Marathon effort from Harriers’ contingent
LAST weekend was a tale of two halves for the Harriers, with no club championship races either on the road or the fells, it was a DIY weekend for members. Some ten Harriers headed to Manchester to run the Manchester Marathon on Sunday.
It’s a figure of eight route starting in the city centre and heading to Old Trafford, where it reverses and heads back to the city centre, then onto the Etihad
Stadium, before returning to the centre for the finish.
First Harrier back was Isabel Brandon, with a very creditable time of 3hrs, 46m, 52s and from the photograph making it look easy.
Not far behind Izzy was Michael Jackson, again with an excellent time of 3hrs, 56m, 35s, swiftly followed by Kurtis Vincent in 3hrs, 57m, 51s, another good time by a Harrier. Also finishing was Dan Fenwick in 4hr, 3m, Jennie Ransome in 4hr, 5m, 50s,
Gary Marshall in 4hr, 27m, 23s, Tom Mitchell in 4hr, 34m, 55s, Dan Merlo in 5hr, 29m and Jason Robinson in 5hr, 29m, 27s, so well done to all Harriers. Plenty of sore legs all around, I bet.
Continuing with the marathon theme, Richard Stirzaker went on his annual globetrotting exploits and ran the Boston marathon this year, (Chicago marathon last year), finishing in 3hrs, 21m, 45s, an extremely good time, well done to Richard.
We now turn our attention to the fells, where two Harriers made the long journey to Hawkshead in the Lake District, to run in the Hawkshead 16K trail race on Saturday. Mark Walker and Ian Stainthorpe were the two Harriers who braved the atrocious weather conditions, to enjoy the fantastic views over Windermere?
The route follows footpaths and bridleways in a forest and takes in the infamous, mile long, near vertical, killer climb of the “coffin trail”. Judging by Mark’s photo, he had a fun time running it. First Harrier back was Mark Walker in 64th position, in a time of 1hr, 37m, 13s.
Ian Stainthorpe finished in 79th position, in 1hr, 41m, 46s. After that I think they may have enjoyed a well earned pint.
Nearer home, three Harriers drove over the hill to take part in the Brun Valley trail race. The race starts and finishes in Thompson Park, Burnley, taking in the trails of the Brun Valley Forest Park. Jonathan Lupton was first Harrier back in 45m, 42s, next was Decland Harrison in 46m, 36s, followed by Gaz Chambers in 51m, 54s.