Dumfries Running Club athletes compete in Carlisle 5K and 10K races
Twenty eight Dumfries Running Club members took part in the Carlisle Resolution races 5k and 10K races which took place at Carlisle racecourse on Sunday morning.
This was the first Grand Prix race of the season and that meant a large number were keen to get their year off to a good start.
The 10k route, which the vast majority were doing, started at 10am, and was on the race terrain itself plus a mix of quiet country roads that are generally flat or undulating and was fully on tarmac with the bonus of finishing directly in front of the main grandstand.
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The 5k which began 15 minutes later, was fully within the course grounds and the only club entrant there was Michael McKean who was thoroughly delighted to get back to racing form in 21.05 which placed him 16th out of 82 finishers.
In the main race first club member back out of the 330 finishers was Jamie Ovens who was fourth overall in 35.06. This was Jamie’s second race of the year after winning the Crichton parkrun on January 1.
Alan Baxter was very pleased to get under the 40 minute barrier in 39.36 in 20th position and Darren Malin had an outstanding run in 41.03, two minutes in front of Stuart Gillespie.
Simon Mortlock was on vintage form in 43.18 and was first over 60 in the race. Ranjit Thomas in 44.20 headed off Kevin Gordon by two places and eight seconds.
Sandy Shankland had a very good run in 45.58 and was a full minute in front of Sue Jeffrey who was also pleased with her progress.
Les Hill ran well in 49.09 and used his experience to guide Daniel Nordkil home in 49.30, a two and a half minute improvement which bodes well for the future.
Club captain Karen Littlejohn was delighted to get round in her second fastest time ever in 50.13, a minute in front of Anne Macfarlane who had the consolation of winning second prize overall in her age category and Maureen Dickson had a good run in 52.46. Campbell McCaig showed that his Manchester marathon training is going well by finishing in 55.20.
For a large number of club runners, the experience of running every day in December for the Marcothon challenge really helped and this was shown in the improvement shown over the 10k distance.
John Currie was delighted with his best ever time in 56.33 and even managed a finishing line sprint with Kirsty Templeton with both credited with the same time. Kirsty Stewart was a minute faster than before in 57.12 and was 30 seconds ahead of Rebecca Queen who was four minutes faster than she had ever run and Chris Belford was also almost six minutes faster than his 2024 time on the same course.
Carolyn Priestley in 61.54 again benefitted from her Marcothon training and she was 30 seconds ahead of Jamie Cottrell with Kerry and Fiona Jardine a further two minutes adrift.
Claire Mclaren had a best ever run in 66.18 four minutes in front of Sean Mcgleenan and Kerry Precious was especially pleased to beat her time by six minutes as she really gained in confidence from regular 5k runs in December.
Monday night group /jogScotland
The Monday night beginners and improvers group meets on Mondays at Dumfries Sports Club on Nunholm Road at 6.30pm where organised groups are led over distances from 2km at a suitable pace up to five miles.
Prospective newcomers are reminded that high visibility clothing is required for safety on darker nights.
Further details can be found on www.dumfriesrunningclub.org.uk
The free Jog Scotland programme is now onto week three and newcomers are very welcome, regardless of whether you have ever run before.
