NEARBY York was the setting for most of Pickering Running Club’s races over the last week, with members taking on the Marathon and 10-mile options.

The gently undulating Marathon road race took runners through York city centre, passing the Minster before heading out onto quiet country roads, finally finishing at the University of York. 

Ryan Gaughan, running his first road marathon, was first back for Pickering in a sensational time of two hours and 54 minutes. 

Jo Towler, also tackling her first marathon, was delighted to finish in three hours and 55 minutes and Jess Chadwick, running in her first race for Pickering as well as her first marathon, finished in four hours and 26 minutes. 

Using the event as a training run, Chris Adams crossed the line in four hours and 38 minutes, and Emily Schofield, also running her first road marathon, finished in five hours and 41 minutes.

Seven of the club’s members opted for the 10-mile race, and all produced strong results.

Ben Myers was Pickering’s first finisher in one hour and two minutes, just seconds ahead of Simon Jones, who also finished in one hour and two minutes.

That time was a 10-mile personal best for Simon, and placed him second in the M50 category out of 140 competitors.  

Shawn Imeson was next back in one hour and 17 minutes, then came Serena Partridge and Lucy Saggers, whose times of one hour and 20 minutes and one hour and 24 minutes saw them both set new personal bests.

Suzy Hodgson and Anita Marshall also finished in excellent times, clocking one hour and 28 minutes and one hour and 52 minutes respectively.

That day was also perfect for the popular Scarborough 10k, taking runners along the sea front from The Spa to the Sealife Centre and back. 

Richard Robinson was first back for Pickering in a very competitive time of 41 minutes and 34 seconds, closely followed by Paul Simpson in 43 minutes and 47 seconds and Paul Robinson in 48 minutes and 40 seconds. 

Travelling further afield, Andrew Bates ran the Palma de Mallorca Half Marathon, doing well to achieve a time of two hours and three minutes after torrential rain, thunder and lightning had left much of the course flooded.