Running: Teamwork pays off in challenging 26-miler (From Gazette & Herald)

Running: Teamwork pays off in challenging 26-miler

10:00am Wednesday 19th September 2012 in Sport

A TEAM effort ensured the members of Pickering Running Club who took part in the Yorkshireman Off-Road Marathon – including three 26-mile debutants – returned home in decent times.

This marathon is a mighty challenge which starts and ends in Haworth. There is a mixed terrain on a hilly course which this year was made harder by hot weather.

Mike Hetherton and Andy Mitchell were never far apart, while Peter Winter and Lynn Humpleby, like Mitchell attempting their first-ever marathon, ran together in the early stages before Winter joined his other team-mates for the bulk of the race.

Keeping the rest of the team company was fellow Pickering member Bob Horsman, running the pairs event alongside friend Bob Armitage.

Horsman was never far from his clubmates and at one stage helped to keep Winter on course when horses obscured his view of a direction sign.

Veteran Hetherton was the first Pickering runner to finish in a fine time of five hours 07 minutes 45 seconds.

Mitchell was eight seconds behind, claiming 70th place overall. Winter clocked 5-12-23, achieving seventh in category, while Horsman and Armitage claimed 14th place in the pairs event in 5-12-42.

Humpleby continued her year of achievement as she timed 6-07-36.

Meanwhile, Tracey Gilbank took on the Major Stone Half Marathon, which starts and finishes in Lockington. Described as a rural undulating course on Yorkshire Wolds country roads, runners are rewarded for tackling long uphill pulls with fine views. Gilbank was pleased with her time of two hours five minutes.