Festive fun in fancy dress for Lostockers at the Santa Dash
It was a weekend of festive racing and runs for Lostock AC members before Christmas.
Five Lostockers joined 155 runners to complete the Madbull Santa Dash where fancy dress is a requirement to take part and participants did not disappoint.
On the start line there were a plethora of Santas, but also the Grinch, elves, reindeer, snowmen and even a Christmas cracker!
This is always a tough race starting outside Curley’s Dining Rooms and then heading along Wallsuches, before turning left and starting an ascent up to George’s Lane. There is a loop of Wilderswood and then another steep climb up Two lads.
It was an extremely cold day and the temperatures on the top of Two Lads were freezing. Rachel Stevens, who had dressed as an angel, was required to keep hold of her halo to avoid it blowing off in the wind.
Runners were rewarded with a Curly Wurly when they reached the summit. A huge thank you went to the marshal braving the elements to hand these out.
There was no time to enjoy the chocolate treat as it was a quick descent down Two Lads and then across George’s Lane and down through the fields next to Wilderswood.
Despite this part of the race being downhill, it was extremely slippery under foot and participants struggled to stay upright. The descent was followed by a left turn, to head back to the beginning.
This led to more mud and huge puddles. Some runners who had been able to keep their feet dry until this point found there was no way around the puddles. The asphalt at Wallsuches was a welcome sight before a quick sprint to the finish, the race covering four miles and an elevation gain of 850 feet.
The first Lostock AC member to cross the finish line was Chris Baker in an awesome 43mins 50secs. He was shortly followed by Tony Maxwell, in 45:01, and Ian Burns (47:55). Stevens and Sheila Garewal ran the race together, enjoying taking some selfies, and they completed the course in 58:28 (Stevens) and 58:45 (Garewal). Stevens was also able to finish the run wearing her halo and keeping her dress white, despite the mud.
It was a lovely festive run with finishers being awarded with a Christmas tree-shaped medal that will take pride of place on everyone’s tree.
Meanwhile, Jo McManus competed in the Media City 5k festive run – the first festive run arranged by Runthrough. The run followed the same route as the Chase the Sun Race series, consisting of two laps around Media City. McManus had an amazing run, finishing the race in 22:29. She was the third female to cross the finish line and as a result was awarded with a special medal. In addition, she also won her age category.
Parkrun results: Bolton – Matt Carney 30:22, Lynda Hardman 32:12, Rachel Hancock 58:57; Haigh Woodland – Andy Laycock 24:03 (third in age category), Chris Baker 24:36, Brian Halton 24:50 (first in age category), Greg Kilshaw 27:33, Katie Edern 33:28 (third in age category), Chris Taylor 33:40, Karen Taylor 36:42; Kings Lynn – Tony Marlow 22:35 (third in age category); Pennington Flash – Hazel Hatfield 25:05 (second female and first in age category), Mark Checkley 31:17.
