Road Running

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by Geoff Hewitson Despite the fact that races were taking place elsewhere in the region (notably in Gateshead) I was still a bit surprised to find myself as the sole Crookite at this normally popular event. Looking back to pre-Covid times, there were 13 of us at the 2018 running, although last year I think it was just Stan and myself. Anyway, despite a less than encouraging weather forecast, over in Hartlepool it turned out to be a fairly pleasant morning.

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by Paul Smith Seven days on from Boston Marathon UK the Saturn Running roadshow trundled into town with their "Nearly Not Quite London Marathon" Event at Durham City. Whilst thousands assembled on Blackheath Common along with exclusive and excessive media coverage to run the classic distance in England's Capital, England's Patron Saint once again donned the chain mail and waved the flag along with his sword whilst completing the course's 6 laps to notch his 60th marathon in his 60th year

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by Paul Smith My last marathon, having being stuck on 58 completed marathons, since June 2022, was a North East Marathon Club event at Herrington Country Park and since then through several reasons, not excluding loss of marathon mojo, I haven’t ran the classic distance, and longer distance training runs have also been minimal. Suddenly, on Sunday 16th April 2023 I find myself lined up on the start line of The Boston Marathon …… Boston, Lincolnshire, UK, not, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. On

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Lisa Donaldson: Well, where do I begin…? I can say I have completed the London Marathon, woohoo, and what an achievement that is considering I never thought I would run a marathon at all, to running my first one back in 2022 to nab a good for age which got me my place in the London, I was already buzzing. All the thoughts you get before a race, how should I start quicker, slower, pick it, just go with it? Edging closer

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by Geoff Hewitson A very busy time for local (and not so local!) races continued on Sunday at South Shields, where the local club hosted its annual Sand Dancer 10k. This year’s race was incorporated into our Club Championship but with many of our runners either competing elsewhere or nursing injuries there were just 8 of us taking part. The Sand Dancer is advertised as multi-terrain, which is an accurate assessment, so anyone thinking of doing it for the first time don’t

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by Brad Wight Billed as a fast and flat 5K, this race around the Cobalt Business Park attracted a few entries from Crook, unfortunately Lee and Alex were unable to make it but myself, Ian, Kate and Stan were all raring to go. Stan was up at the front whereas the rest of us had decided to run together with the aim of hitting six minute miles for sub 19 minute PBs all round. My big problem has always been going off

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Sunday was a cracking morning on the Northumberland coast, as six of our members took part in the highly competitive 17th Port of Blyth 10K. Dare I say, the "spring" like morning, was a great setting for the opening of the road running season. The fast and flat route started within the Port area in Blyth, and headed south towards Seaton Sluice on paths through the sand dunes. We looped around a play area at 5k, and headed back for home up

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The historic 'Signals Relays' event held at Hetton Lyons Country Park on Saturday 18th February, was a fantastic day for athletes and spectators alike. A total of 46 Crook athletes, including some of our newest members (some of which were sporting the vest for the first time), took part in this exhilarating road race, which also incorporated the NECAA Road Relays Championships. Despite this ‘road race’ being traffic-free, it was far from an easy ride, with its fast but challenging layout.