LSARRC News 1st October 2013

17 LSARRC members took to the lanes of Lytham on Thursday for the final summer handicap race of 2013. This marks the half-way point of the annual competition, and next month the race will be run along the winter course. Brian Porter had an excellent run on the 4.35 mile course, achieving a Seasons Best to win. Competitors Mark Willett and Roy Upton were hard on his heels with Willett recording a PB.  Tom Howarth also ran a PB but within the standard of the competition, this was just enough for 6^th place. At this stage in the competition, Oliver Hirsh has forfeited his lead for the first time to Mark Willett. In third place Tom Howarth is also well-placed, having a race in hand over the leaders.

 

A Lakeland hill is taken on by the Coniston training
weekend party.

A gloriously sunny Coniston, Cumbria was the venue for the latest Lytham St Annes RRC biannual training weekend.  22 members travelled to the Holly How YHA at Coniston on Friday for 2 days of hard training. The weekend’s training included a short run on Friday evening and Saturday started with an early morning pre-breakfast run, followed by a hill repetition session mid-morning. Activities continued into the afternoon with a scenic 6.5 mile trail run up a stiff climb through the woods for a lap of Tarn Hows before descending back through the woods to Coniston. Sunday started again with the pre-breakfast run and mid-morning 9 mile run along footpaths to Torver and back along the Coniston lake side path.  Sunday lunch time was a final get together at YHA hostel for lunch before heading back to the real world. In between runs members found time to visit the many attractions of Coniston including The Ruskin museum, trips across the lake on the steam gondola, and some brave souls even got their feet wet in the lake. The weekend was thoroughly enjoyed by all and already Terry Hellings and Nigel Simpkin have begun planning the next training weekend, due to take place in March of 2014.

Simon Denye’s lengthy trip up to Scotland for the 2013 Baxters Loch Ness marathon on Sunday proved to be a journey worth making. His performance clearly wasn’t affected by the early start, as he ran a PB, finishing in under 2.58.48 and within the top 10 MV40. The scenic, hilly course included punishing ascents at the 5 and 19 mile points, the last continuing for some 2 miles. Louisa Ruman completed the River Ness 10k in a creditable time of 52.30 and a PB. Also on Sunday, the sun was shining for the Preston 10k, where Mark Willett was pleased with his 40.24 run. Willett managed to schedule in the 10k between his run of half marathon challenges. Also competing in this race was Lytham lady Rebecca Willetts.