LSARRC News 28th August 2013

Going strong on his 40 before 40 half marathon challenge:
Willett at the Fleetwood half marathon. 

Serial half marathon runner and LSARRC member Mark Willett competed in the Fleetwood Half Marathon on Sunday. The race started at Fleetwood YMCA leisure centre, the course following the promenade and streets of the town. He ran the race in hot, sunny conditions and finished in a satisfying 1hr 31. This marked race 32 of his end goal of 40, a challenge which he has undertaken to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Trail and Fell enthusiast Debbie Cooper took on the Chipping Fell Race on Saturday. She had an excellent run on the 7.5 mile course, finishing in 1hr 34, knocking an impressive 15 minutes off last years time of 1hr 49  Drier conditions prevailed this year making the course quite runnable, compared to last, which Cooper described as ‘like running through a swamp for miles!’ Cooper was 4^th lady finisher. The course comprised a steady ascending drag out across the fields to the fells and then a steep climb up Parlick along the ridge. Runners then came off back down the other side and back up Parlick, down and back across the fields. The race involved a testing 1801 feet of climb. The race is part of the Chipping Show, which showcases sheep racing, show horses, a variety of farm animals and a concluding tractor race. Cooper described it as ‘a great day out and a tough little race’.

Club member Julia Rolfe competed in the 5 mile Horwich Jubilee road race on Wednesday.  The race comprises a 2 lap route along the reservoir at Rivington, and then a long gradual ascent on country road. Rolfe came 2^nd FV50 in 40.01.

Last Saturday, with an evening start of 7pm saw Lytham Road Runner Colin Alexander start "Hell on the Humber 2013", a 12 hour night endurance event. It was Colin's 2nd attempt at the popular event now in its 3rd year. The event saw 200 competitors run a 4 mile lap back and forth across the iconic Humber Bridge. Colin was delighted to complete 11 laps totalling 44 miles in some challenging weather of gales and heavy rain. This saw an improvement of 8 miles from last year’s event. Colin said "you wouldn't know from looking but none of the lap is flat. This makes it a tough challenge for a runner of my standard, as do the hours of darkness when trying to keep adding miles to your total. The camaraderie of fellow competitors is amazing and keeps you going during many moments of doubt" Distances covered ranged from 20 miles to the winner, John Nicholson's 76 miles.