Mid January is a period for half marathon races as runners kick off their spring marathon training before digging into the long distance mileage, with many already having been preparing in the run up to Christmas and the New Year, a period that also allows some relaxed training. The Inskip Half marathon was rewarded with 217 runners and after the bitter driving sleet of 2018 the weather was gorgeous for the duration with no wind and a warming sun.

Saturday afternoon witnessed the fourth fixture in the current season on the Mid-Lancs Cross Country League in Towneley Park in Burnley.  Very low cloud and set-in heavy drizzle greeted early arrivals but by the time of the senior races this has abated and was left with the characteristic cold wind gusting across the parkland and playing fields now used for the course. Kath Hoyer was the only Wesham woman running in the 6km course over 1 small, 1 medium and 1 large lap, finishing 4^th W55 and 75^th in 26:01.

MID LANCS XC No 4 – Townley Park, Burnley.    12^th January 2019

Now at the fourth Mid-Lancs fixture (where is the season going to?) and our numbers equaled that of the last fixture minus one woman!  While the League reported record numbers.  In stark contrast to the last League fixture in December at Hyndburn’s Wilsons Fields where steady heavy rain under leaden skies turned the course into a swimming pool here at Burnley today despite low cloud and early drizzle it eased off and was replaced by a gusting wind but it was warm enough, and the course was dry and firm, track runners conditions!

In the Women’s and Over-70s over 5.8 km with a short, medium and large lap only Kath Hoyer turned out; come on ladies, where are you!  Kath made a sterling effort and finished a fine 4^th W55 and 75^th with a time of 26:01. Anne Mayers-Smith was there at the event but circumstances meant she could not race.