Photo: Helen C at Workshop Halloween Half Marathon (photo courtesy of Helen)
Another fortnight of fantastic running by Quakers members – lots to celebrate including PBs, club records, parkruns (near and far) and milestones, Canicross and taking part in Halloween themed runs, including our QRC Run and Talk event/treasure hunt.
16th October: Darlington Trail Series – West Park Night Run
The final run of the Darlington Trail Series 2024, starting from the White Heifer That Travelled pub.
Ian Burgess completed the route in 27:57.
19th October: parkruns – Darlington South Park and Richmond Olympic (Canada)
At Darlington South Park, we had 3 members celebrating – Abbie Jones celebrated her 25th parkrun milestone with her 9th PB this year of 23:29, shaving 13 seconds off her July 24 time; Stephen Smedley also celebrated his 25th parkrun milestone, finishing in 36:03 and Trish Booth celebrated her 50th parkrun milestone, finishing in 40:36.
At Richmond Olympic parkrun, Alex Looney was 1st female finisher and 9th finisher overall in 25:47.
19th October: Lakeland Trails – Helvellyn 10k (15k also available)
These races offer spectacular autumn trails that skirt the foothills of the Helvellyn range. The courses follow ancient pack horse and mining trails around Glenridding Valley, visiting Lanty’s Tarn, before a loop in the Grisedale Valley.
Nigel Eddy ran the 10k route in 1:07 and 2nd in age category.
19th and 20th October: Canicross at Dalby Forest
After a 7 month break due to injury, Alex Mathers was glad to be competing in the Dalby Forest Canicross event – 5.4km up and down the muddy hills.
Alex finished in 21:44 on the Saturday and 21:16 on the Sunday.
20th October: Yorkshire Marathon
The Yorkshire Marathon is described as ‘the jewel in the White Rose County’s sporting crown’ and ‘is now such a global draw that spectators come from across the world to be part of the experience and to add their support.’ This popular and picturesque run, with fantastic PB potential, takes participants past some of York’s historic sites and along scenic country lanes, making it an attractive prospect for runners of all abilities.
Marc Ellis was first Quaker home in 2:54, gaining a new PB and club record, followed by Dale Chapman (4:05 and setting a PB for first marathon), Dan Orton (4:30, PB) and Lucy Coxon (4:36 and setting a PB for first marathon).
20th October: Yorkshire 10 mile
Taking place on the same day as the full Yorkshire Marathon, the Yorkshire 10 Mile shares many of the highlights, but with the added bonus of only being 10 miles! The race begins in the heart of York and passes many of the its historic landmarks, including the world-famous York Minster and the medieval City Walls. The race also heads out into the idyllic Yorkshire countryside where runners are treated to scenic surroundings and quaint country roads.
Michael Kipling finished the race in 1:04 (PB), followed by Ian Hart (1:19), David Nalder (1:24 and 1st in age category), Peter Cowan (1:32), Caroline Litster (1:33 PB), Sarah Watson (1:39), Wendy Noble (1:50) and Mandy Harrison (2:11).
20th October: Punk Panther Trail Sunday Half Marathon (10k, 20 miles, 27 miles also available)
This race starts from Pateley Bridge and heads for Gouthwaite Reservoir and on to Lofthouse before looping back and passing through Heathfield and returning to the start.
Karen Dove completed the half marathon (14 miles) in 4:42.
19th October: Langdale Marathon (Half Marathon also available)
The Langdale Marathon, in the Lake District, has a reputation as one of the toughest road marathons in the UK. The marathon distance is 2 laps of the half marathon course – a beautiful, challenging course set in England’s most spectacular mountain scenery. Runners follow an anti-clockwise course from Great Langdale to Little Langdale and on to the picturesque hamlets of Skelwith Bridge and Chapel Stile.
Michael Thompson finished the event in 5:07 and Chris Evans in 5:18.
20th October: Whixley 10k (10k league race)
A multi-terrain run with 95% of the route off road across fields, tracks and bridal ways around Whixley and the surrounding areas.
