50 at 50: Runner’s birthday challenge
SHARON Sinkinson may have only taken up running seriously three and a half years ago, but she took the idea of running 50 miles for her 50th birthday in her stride.
The Ossy Joggers run leader, from Huncoat, set off at midnight and was kept company by supporters running alongside her in groups of six at a time, to complete the gruelling course in 12 minutes shy of ten hours.
Dozens of participants - including her 12-yearold stepson Lewis - joined in the event, expertly coordinated by Sharon’s husband Michael.
Having asked for donations instead of birthday presents on her big day, Sharon is expecting to have raised £1,000 for Dyneley Riding for the Disabled, a local charity dear to her heart, based in Burnley.
Sharon, who works alongside Michael at local glass and glazing installation company Sinkinson Glass & Glazing, said the midnight challenge was just something that she and a group of friends - the MMMs - wanted to do.
She said: “I couldn’t have a party and couldn’t do anything because of what was going on.
“The charity is desperate for the money because of the lockdown. They rely on going to a lot of agricultural shows and havng stalls or a bring and buy sale. They’ve not been able to do that this year.”
Sharon completed two long circuit routes of half marathon distance, and then the remaining 24 miles were made up of a three-mile loop, allowing less proficient runners to get a taste of the action.
She explained: “We ran in groups of six and we did a midnight half marathon, I had a couple of hours sleep, and then I set off again with another team of six, and did another half marathon. It was really difficult to coordinate because of the social distancing.
“We had to ensure that everything was legally in place. We put a tent up on the front lawn to keep everybody apart.”
Sharon said she felt “absolutely fine” after completing the gruelling challenge in a 9:48 running time, and thanked everyone who supported her and sponsored.
Despite her heroics, it sounds like she hasn’t really had a proper rest since; earlier this week she was running a 50-mile trail run - the Montane 50 Lakeland - being held ‘virtually’.
Sharon has lost four and a half stone having taken up running as recently as 2017.
“I never even ran for a bus before,” she said.