Six members of Teesdale Athletic Club travelled over to Lancaster on Sunday 1st September for the “Golden Ball” 10 and 20 mile races. Using the handy resources of the 3-1-5 Lancaster Health Club as a base, the races follow a good flat path towards the centre of Lancaster and then back out into the countryside following the river Lune. Everyone sets off together and runners in the 20 mile race complete two laps of the same 10 mile circuit. Well organised and with good support from spectators and marshals, these races are good preparation for an autumn half or a full marathon.

Occasional showers kept the runners cool between the sunny intervals on Sunday resulting in overall good running weather. First home for Teesdale in the 10 mile race of 106 runners was George Mackellar in 1:13:42 taking 27th place, and Caroline Moss was 89th in 1:40:35. With a slightly larger field of 124 in the 20 mile race, Steve Moss came in 49th in 2:44:33, Claire Hesketh 82nd in 3:12:44, Caroline Hamilton 96th in 3:27:38 and Judith Rodwell 106th in 3:36:45. In their respective age group categories Judith was 1st placed, Steve was 2nd and Claire 3rd.

On Sunday July 21st, Josh Crawley travelled to Beadnell to take on the 2019 Northumberland Coastal Run – an unmeasured “half marathon” from Beadnell to Alnmouth.

This year celebrated 40 years of the race, the first being held in 1979, when there were only 12 competitors. This year almost 1,000 runners completed the race which sold out very soon after it went on sale. 

In 1979 competitors had to choose their route starting in the sandy bay next to Beadnell Harbour and then heading south running to Alnmouth (approximately 14 miles). In the first two to three years many changes were made to the route as runners found the short cuts and quickest routes. Apart from one or two sensitive areas the course is unmarked and competitors are responsible for choosing their own route. The course which most competitors choose to run is approximately 14 miles long (depending on whether the tide is in or out).

The tough terrain of the sand and the cliffs, coupled with the strong headwind were soon forgotten with the help of the fabulous views the Northumberland coast has to offer. Although course support was in short bursts and headphones not permitted, neither of these took any sparkle from the race which should be one circled in the calendar for next year. 
The Tyne Bridge Harrier winner crossed the line in 01:16:58 with the final competitor in 03:59:55. Although a 3:15 cut off is in place, the organisers allow runners to start 1 hour early if they think they’ll be close to the cut off. Josh completed the race in 01:56:27, finishing 315 out of 994 runners and one of the best finisher t-shirts to commemorate the race.

Three members of Teesdale Athletics Club ran in the 7 mile “Pier to Pier” run along the coast from South Shields to Sunderland on 29th May. The race starts on the sand with the first mile along the beach before climbing onto the grassy cliff top. From there runners can choose any route avoiding the coastal road, with several choices of paths which appear to offer advantages but in fact are all a very similar distance. The sun was out all the way past the Souter lighthouse and beyond as runners raced along Seaburn promenade before the run in to the finish along the sand and puddles of Roker beach.

Peter Wilcox was first home for Teesdale AC in 52 minutes followed by Steve Moss in 1 Hour 4 minutes and Caroline Moss in 1 hour 10 minutes. The sunny weather with a light wind made perfect conditions for running and also admiring the fantastic coastal scenery. Finishers were rewarded with surely one of the best “goody bags” ever, as organisers Sunderland Strollers surpassed even their usual high standards for rewarding participants for their efforts.

Barbara and Andrew Crawley completed the Fountains Abbey 10k on May 19th, Barbara finished in 182nd position in a time of 55 minutes closely followed by Andrew in 185th position in a time of 55 minutes and 16 seconds.

Four members of Teesdale athletic club travelled to the Lake District on Saturday June 1st to take part in the annual Grasmere Gallop trail races. Three routes of varying length, 5.7k, 10k and 17k, were held amidst the spectacular surroundings of Grasmere village and Rydal Water. There was also a 10k race for Nordic walkers. 

The routes leave Grasmere village along the road, climbing through Deer Bolts wood and over the shoulder of Loughrigg, passing Rydal cave and eventually returning to Grasmere via the shorelines of Rydal water. The 5.7k used mainly the lower level roads with the 10k and 17k taking in greater hill climbs and descents on stony trails. The weather for the races was cool with light rain which was ideal for running although it became heavier as the day progressed. There was a very friendly atmosphere and the local rhododendrons made a spectacular local background with the low cloud hiding the more distant dramatic scenery. 

The results were as follows, 5.7k (115 finishers): Irene Sutherland 37:50 (50th, 6th in age group), 10k (289 finishers): Judith Rodwell 01:04:54 (145th, 5th in age group), Caroline Moss: 1:07:15 (167th, 7th in age group,), 17k (202 finishers) Steve Moss: 1:37:16 (72nd, 4th in age group).

Eight athletes from Teesdale AC travelled to Liverpool to take part in the Liverpool Rock and Roll Marathon Festival, which took place over the weekend of 25-26 May.

As the name implies, it was a busy, noisy weekend with bands playing all along the race routes. On Saturday, Mim and Astley Fenwick took part in the first race of the weekend, a 5 kilometre route, finishing together in 38.10. Next day, Sunday, the first race was the half marathon, starting and finishing at Albert Dock. It was a route partly through the town and out to some of the green spaces and along Penny Lane, when the band played the appropriate tune! It shared part of the marathon route, though with fewer hills and both races struggled with the riverside section, fighting against a strong headwind. Mim and Astley Fenwick were both out again for the half; Mim finishing in 3.01.17 and Astley in 2.40.56. The other club runners were: Judith Rodwell 2.03.51, Andrew Crawley 2.04.58, Amanda and Simon Pettitt both finishing in 2.27.34. The last race of the weekend was the marathon and Caroline Hamilton and Barbara Crawley represented the club. They reported it as an enjoyable run, though quite tough and hilly but very well supported. By the time they got back to the riverside section, the wind had increased so the last few miles were a struggle on tired legs. Barbara, running her first marathon, came in at 4.43.43 and Caroline, on her second, in 4.52.45. A very creditable performance from them both. Mim Fenwick completed a hat trick with a one mile fun run in the afternoon.