By Steve Dawson
It has been a busy week for Aycliffe Running Club with members travelling the length of the country and beyond.
This started with two members travelling overseas to take part in the Magaluf Half Marathon and 10k.
Trish Kay (2:14:35) represented the club in the half marathon, finishing first in the female over 60 category. In the 10k race, Eve Doe (1:08:39) represented the club.
On the same day, two members travelled to the Yorkshire Wolds to take part in the World Rangers Way Ultra.
This saw runners run a huge 44-mile circular route through the Yorkshire Wolds starting and ending in Driffield taking in some stunning scenery along the way.
Salv McDonnell (11:36:46) and Cath McDonnell (11:36:53) both ran/walked the course together. Amazingly this was there second ultra of the year, an unbelievable achievement.
On Sunday, one member travelled to London to take part in the iconic London Marathon.
Jayne Rudd, started the year off struggling to be able to complete a parkrun.
Through amazing determination and willpower and despite not enjoying training, she managed to complete the event in a time of 5:24:24.
Absolutely amazing and completing a marathon is a special achievement for any runner.
On the same day, four members travelled to Blackpool for the Blackpool Festival of Running.
This provided runners with an opportunity to take place in anything from a 2k event, right up to a marathon.
Three members completed the half marathon course, running along the promenade below the famous Blackpool Tower.
Carley Cooper (2:07:19), Jean-Pierre Hupin (2:18:49) and Em Flynn (2:34:21) all represented the club. Steph Colvin, pictured above (5:21:49) took part in the marathon and like Jayne at London , showed amazing willpower and determination to complete the race. Another absolutely amazing achievement in what was not perfect weather for marathon running with the sun out.
At the same time, one member took part in the Gisborough Moors Fell Race which was a 20k fell race starting in Guisborough with a total of 850 metres of climbing. Matt Heron completed the event in a time of 2:01:53.
On Saturday, a huge 40 members started their weekend with a parkrun, taking in the Town Moor, Valentines, Sedgefield, Darlington South Park, South Shields, Hackworth, Keswick, Druridge Bay, Wetherby, Blyth Links, Leazes, Rothay Park and Hamsterley Forest, events.
At Valentines, Paul Dalton (24:20) and Jayne Rudd (54:51), completed the course for the first time with Jayne walking the route to keep fresh for the marathon a day later.
At Darlington South Park, Jimmy Agnew (20:42) set a new personal best for any parkrun. At South Shields, Richard Holland (21:31) completed the course for the first time.
At Hackworth, Mikey Taylor (17:30) set a new personal best for any parkrun. At the same event, Bernadette Cooper (26:20) took part in her 150th ever Hackworth parkrun. At Keswick, Yvonne Wood (36:26) completed the course for the first time.
At Wetherby, Carley Cooper (28:57), Jean-Pierre Hupin (29:07) and Em Flynn (32:30) all completed the course for the first time. Angela Sutheran (23:39) completed the event at Blyth Links for the first time.
At Leazes, Steve Williams (27:16) and Viv Williams (30:34) both completed the course for the first time. Laura Grainger (28:12) also completed the course at Rothay Park for the first time.
If you are feeling inspired and are interested in joining the club, you can turn up for one of our sessions, or visit ayclifferunningclub.org.uk.
