Canalathon helps complete Jill’s set
ROCHDALE Harriers ladies captain Jill Butterworth competed in the 75K Canalathon to complete her set of 50K, 75K and 100K races.
Starting from Sowerby Bridge, Jill ran 37.5km south towards Manchester then turned and headed back to complete the race at Sowerby Bridge.
Pacing herself for the distance, at the first checkpoint Jill was 3rd lady and 10th overall.
As she ran south through Littleborough it was time to high five clubmate John Mayall who was running the 50K Canalathon race in the opposite direction from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge.
As the race progressed Jill’s pacing experience proved crucial as she gradually moved up the field, passed the two ladies in front and went on to finish as first lady in 7 hr 45 min and 28 sec.
Overall Jill finished the 75km race in 5th position.
Meanwhile, John Mayall was chasing the men’s 50K club record set by Gareth Hunt in 2016, running in the Canalthon 50K.
This was a big ask as it would require at least a 12 minute PB. Sickness struck 20 miles in and nearly derailed John’s attempt.
By the fourth checkpoint he was in 35th position overall. When his GPS watch indicated he had reached the 50K panic struck because the finish line was not in sight. Turning the final corner, John gave it everything he had and crossed the line in 4 hr 37 min 41 sec, just 58 seconds inside target and only about 1 second per kilometre faster than the previous 50K record. This placed him 14th overall out of 188.