LSARRC News 8th October 2019

Marathons galore for LSARRC runners.
Sunday saw several Lytham runner’s complete half and full marathons around the North West. Pamela Binns attended the West Coast half marathon.  The race started in Preston and finished in Lytham St Anne’s.  Pamela was the 1st female veteran over 65 to complete the course in a fabulous time of 2:15:09, coming 154th overall out of 238 runners.

Sylvia Gittins, Lewis McAfee, Roy Stevens (with his daughter), Thomas Howarth, and Heidi Haigh completed the Chester marathon on Sunday.
The race is flat/undulating and started and finished at Chester racecourse.
From the start line the race heads through the town, passing the local Town Hall. The also pass Chester Cathedral, the split-level Middle Ages "Rows", Eastgate Clock, Amphitheatre and go through the ancient Roman Walls four times before leaving the City and heading across the Old Dee Bridge.

Runners then head out of Chester, via Pulford, crossing the border into the Welsh villages of Lavister and Rossett. The route then follows a small loop reaching the old village of Holt before crossing the ancient Roman bridge at Farndon, leading back to England.
Runners head back along the home stretch running through Churton, Aldford and Huntington to finish back at the racecourse and enjoy well-earned post run celebrations!

Thomas Howarth was first to finish in a great time of 2:59:31, breaking the 3-hour mark.  Overall, he came 118th.  Next was Sylvia Gittins in 3:02:12, then Lewis McAfee in 4:00:22, Roy Stevens in 4:09:54 and Heidi Haigh in 4:24:25.

Also, on Sunday Mel Koth completed the Rochdale half marathon.  The Williams BMW Rochdale​​​ Half Marathon, 10K and 1-mile Fun Run returned for its 5th year on Sunday, 6 October 2019​, raising lots of money for local and national charities.  Mel said it was a fantastic event, with a fun run before and a 10k after.  The race takes you a little up to town towards the canal, where you run along towards Hollingworth lake. The route takes you around the lake and there was lots of support and live bands before heading back to the canal path.  Mel said the conditions were mixed, sunshine, heavy rain and some strong winds.

Mel was the only Lytham runner, and this was her first race since having a calf/knee injury which meant she couldn’t run for 2 weeks.  However, Mel did surprisingly well.  At 9 miles everything was going to plan, and she was 2nd lady however due to her lack of training she found the end a little difficult.  However, she hung on in and finished 3rd lady, 44th overall out of 500 runners and she was 1st v45.

Lots of club runners attended the Lytham Hall parkrun.  Chris Bowker and Morgan Pritchard managed the course in under 22 minutes.  Bowker ran 21:36 for 8th and junior Morgan Pritchard was 9th in 21:44. Ben Gregson was next home in 22:08 for 14th followed by Lewis McAfee in 23:19 for 31st.  Another highlight was Simon Smith who gained a new personal best time of 24:32 for 64th.  Other finishers were Jason Sheridan, Kev Murray, Susan Hawitt, Stephen Wise, Jennifer Hill, Eric Wrigley, Dan Gregson, Freddie Markham, Claire Markham, Greg Oulton, Leoma Gill, Maddy Markham, Jacqui Murray, Adrian Sargent, Claire England, Maria Tierney, Elizabeth Canavan, Laura Byrne, Rosa Gill, Ruth Bye and Michelle Sheridan.

Four Lytham runners made the short journey to Stanley Park, Blackpool to complete the parkrun and they were Adhamh Holton, Matthew Holton, Rebecca Willetts and Robert Parker.  Kirsten Burnett ran the Morecambe parkrun and Sue Henry did the Delamere parkrun.  Joanna Goorney was the first female home at the Huddersfield parkrun and Catherine Carrdus was second female at the Southport parkrun, also in attendance was Graeme Bertenshawe.  Another great run by one of our ladies, Michelle Chadwick was second female home at the Preston parkrun.

At the junior park run at Park View in Lytham the first 3 to finish ere Lytham runners, Jayden Richardson, Freddie Markham and Joe Alker.  Georgina Andrews and Evie Elker also finished the course.