On Sunday there was glorious sunshine and the hottest temperatures of the year so far for the Muddy Bottoms off road races. These are both a cross between a trail race and a Long Distance Walkers' Association challenge walk starting from the Bamber Bridge Leisure Centre. The location quickly gives access to the surprisingly attractive countryside hedged by three motorways between Bamber Bridge and Blackburn.
The one hundred and forty entrants were offered a choice of two distances; 9 miles and 17 miles, and Bill and Dawn Lock from Lytham St Annes Road Runners took the more difficult option.
From an early 9am start made earlier still by coinciding with the spring clock change, competitors all took the same route up to the second canal-side checkpoint at the four and half mile point. From there short course runners turn back towards the finish while long course runners continued onto an additional eight mile loop which took them over the top of White Coppice Moors and through a succession of charming villages visiting another two checkpoints before returning to the canal-side check point to complete the short course route.
It's both a demanding and an interesting challenge with generous prizes and welcome showers, and pie and peas greeting finishers at the completion of the course. Bill and Dawn completed the 17 miles in 5hours. 9 minutes.
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