Aycliffe Running Club have been busy over the last few weeks with lots of different distances and terrain covered. It was a good turnout from Aycliffe on 28/09/14 for Redcar half marathon.  Conditions were near perfect for running resulting in a few PB’s achieved.  The flat course took the runners along the trunk road past Corus and back again to the start then changed direction and followed the coast road, past the vertical pier, into Marske and back. Mark Wade led the Aycliffe runners home finishing 77th in 1:27:20 followed closely by Richard Campbell in 98th position 1:29 and a new PB. On the previous day at the 5K Hackworth Park run Sandra Collins and Alan Wilks both achieved PB’s recording 22:15 and 23:31 respectively.   Other Aycliffe runners were Shelley Mc Cormack who finished in 25:15, Rob Nicholson 25:31, Jodie McMaster 26:02 and Simon Robinson 26:30.
At the Cross Country at Acklam Grange School conditions were unusually good with not a bit of mud in sight.  Sue Milburn led the ladies home in 40th position 27:59 followed by Michelle Dixon 50th 29:16 and Penny Johnson  54th 29:26.  Dez Fielden led the mens team to finish in 15th position and 38:52.  Peter Milburn, who was suffering from cramp, finished the course in 110th place 50:15 followed by Kevin Greenall 129th 53:41, Colin Gibson 136th 55:15 and Dave Thompson 145th 62:56.
5 members of the club took part in the Kielder marathon on Sunday 05/10/14. Described as the most beautiful marathon in Britain and set in the stunning Northumberland countryside, the 26.2 mile undulating course starts and finishes at Leaplish Waterside Park and takes the runners around the Lakeside Way, a good trail surface skirting the shores of Kielder Water.  First to complete the course for Aycliffe was Martyn Knox 141st 3:56:24 followed by Graham Atkins 197th 4:02:14, then Sandra Collins 236th 4:07:59, Rob Nicholson 377th 4:33:22 and Julie Nisbet   599th 5:27:01.
At the Cramlington cross country on Saturday 11/10/14 Penny Johnson  ran well to complete the very hilly 4.2 mile course in 37:14, despite a fall near the end of the race.
Sue Milburn travelled to Hartlepool on Sunday 12/10/14 for the new 5 mile run which started and finished at Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club. Sue completed the course in 28th position, 37:04 and was 3rd female. On the same day the Richmond 10K attracted a number of runners from the club.  It was a beautiful day and good conditions for this very hilly race.  First to finish for Aycliffe in 7th overall position and 2nd M40 was Dez Fielden in 37:13.  He was followed by Dave Blewitt in 46:52 and Sandra Collins  48:57.  Making her debut for Aycliffe, Martha Mc Barron finished in 50:39 and was 2nd F55. Wendy Bake finished in 51:27 followed by Gary Minns 51:40, Trish Kay 52:17, Judith Porter 56:48, Dave Mackenzie 58:57. Simon Robinson 1:00:12 and Susan Clark 1:06:02.  Liam Montgomery was the only entrant from Aycliffe  to compete in  the Yorkshire marathon and completed the race in a new PB of 3:47:47.          For more information about Aycliffe Running club and their training sessions visit www.ayclifferunningclub.org.uk/