Kicking off the post-interclub races of the week, Ruth Travis and Debbie Porter ran the Millbrook Monster 10k near Stalybridge. It is a very low key but tough multi terrain race with 900 feet of climbing and offers spectacular views across Saddleworth. It took in the area recently affected by the moorland fires, with some areas adjacent to the route still smoking with the fire brigade keeping a watchful eye on it. Debbie completed the course in 1:06:21 and Ruth finished in 1:06:35. All runners get a free chip butty from the local chippy at the end of the race which makes it all worthwhile.
At the Lancaster 10k on Wednesday, Emily Ingham got a pb with 49:27. Richard Barnes finished in 46:18 and Bernard Elkington completed the course in 01:30:58.
Montane Lakeland 100 and 50
Last weekend had no events on the Red Rose club calendar, but was the weekend the Lakeland 100 and 50 races are held. To those not in the know, that’s 100+ miles or 50 miles of hilly running in the Lake District.
The Lakeland 100 has to be one of the hardest challenges in running – certainly in the North West. It starts on Friday evening and circumnavigates the beautiful Lake District, incorporating 22493 feet of climb over 105 miles. To give an idea of the scale of the race, below is how far you have to zoom out to show the whole route.
Dave Brunton took on the Lakeland 100 challenge for the second year in a row, starting Friday night, faced all kinds of horrendous weather and finished Sunday morning in an epic 32:13:13.
The Lakeland 50, which starts late morning on Saturday, provides 9728 feet of climb over a 50 mile course. It’s unmarked, unrelenting and the weather in the Lakes is unpredictable to say the least. But if you get to the start line, you’re one of the race’s “Legends”. If you make it to the end? You’re part of the 50% that do.
On the 50 mile race, Shane Cliffe led the Red Rosers in with 12:16:05. Not far behind was first timer Mark Mccrea with 12:21:06. Glynis Leo got a PB with 13:30:11, Pita Oates revisited the course, getting round in a PB time of 15:04:51 and Aimee Midgley completed in 15:40:31. Again the 50 milers saw plenty of bad weather and did well to finish at all.
There was also an impressive line up of Red Rose marshals to assist the runners. Dan and Nicola Hughes, Wendy and Stuart McNair, Andrea Davison and Lakeland 50 completer from last year, Gareth Bell all turned out for a long shift.
Elsewhere, on Saturday morning at Leigh Sports Village, Gary Corcoran and John Naylor took on the mind-numbing challenge of 105.5 laps on the track to cover a marathon at the Leigh on the Track event, hosted by Time2run Events. Gary finished in 3:37 to gain 6th place. John finished his 63rd marathon and 12th of the year in 3:40 for 8th place.
Meanwhile in Milton Keynes… Gina Biggs ran a marathon of 7.5 scenic clockwise laps of Caldecotte Lake, finishing her 133rd marathon and 33rd of the year in 6:29 – the Enigma – Show Me The Money Marathon.
On Sunday, at Aintree Racecourse in wet conditions, Red Roser Road Runners ran a variety of race distances.
In the 5K, the Smith family competed en masse. Stuart finished in 2nd place, with 20:04, Daniel was 32nd with 26:08, Karen finished in 30:37 and Holly completed in 32:18. Michael Oddie took 7th place in a time of 21:53 and Alison Roberts ran in 30:51.
In the 10K, Dave Eaves got round in 46:47, Jo Roberts ran the course in 54:34 and Sue Rennie finished in 01:09:46.
Ben Smithers was the fastest Red Rose Road Runner to complete a half marathon this weekend (probably ever!) wearing an inflatable unicorn with a time of 01:59.59. Samantha Edwards was first lady inflatable unicorn runner with 02:06:45.
Judith Ingham, Emily Ingham, Ann Cleave, Michelle Round and Emily Atkinson ran Caldervale 10 miler also on Sunday morning. Emily came 2nd female and Ann came 3rd female, Judith got the V45 prize and the ladies as a whole won the team prize. Winners all Round at Caldervale!
Scott Jackson completed a Tough Mudder race over approximately 5 miles with many obstacles and obviously a lot of mud.
parkrun
As with any Saturday, Red Rose Road Runners covered a wide variety of parkruns. parkrun Special mentions: At Cuerden Valley parkrun, Matt Holmes was first finisher with 19:02. He has tried very hard for the last few months to achieve this, so well done Matt! Manolo placed with with 3rd finisher. Rebecca Chesters (Blundell) completed her first parkrun, ably support by Anneke and finished first in her age category.
Wendy Ward got a parkrun / 5K PB in Clermont, Florida, in predictably warm, humid conditions with 26:51.
Susan Heatley got a PB at Penrith with 31:51.
The full consolidated Red Rose parkrun results are here -> RRRR parkrun consolidated results 28.7.18.