Running club takes to the hills

Feb 5 2010 Dumfries Standard Friday

NOW THAT the weather has warmed up (slightly), training is back in full swing, and a group of hardy Dumfries Running Club members braved the early start and low temperatures to go down to Kendal on Sunday for the 23.3 mile course of That's Lyth.

Strangely enough, despite it being -4 degrees at the start and only 4 degrees at the finish, many runners proclaimed it to be the best conditions they had seen for this course.

The cold, crisp air enabled fine views as the runners went up hill and down dale and the usual mud and steams that make the route more challenging were frozen solid.

Jo Zakrzewski was off to a bad start when her alarm failed to go off, but the day improved.

Sandy Shankland was a true gentleman and slowed his usual blistering pace enough to help guide Jo (and open most gates) round the course, so they finished joint ninth in 3hrs 23mins, a good 10 minutes ahead of the second lady.

Club ‘guide-Doug’ followed this plan and helped his namesake Ian Brown navigate his way around the course for the first time, in order for them to finish joint 12th in 3 hrs 29mins.

When he finished, Doug got out the wine he had carried all round the course and shared it with the others, making him the most popular guy there!

Vicky Hart appeared smiling and looking as fresh as she started as second club lady home in 4 hrs 18mins navigating on her own having never been on the route before.

A widely grinning Frank Skachill ran in with his harem (Marian McPhail, Rachael McDougall and Dawn McDonald - and Dawn's two superfit dogs) just outside the five-hour mark.

Alan McKean exchanged his two wheels to try the course out on two legs.....but the verdict is still out on which method of transport he prefers!

Unfortunately Susan Graham was without her usual partner for this event, and took a wrong turn, but still persevered round the extra-long course as the most determined lady of the day.

Well done to them all - the amazing views of snow-covered fells were just rewards for their exertions.

Garstang 10K

Les Hill decided instead to capitalise on his recent return to good form and raced over 10K at Garstang.

He was rewarded by an enjoyable race finishing 36th in 39:35, a good six places ahead of an old arch-rival.