It has been another busy week for Aycliffe Running Club with members taking in some of the iconic landmarks across the region as well as one overseas. This started on Sunday 28th May with one member completing the Thunder Dragon Half Marathon in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The race is run at high altitude of over 2200 metres with Judith Porter finishing the race in a time of 2:25:50 and first lady in the over 60 category, an excellent achievement.
Wednesday 31st May saw the return of the Penshaw Hill Race, a 3 mile trail race around Penshaw monument. The race was brutal in parts with some challenging climbs including a final climb up the steps to the monument itself. The enigmatic Steven Dawson continued his recovery from injury finishing the race in a time of 24:48.
The following day saw another iconic landmark become the focus with the 5.5 mile Angel View Race which saw runners running two laps that finished at the Angel of the North. Richard Holland was the sole representative for the club finishing second in the male over 45 category in a time of 39:00.
On the same night, four runners took part in the Kiplin Hall and Gardens Evening 10K Trail Race. This was set within the gardens and estate of Kiplin Hall near Northallerton and Richmond. Representing the club were Keith Hatton (55:31), Tracey Pickering (1:05:34), Cliff Pickering (1:07:38) and Ian Stothard (1:17:08).
On Saturday 27th May, 30 members started their weekend with a parkrun, taking in the Woodhouse Moor, Durham, Sewerby Park, Sedgefield, Darlington South Park, Hackworth, Keswick, Cotsford Fields and Jubilee events.
At Woodhouse Moor, Carley Gibson (27:31) continued with her parkrun tourism taking in the event for the first time. At Durham, Viv Williams set a new personal best for this event with a time of 29:39. Over at Sedgefield, Sue Podmore also set a new personal best for the course with a time of 27:33.
At Darlington South Park, Kelly Dickinson completed the course for the first time, finishing in a time of 29:55. Over at Hackworth, Richard Holland (21:57) finished second with Bernadette Cooper fourth and first lady setting a new personal best for any parkrun with a time of 22:01. At Keswick John Surtees finished third setting a new personal best for the course of 16:43.
There was another parkrun tourism event with a number of members taking part at Cotsford Fields. This included Paul Dalton (20:28) finishing third. Also taking part were Martin Turnbull (23:26), David Stothard (26:57), Richard Tonge (30:53), Jayne Rudd (31:59), Kathleen Tonge (32:08), Tracey Pickering (32:22), Cliff Pickering (32:30) and Ian Stothard (35:28).
If you are feeling inspired and are interested in joining the club, you can turn up for one of our sessions. More information is available on our website www.ayclifferunningclub.org.uk or our Facebook page. If you would like to chat with someone, then you can email ayclifferunningclub@gmail.com – make this year, the year you get into running and join us to keep it going for many years to come.
