IT was marathon training at its most challenging for 300 runners who took to the rural roads of East Dorset on Sunday.

Despite the chilly air, excited runners came together to run The Wimborne20 Road Race on Sunday morning, in and around Gaunts Common.

The course was specifically chosen by course director Steve Wyatt of the Wimborne Athletic Club - which organised the event to help runners prepare for marathons being held later this year.

He was assisted by some of the club's members, who stepped forward as volunteers, to help coordinate the stream of high-vis, Lycra-clad athletes.

The course saw the runners pushed hard due to its hilly terrain.

"It's a preparation race for the marathons and that's why we do it," he said.

"It was a lovely sunny day for people to come out. And with beautiful scenery obviously, in the area we live in.

"They'll be feeling it in their legs tomorrow though because of those hills. They will know they ran 20 miles."

The winner of the race was ultra runner and British record holder Steve Way, of Bournemouth Athletic Club, with a time of 1h 53m 55s.

Next in the men's was Peter Thompson, also of Bournemouth, with 1h 54m 57s and Aaron Wilson, of the City of Salisbury group, came third with a time of 1h 59m 27s.

The first of the females was Emma Dews, of Bournemouth, in 2h 14m, followed by Nikki Sandell, of Bournemouth, with 2h 18m 03s, then Vicki Ingham, of the Poole Runners, with 2h 19m 21s.