These are the final instructions for the Wirral September Multi Terrain Series. The dates are:

3th. Sept. Royden Park, Frankby, 7.00pm

10th. Sept.Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston, 7.00pm.

17th. Sept, Harrison Drive, Wallasey 6.30pm.

24th. Sept. Arrowe Park Golf Course, Arrowe Park 6.30pm.

This competition is open to First Claim members UK Athletics affiliated clubs. Second claim runners may participate if their first claim club does not participate in the competition.

Runners must run in their recognised club colours.

Full series rules are attached

IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE:

1. Each participating club must provide the League with a contact (name, address, telephone number, and e-mail if possible) and provide a team manager for each race and one Marshall.

1. Entry fee of £1 per athlete per race, to be collected by each team manager and handed to one of the League Officials at each race (we will review the £1 entry after this series)

1. I need now to have a list of your affiliated athletes, preferably in excel format, indicating ….. name, age, gender, category (as per attached rules) and date of birth. This is really important to facilitate to compiling of results. Please e-mail to me at nigel@therunnershub.net

For some time I have considered doing the Blackpool Lights 10K. Not too far away and a race in the dark has always had some appeal since we did the Benidorm Half Marathon a few years ago.

I was a bit late with my entry which, if my memory serves me well, was about £20….about par for the course these days but not too bad considering they had to close the prom to traffic for the evening.

I travelled up there with new runner Tim Plested so we chatted and put the world to rights during the 90 min car journey. 🚗🚕🚙

The race was organised by Fylde Coast Runners and we could tell from the queues at registration that the majority were fun runners rather than club runners. The wind howled. Is it possible to do a seaside race in anything other than a force 10 gale?

With twenty minutes to the gun, the start pens were overflowing so we barged our way in. Funny how you can spot the two hour runners lined up alongside the 45 minute pacer. After Tim took pics of the sunset ☀️ Well I suppose it’s all about being positive. 😡🤬😡

So, it’s five, four three ….. and before we know it, we’re trying not to trip over those walking after 100 metres. Big surprise 🙃 as after three or four minutes we about turn and head past the tower into the wind 🌪. Noooo !!!

Two minutes later I pass Tim who, following Brian’s example, has stopped to take photos of the Blackpool illuminations 🚥🚦🚥

Anyway, great race, home now with three sticks of rock and the Long John Silver Award for the fastest old codger with one leg (not many in my category). First prize, a week in Blackpool, second prize two weeks in Blackpool. Home by midnight and a good night’s sleep. Well done to Tim who enjoyed every minute and who, no doubt, will soon be in PB territory with a time of around 45 minutes I bet.

Tony Clixby

Found out about this event at yesterday’s park run and thought I would give it a try, a 24 hour race 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️on the Wirral way . So on a beautiful sunny Sunday 🌞 and to punish the body for yesterday’s sins ⚽️🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺 I entered the 10k race, two circuits starting and finishing from the Thurstaston visitor centre to the Caldy road, where you turned round was just enough for me, the 50k one would be too much I’d reckon 🥵🥵 It was £14 for the 10k. It was a very well organised event, chip timed, well signposted and marshalled and at the end a cracking medal 🏅ice cream 🍦and bacon rolls 🥓🥓🍔 for every runner – Jack Kiley has missed a treat there 😂

But the best thing about today is that its the first race I have entered in the hope of getting a PB..not getting it, but actually being the first of the 10k competitors to come in first place 🏃‍♂️🍾🏆..YES…FIRST PLACE and out of a strong team of just one 10k runner😂😂, lots of 5k runners, lots of 20k runners, lots of relay runners doing the 50k, 👍but only me doing the 10k..give it up for johnnyboy 👏👏👏😂😂 i thought i would have been joined by a few runners from park run yesterday but alas, only me. Overall I enjoyed it and to be honest, yes we run the Wirral way for free regularly, but £14💷💷 seemed quite reasonable, maybe a few more of us could be tempted next year?

The 2nd run🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ to Hilbre island exceeded expectations tonight, after unsettled weather this week 🌧 32 runners 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️and 🐕🐾 left the slipway in perfect weather conditions 🌞across the sand towards Little I (eye).

Running into the breeze 🌬and splashing through the water 💦kept us cool as this isn’t an easy run. Once the rocks, seaweed and slippery algi at ‘Little I’ had been negotiated we were on route to Hilbre Island. More tricky paths to weave through and some rocks to climb up and down before you get to stop for the customary group photo a sneaky rest 😴 and time to take in beautiful views.

Somehow going back always feels easier and quicker probably as our thoughts are on what food and drink we will have at Wetherspoons !!A good number also went the extra mile around the Marine lake ⛵ 💪. As always theres no lack of encouragement and praise as each runner got back to the slipway ..🙌🙌👍

Then after some serious foot and trainer👟👟 washing it was off to Wetherspoons for refuel…it was a busy night at the pub but good service and it wasn’t long before we were tucking into plates of curry, burgers, chips etc.🍟🍲🍔🍺🍻

Another great end to another Summer run.😀

I hope those who hadn’t run to Hilbre with VRR before enjoyed one of the best and most popular runs on the calendar and great to welcome 2 new runners. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️.

Jo Dutton

There will be a run on Sunday morning: meet at the Village Hotel at 9.30am – Neil is leading the run which will be as long as people want!

The Thurstaston picnic run… the last one of the year. Normally it’s always been a bit chilly 🥶🥶🥶 but today it was rather warm 🥵🥵 and a great turnout of 37 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️ as well as a plethora of four legged friends 🐶🐩🐩🐶 joining in for a summer walkies session . The runners set off at their usual pace but ahead of them was the dreaded Dungeon 😱😱🥺, steep steps, tree roots and uneven ground – the bane of many a runner. But the challenge is greater, it sorts the runners from the pooches! 😉Humid conditions don’t help but the mighty running warriors came through and made it to the downhill winding pathways of Heswall Dales, the legs continuously stung not by nettles 🌿🌿but the famous Heswall gorse bushes, but undeterred we carried on. This run is probably the shortest distance of the summer runs, but feels the most challenging and getting to the finish back in Thurstaston is rewarding not because we’ve put a good shift in 👍🥵🏃🏻‍♂️🏃‍♀️but afterwards we picnic, and as a group, we love a summer banquet, a variety of nibbles from chicken legs 🍗to pies 🥧 and for the healthy, tons of rabbit 🐇 food, all washed down with a variety of drink 🥤🍷🍺🥛Even the four legged runners tucked in. Next week it’s Hilbre. If the weather favours us 🌞🌞🌞we’ll do it all again on the beach 🏖⛱, until then…keep on running 🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️.

Johnnyboy Brown

Message from Dave: Thursday’s run is from Thurstaston so please bring a picnic for afterwards (weather permitting!)

In addition to the July races already reported, Gail Stuthridge has completed a gruelling challenge abroad. Here is Steve’s account of her achievement.

After 4 months training, Gail Stuthridge competed in the Alpe d’Huez Long Triathlon on 25th July 2019. The course involved a refreshing 2.2km swim, followed by a 118km / 11,000ft climbing bike route over 3 mountain passes then, to finish, a half marathon at the top of the 6,000ft Alpe d’Huez.

Despite the sweltering 42 degree heat where many competitors were dropping out because they were passing out, Gail managed to complete the 3 disciplines in a fantastic time of 10 hours and 7 minutes coming 12th out of 25 in her age category. Make no mistake this was a tough triathlon where blistering heat, a difficult course and strict cut off times meant only 900 finished from the 1,100 that started. Well done to Gail for finishing and hope she recovers well !!!