On the roads, Ben Fish is preparing to run the Chester Marathon on October 6th and ran his last race before the Marathon at the RunThrough Run Media 10k at Salford on Thursday 26th September.with well over 450 runners in the field. Ben won the race in a time of 33.02 (RESULTS). Speaking to the Harriers Ben told us about the race “I like doing mid-week evening races and this was the last one of the year, so I wanted to give it a go. It’s a good flat course, but as it’s 4 laps of 2.5k it started to get a bit crowded when lapping runners by the 3rd and 4th lap. Enjoyable event though and will definitely do it again.“

And still on the roads Blackburn Harriers V50 Joanne Nelson and V35 Ella Green took on another 10k, this time in Preston on Sunday September 10th. (RESULTS). Joanne and Ella ran well, both coming home inside the top ten in the Women’s race – Joanne taking 2nd place in only her second race of the year with a time of 43.02 and Ella in 8th place, running  46.03.

On to the Fells at the weekend – at the Thieveley Pike Fell Race on Saturday September 28th at Cliviger. Ninety runners in this race won by Rossendale’s Joseph Ormerod in 38.03 with Blackburn Harriers Marc Hartley in 2nd spot running a time of 38.22. After the race, Marc shared his thoughts on the day with the Club “Thieveley Pike is a race that’s quite close to me in terms of distance & has a great local grass roots feel to it. So I like to support it when I can. Similar to last year I occupied the “bridesmaid” position after a good close battle with those in the top 10, and was second runner to cross the finish line. A nice route and an ok race performance“.

Up in Scotland V60 Ian Clarkson was taking on the Loch ness Marathon (RESULTS) which had 3731 runners taking part. The race was won in a time of 2hr 19.26 by Moray Pride (Lothian Running Club) from Sahun Cummining (East Sutherland AC) in 2nd place 2hr 31.16 and Chorlton’s Tom Charles in 3rd (2hr 31.58). Ian had a fine run and was more than happy with his perfromance which saw him finish in 3hr 42.03 and in the top ten of his age category. Speaking to the Harriers about his race and his day Ian told us “My son ‘Josh’ entered me in the Loch Ness Marathon for a Xmas present last year !! Ok, let’s deal with it, plenty of time !! The journey starts, get the runs in, nice and steady, listen to advice, try and keep on top of the aches and pains. As the year progressed, training has its up and downs self belief wasn’t happening, just keep persevering. Before we realise, it’s weeks away and now I’m panicking, I’m not ready !! The last week is here and now it’s almost real. Race weekend, it’s NOW, it’s real, too late, time to put the plan into place, listen to all that advice and stay calm. 10.00am on a remote start line in the Highlands above Inverness a few thousand runners gathered and then we are off. Downhill, undulating, uphill, mile after mile. The support from local residents and supporters was outstanding, leg muscles aching, the last couple of miles seemed to go on forever, and then finished 03:42:03 , legs totally gone. Emotionally and physically wrecked, 1st Marathon done and a vet 60 as well. Time for beer and pizza. 03:42:03 Vet 60 ….10/131 631/3731 Well happy.“

Also there on the day was Helen Leigh having jist finished on the Podium at the Ben Nevis race the week before! Helen is more likely to be seen out racing the Fells and Mountains than turning up in a road race, yet here she was in a road 10k – the Ness 10k – and what a run she had, setting herself a new PB of 36.23, just over two minutes faster than she has ever run the distance previously. The Harriers spoke to Helen after the race and she told us “The Ness 10km was my first run fairly fresh and after a good year of graft I was hoping for sub 37. I followed my race plan and was super happy with a big pb of 36.23. Ace to see Blackburn vest and Ian appear while watching the marathon too”

On to Triathlons which saw Blackburn Harriers U17 Matthew Smith, U17 Will Grundy, U15 Charlotte Smith and U15 Lyra Krige all competing in the  Fleetwood triathlon on Sunday September 22nd. Matthew and Will finished in 1st and 2nd places in the Youth & Junior Triathlon (RESULTS)  – Matthew winning in a combined time of 36.42 and Will placing 2nd in 37.01. In the Tristar 3 event (RESULTS) Lyra came 2nd with her combined time of 35.10 with Charlotte in 3rd with a time of 36.38. All of which meant that our four Blackburn Harriers all finished on the Podium at the end of the competitions. Following on from this Charlotte won a Biathlon at Fleetwood the week after on Sunday September 29th.