things changed rapidly over the final 10 miles as two other runners hauled themselves into contention. Jason Taylor, of Felixstowe Road Runners, had a great second half to overtake both the challengers to take second place, two and a half minutes behind Kett, who clocked 2 hours 55 minutes, 05 seconds. Taylor just held off another contestant making a late effort, Paul Reynolds (unattached), who was only 38 seconds behind in third.
Kett, who has run over 30 marathons, said at the end: 'It was tough, and I was shattered towards the end, but it was a good course and I enjoyed it.'
Hayward's Heath runner Kim Lo won the women's marathon, pacing herself well to overtake early leader Karen Doak, of Tri-Anglia, on the second lap. After clocking 3-18:49, she said she also enjoyed the 'beautiful course,' but tired near the end.
Doak finished in 3-21:08, withy Tina Jordan third in 3-30:59.
Robert Chenery, of Ipswich Jaffa, comfortably won the men's half-marathon in a time of 1-18:20, 47 seconds ahead of Martin Howetson (unattached). David Sparshott, of Bungay Black Dog, was third in 1-22:08.
There were celebrations for the host club as Joanne Cox won the women's half-marathon in a time of 1-36:40, just 23 seconds ahead of Rowena Leary, of Norfolk Gazelles, and 34 seconds ahead of third placed Jess Gooderham, of St Edmund's Pacers.
The Bungay Black Dog Festival of Running also included a 10k race, won comfortably by Dominic Oliver, of City of Norwich AC in 34:50. Bungay Black Dog Jo Andrews won the women's 10k in 39:07.
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