Our athletes have started 2024 with a bang! Team HARC have taken on a wide variety of events since the start of January and we are proud of every single result.
Firstly, a special mention to Victoria Maidwell for her fantastic performance at the Shakespeare Marathon, earning her a PB of 03:56:55. Victoria shows incredible commitment to her training, working extremely hard to push herself for every new challenge. Huge congratulations on breaking through the sub-4 hour mark, Victoria – we look forward to seeing you smash your next targets!
Joanne Sinnott has continued her passion for ultra-distance events with a 50 mile run from Manchester to Liverpool. Jo relishes the kind of distances most of us only dream of… or perhaps have nightmares about! Huge well done, Jo – you are a machine!
There was a great HARC turnout for this year’s Thirsk 10 Mile and Lightwater Valley 10k events, which fell on the same day. These are two very different events – both tough in their own way. The Lightwater Valley team faced cross-country terrain and some gruelling hills, whereas the Thirsk cohort endured the extra 4 miles, including a brutal out and back section which presented an interesting psychological challenge. Well done to both crews:
Lightwater Valley 10k – Liz Haresign, Becky Williams, Mike Hollinshead, Nige Haresign, Michelle Slade and Richard Slade; and
Thirsk 10 Mile – Luke Allen, Andrew Garner, Mary Gregory, Jane Kirk, Gemma Wardle, Ruth Hancock, Sara Sherwood, Victoria Maidwell, Nick Wilson and Joanne Sinnott.
Ally took on the Leap Year Challenge on 29th February and although she set out to run 5km, she accidentally smashed out a very muddy half marathon and earned a fabulous medal. Super well done, Ally!
Tracey Wise and her dog, Jake, took on the Dalby Forest Canicross event and were presented with a lovely keyring medal – super efforts from Team Wise. Perhaps we should fashion a HARC vest for Jake?
Ruth Hancock and Joanne Sinnott had a great morning out at the Spring Canal Canter along Leeds Canal. The event was organised by ‘It’s Grim Up North’ but there was nothing grim about it, least of all Ruth’s PB and the enormous medals they were awarded.
Over 20,000 runners took part in the London Winter Run for Cancer Research UK, raising over £700,000 for charity, and Mary Gregory was amongst them. What better way to see the sights of our capital city! This was Mary’s second 10k medal of the year, having already conquered Newcastle 10k. Very well done, Mary.
Also making the trip to London was Harriet Holmes who completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon. Not only did she enjoy a route taking in an array of famous sights including St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye and the Tower of London, but also grabbed herself a PB and raised £530 for JDRF, a diabetes research charity. Fantastic, Harriet – well done!
Well done to Jane Kirk who took on the Hardmoors Saltburn 10k, part of the famously tough series of events across the trails of the North Yorkshire Moors. Jane was treated to some spectacular views along the way to reward her determination on this punishing route.
And last, but by no means least, Harvey Wilkinson has continued his amazing progression through the ranks of UK junior shot putters. Harvey qualified to compete against the best in the country at the National Indoor Championships – he learnt a lot from the experience of such a high level competition in a superb venue. Since January, Harvey has won six and finished second in three of the ten competitions he’s entered. Congratulations, Harvey – an enviable medal conversion rate!
Watch this space for a special report on the 2024 London Marathon – coming soon!
