Gregson takes on famous marathon in the Big Apple

Lostock AC member David Gregson travelled Stateside to take part in the world famous New York marathon.

This iconic race starts on Staten Island, heads through Brooklyn, up to Queens before crossing the Queensborough Bridge in to Manhattan. It then heads north into the Bronx, before competitors head south running the final three miles in Central Park. Gregson had an amazing run, finishing in an impressive 5hrs 17mins 58secs.

Closer to home, three Lostockers joined 220 running at the Shepherds Skyline Fell Race, in Todmorden. The race start is at the base of the hill opposite The Shepherd Rest Inn, on Lambutts Road, and covers six miles, and an elevation gain of 1,150 feet.

Participants are first greeted by a congested single-track path skirting the side of the first hill, with very little opportunity to overtake. The top of the hills was extremely muddy and then opened up all the way to Stoodley Pike - a very runnable section after the tough uphill start.

After summiting Stoodley Pike there is a steep path twisting down to ground zero. This is a fantastic great descent for runners with lots of chance to overtake.

Some runners take this section easily, carefully picking their way down the path, where seasoned Lostockers used this opportunity to overtake. When reaching the bottom, runners turn left and head along London Road, which is a very wet trail/path, before veering left and winding their way back up to the top of the hill. At the top, runners rejoin the path from the outward section and follow this all the way back to the finish with the final descent challenging and littered with trip obstacles.

The weather was fantastic for racing and Lostockers had an awesome run. First home was Rob Sharkey, in 44.36, finishing in 27th position. He was shortly followed by Mark Shuttleworth, in 1:09:13, and Mark Checkley, in 1:29:55.

Lostock members said a big thank you to race organiser, Gaz Pemberton, and his team for a thoroughly well-organised race and there were special thanks to the marshal, who lent Shuttleworth his rucksack and kit after he discovered it was not in the boot of his car!

Johanna McManus travelled to Lancaster to compete in the Lancaster half-marathon. Due to flooding on the route, there was a last-minute course change with the new route starting at Salt Ayre athletic track. It was an out-and-back route following the River Lune. This was a beautiful trail route on asphalt, before finishing the last 300m on the athletics track. McManus had a fabulous race, finishing as the 15th female and first in her age category.

Parkrun results: Bolton - Melonie Crompton 29:40, Rachel Hancock (and her dog Loki) 49:49; Fell Foot - Anthony Maxwell 25:08 (first in age category), Sheila Garewal 30:25 (third in age category); Haigh Woodland - Andy Laycock 23:12 (second in age category), Chris Baker 23:42, Lee Burns 28:10, Ian Burns 29:39; Keswick - Rachel Stevens 25:52 (third in age category and parkrun PB); Warrington - Janet Rhodes 23:41 (ninth female and third in age category), Beverly Atherton-McKenna 27:34 (second in age category), Lynda Hardman 28:46, Jeanette Brandon 30:27.