Striders conquer the world

Race weeks are getting longer and busier as race season is in full flight with striders competing on a nearly daily basis representing the club from 5Ks 10ks half marathons and ultra distances aswell as in hyrox competitions showing the wide diverse range of different runners we have in our all abilities club.

First up was actually starting the week before but Joanne McCandless went to her annual visit to Britain’s more brutal race the spine travelling either north or south depending on which race you enter the full challenge the sprint distance and the challenger a 160 mile ultra over multi terrain hills and a range of different challenging weather conditions but she completed the race in 87 hours 22 minutes and 59 seconds an absolutely amazing performance.

Lisburn Half marathon and 10K the annual event midweek and mid month in June saw penny Hamilton complete the half marathon in a time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 48 seconds. In the 10K Trevor Woodside completed the race in 40 minutes and 7 seconds with Gareth Miskimmin running a time of 49 minutes and 38 seconds and Katie Irvine completing the course in 1 hour 3 minutes and 28 seconds great showing from all our racers.

Back on local turf saw ballydrain harriers hosting the comber 10K a 2 lap course around comber finishing in the square. First in was Max Burton followed in by Andy Haylett both going sub 38 with Trevor Woodside running 39 minutes and 25 seconds only 2 days after Lisburn.  Abrar Hussain ran 43 minutes and 55 seconds and Michael Johnston running under 45 minutes the next quintet of Mark Halus, Colette McKelvey, Rebecca Robinson, Alison Busby and Peter Doggart all running under 48 minutes. The next trio of Luke Braniff, Willow Farrington and Simon Ferguson all running under 50 minutes and also a 16th birthday for Willow.  Next in just over the 50 minutes was Steven Hanna, Amanda Martin, Gary Barritt and Martin Oakman with Chris Edwards and Karen Wilson just over 53 minutes with Catherine Lavery and Sonya Summersgill in shortly after. Next in just below 55 minutes was Phil Adams and Matthew Halus. Next in just over 55 minutes was Jonathan Keenan, Alyson Graham, Judith Boyd and Karen Farrelly with Joanna Gallagher, Clare McIlveen, Lorraine Adams and Beverley Blaine all breaking the sub hour. Our next set of runners over the hour were Naomi Davidson, Gareth Gordon, Emma McCracken, Beverley McKee and Emma Ruddock. With Gordie McEwan, Lisa Boal and Gillian Bailie rounding out a great showing.

In the final last one stranding race going held by atlas running saw a great amount of ultra running talent from all over the UK and Ireland as it also including the last team running event with teams from England Scotland Wales and Ireland. The event was won after 65 hours starting on Saturday midday and ending Tuesday morning 5am yes over 2 and half days non stop. Graeme Black ran 17 loops achieving a distance of over 100K and I understand it wasn’t the result he wanted it is still an amazing showing.

Last race of the weekend was the ladies 10K around titanic area of Belfast. Karen Collins ran just over 50 minutes with Louise Bingham and Karen Heaney shortly after. Just over the hour mark Aiva Korotajevska, Clare McIlveen, Karen Farrelly, Beverley McKee and Nicola Bruce.

Norman Mawhinney having recently found the sport of hyrox starting competitive races last year and found his extensive experience and ability in running suite him very well so with a lot of dedication and work on strength exercises that he was unable to do so he got to work now fast forward to this weekend and the hyrox world championship and he raced in 3 different championship races a single and 2 double a mixed and a male race with his weekend starting with a second place against a world record holder he followed it up with another second place with his partner Nic Stirk who originally got him involved in hyrox and then on Sunday him and Amanda Perry won the 60-64 world championship almost more impressive was he was progressively faster throughout the races.

The weekend wouldn’t be the weekend without a striders trip to parkrun and 58 club members running at 16 events.

If you have enjoyed what you have read Ur would like to get involved out club training is Monday and Wednesday 7.15 all abilities so everyone welcome.