Radcliffe AC Junior Alexandra attended her very first parkrun this weekend, battling the mud at Clarence. Great work! Lewis and Alfie also smashed their first Burrs Community Run 2k on Sunday, with Alfie even doing an extra lap! 

On Saturday, Emma Wolstencroft took on the Dalby Forest Head Torch Challenge, a 5-mile undulating run at night through the paths and trails of Dalby Forest, which she finished in 1:02:27.

Five members were at the Stockport Daffodil 10k on Sunday, a closed road course in Stockport starting on Jackson’s Lane and taking in Chester Road/Woodford Road and a section of the A555 (Airport Link Road). Daniel Hunt was the first back in 46:51 whilst John Szubert knocked his PB for the distance out of the park in 49:39, followed by Laura Tracey (53:19), Graham Beales (1:08:37) and Helen Kay (1:08:39).

On the same day, two headed to the coast for the Lytham St Anne’s 10 Miler, a flat course starting  at the St Annes Pool on the South Promenade. Mark Williams completed the race in 1:11:58 and Natalie Hitchen in 1:56:19.

This Saturday, 12 Radcliffe AC members were up and out early to head over to Hebden Bridge for The Hebden. Held by the 12th Halifax Sea Scouts, this challenging event with a choice of either 15 or 22 miles of seemingly endless climbs and difficult terrain took runners through a beautiful scenic route for a fantastic morning out. Kath Biddle and Karen Doherty were the first to finish the 15 mile, 930m of elevation option in 4:08:47, along with Stephen Crowe (4:15:03), Kathryn Davies (4:27:00) and Sheila McNulty (4:27:00). Taking on the full 22 miles and 1330m of elevation, Ian Swan was the first of the club to tackle the challenge in 4:17:58, followed by Mark Garner (4:44:01), Andrew O’Donnell (5:08:24) and Laura Aiken, Lucie Tighe, Paul Stevens and Mark Taylor who all finished in 7:07:14.

Junior Lexi took on her first parkrun at Preston this Saturday, finishing in a very impressive 26 minutes. Well done Lexi!

John Szubert also celebrated his 100 th parkrun at Fountains Abbey with a PB of 23:42!

Kath Biddle, having taken a very brief hiatus from her usual antics, was back at it this weekend with another double. Following the previous day’s gruelling climbs at the Hebden, Kath was out at the Four Villages Half Marathon, a gently rolling countryside road race starting in Helsby, running through Dunham on the Hill, Mouldsworth, Manley and Alvanley which she completed in 2:07:39.

Meanwhile, 18 members were over at the East Lancashire Hospice 10k, a multi-terrain race in Great Harwood, Lancashire which raises funds to help keep Hospice services running and providing care to patients and their families, with influencer Alistair Almond in attendance to cut the run’s ribbon. Steven Fawcett sped back to the finish in only 39:02 (2 nd M45) , followed by Neil Swithenbank (43:27), Dominic Parry (47:00), Daniel Hunt (47:14), Nathan Walker (51:05), Paul Benson (52:16), John Szubert (52:43), Laura Tracey (52:56), Sheila Jones (1 st F70) (53:49), David Bartlett (54:12), Lisa Antrobus (55:21), Katherine Swithenbank (57:33), Sarah Wilson (59:59), Wayne Holden (1:02:04), Helen Kay (1:09:58), Tracy Wroe (1:12:31), Elaine Bailey (1:02:11), Caroline Malone (1:12:31) and Sara Parry (1:19:01).

The event also hosted a 2k fun run, which was cut short to just over 1k on the day.
Junior Seth was the third overall in only 5:12, Indie was the second female in 6:24

and Lola was the third female in 6:40. Freddie also finished in 5:52, George in 6:46,
Skyler in 7:24 and Lewis in 7:34.

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In an uncharacteristically silent week of racing, Radcliffe AC members began their training despite the icy conditions, hitting the roads and trails (mostly!) carefully.

Whilst there were cancellations at many events this week, 21 also braved the cold at various parkrun locations across the North West on Saturday.

Six hit Clarence Park – Rob Lister (24:27), Chris Mihalyi (25:45), Sheila Jones (29:24), Karen Doherty (29:35), Kath Davies (30:37) and Elaine Bailey (33:26).  Five took on Heaton’s alternative winter course – 3 laps up the aptly named ‘angina hill – Alex Field (26:00), Dominic Parry (26:08), Kath Biddle (28:16), Sheila McNulty (38:07) and Sara Parry (42:18). Four headed to Worsley Woods – Lucie Tighe (25:10), Mark Taylor (25:10), Oliver (27:24) and Ian Swan (29:47). Woodbank – Daniel Hunt (25:12), Isla (37:57) and John Szubert (37:58). Alderley Edge – Bev Quinton (42:25). Preston – Stephen Crowe (30:41). Stretford – Tracy Wroe (36:25).