Rob Dent finished in 5th place overall in 43:44 and 1st in age category, followed by Billy Harris (45:22, 9th place overall and 1st in age category), Rob Gillham (46:21 and 3rd in age category), Graham Looney (51:47), April Corbett (53:45 and 1st in age category (2nd female finisher was excluded from age) and Helen Clark (55:59 and 3rd in age category), Diane Lockhart (57:25), Anthony Corbett (57:52), Phil and Lesley Neal (1:03) and John Yeomans (1:05).
20th October: Northumberland Castles Half Marathon
The course consists of a loop of closed roads between the Bamburgh/North Sunderland – slightly undulating with lots of flat sections in the beautiful Northumberland countryside, with some views out to the Farne Islands and Holy Island and the North Sea.
Keziah Morley completed the race in 2:13.
26th October: parkruns – Hartlepool and Flatts Lane
At Hartlepool, Paul Cockburn shaved another 41 seconds off his previous PB in March of this year to finish in 25:37, whilst at Flatts Lane, David Aiken finished in 6th place overall in 23:33 and Rebecca Howard finished in 7th place overall and 1st female finisher in 23:35.
27th October: Worksop Halloween Half Marathon
This race starts and finishes at the Outward Academy Portland and heads up Sparken Hill, around in to Clumber Park via Carburton Lodge before running through Truman’s, Clumber Road and Windmill Lane and in to the historic grounds of Worksop College.
Helen Clark finished the route in 2:03 (PB) and Karen Dove in 3:01.
27th October: Sutton Bank Sizzler
This 8 mile(ish) night race starts and finishes from the Sutton Bank Visitor and is marked with glow sticks as well as being marshalled.
Emily Beaumont completed the event in 1:58.
27th October: Doddington Moors 10k
This race is a two lap moorland 10k trail race around the Doddington moors. It starts from Wooler golf clubhouse and is a mixture of heather tracks and runnable grass trails with a gradual climb on to the scenic Doddington Moors. Lap 1 is a 5k clockwise loop returning back to the clubhouse and lap 2is an anticlockwise loop returning back to the clubhouse.
Steve Snook completed the event in 55:11.
27th October: 21K Feria Valencia
The Valencia Half Marathon is a flat road race that starts and finishes on avenida de Tarongers, near avenida de Cataluña, next to the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), heading towards Ronda Norte. This event is renowned for its fast course, attracting elite and amateur runners from around the world, and is part of the prestigious SuperHalfs series.
Julie Russell completed the route in 2:13.
30th October: Muddy Roads Halloween 5km at Trimdon
Entrants were invited to prepare for chills, thrills, and spine-tingling adventure because the most haunted 5km trail of the year was back, and eerier than ever! Runners headed down to the haunted forest at Trimdon for an experience they’ll never forget. The route started with a lap round an open field before 2 laps of another field and up a hill to the finish.
Brian McLaren was first Quaker finisher in 25:02 and 2nd in age category, followed by Rob Gillham (30:05), Diane Lockhart (30:06 and 2nd in age category), Helen Clark (30:31 and 3rd in age category), Chris Clark (30:31), Sandra Cass (32:12), Wendy Colling (32;13), Gill Colling and Julie Whinn (34:10), Juliette McLaren and Lisa Jenkins (35:48) and John Yeomans (38:59).
31st October: QRC Treasure Hunt – Run/Talk Social Run
This end of the month event started and finished at the Quaker House Pub with teams following clues and solving riddles in and around Darlington Town Centre.
A fabulous turn out of Quakers took part in the Treasure Hunt with members supporting King’s foodbank with donations of food stuffs. Alex’s Team were the winners.
Well done and thank you to Diane, Brian, John and Juliette for organising the event and also to coaches and riddlers.
Special Mentions:
Congratulations and well done to QRC members that have achieved ‘unofficial’ parkrun milestones over the last fortnight!