By Donna Campbell
Despite a couple of 5k races it seems distance was the focus of the racing this past week for ARC members.
The racing began midweek with race no 7 in the Darlington Trail series. However given the time of year, members had to ensure that they ran in either head or body torches.
ARC had a great turnout for this race with Dez Fielden being first home in 20.55 followed by Mark Bainbridge 21.12, Richard Holland 23.04, Heather Morgan 23.31 (2nd female overall), Dave Blewitt 23.57, John Burnside 26.07, David Stothard 26.35, John Richardson 26.53, Sue Milburn 26.59, Mandy Heywood 29.05, John Heywood 29.36, Kathleen Tonge 29.54, Richard Tonge 30.00, Jane Burnside 35.24, Susan Clark 35.45, Yvonne Williams 39.22, and Sam Baronowski 40.03.
On Saturday as well as attending the Parkruns, including the new parkrun in Jubilee Park Spennymoor, we had one member take on the first half marathon of the weekend. Julie Nisbet attended the Langdale Half Marathon which takes place in the heard of the Lake District. This course has a reputation as one of the toughest half marathons in the UK. Julie completed this in 2 hours 10 minutes.
Sunday began locally with the first race of the Tees Trail Winter Series Peter and Sue Milburn took part in this race at Pinchinthorpe in quite damp and muddy conditions. Peter complete this in 20.58 and was 1st o60 male with Sue completing this in 26.30 and also being 1st o60 female.
A bit further away in Appleby, Sandra Collins took part of the Heart of Eden Half Marathon. This is a circular route from Appleby in Westmorland that goes through the picturesque villages of Murton, Dufton, Long Marton and Brampton along the foothills of the pennines. Sandra completed this race in 2.01.56.
Finally, the focus was on York where we had runners in both the 10 mile and marathon races. In the 10 mile race Mark Bainbridge was first home in 1.11.05 followed by Heather Morgan in 1.16.42 and Becki Pedelty in 1.44.19.
In the Marathon Dez Fielden completed this in 3.23.17 and Carley Gibson completed this in 5.14.42 taking over an hour off her previous time.
For anyone interested in joining the club, you can simply turn up at one of our sessions all of which start from the Oakleaf Complex in Newton Aycliffe. Monday night is beginners run at 6.30pm, Tuesday is endurance/speed session from 7pm, and Thursday is a track session and this takes place at Shildon Track. Further details can be found on our website or facebook pages or alternatively you can message the club via facebook for more information.