Athletics
THREE Teesdale AC runners took part in the London Marathon on Sunday. Conditions were good but it was a bit breezy on the course.
First back for Teesdale was Andrew Crawley in a time of 4hr 32min 59sec, followed by Simon Pettitt in 4hr 7min 37sec and Amanda Pettitt in 6hr 4min 24sec.
The three runners raised over £4000 for their charity Muscular Dystrophy UK.
In other events, Hamsterley Forest provided a scenic backdrop for the Run Durham 10k on Saturday morning despite the pouring rain.
It eased off long enough for four of Teesdale Athletic Club’s runners to complete the challenging course.
The course was suited to runners who prefer hills, hills and more hills.
The first kilometre was a steep incline which levelled to a more gentle but still upward gradient.
The runners pushed on up another steep section just before the 5k turning point at the highest point in the forest before heading down towards home, giving the runners a chance to make up time.
A last gruelling uphill section before the 7.5k mark tested the runners’ stamina and then there was a flat section to finish.
The stoney forest tracks had challenged the runners’ balance and footing, particularly on the steep downhill sections, but all runners made it home safely, if a bit soggy, before the downpours started again. The event was fun and friendly and although a couple of the runners agreed that it had been the hardest 10k that they had run, a return visit next year is highly likely.
The times achieved by the runners reflected the challenging course.
First home for Teesdale AC was David Raymond in 49.25mins. First lady home was Katie Mottershead in 57.41mins, closely followed by Caroline Moss in 1hr 6mins 22s and Irene Sutherland bringing up the rear in 1hr 12mins 46s.
Alan Bray
