Last weekend was one of the busiest weekends of racing for Pickering Running Club with some stellar performances. The weather was perfect for spectating but hot for running.The bright sunshine meant there was even some sunburn to contend with in addition to dehydration but at least conditions were dry and firm underfoot.

On Saturday over 700 competitors, including Alistair Brownlee, tackled the iconic Three Peaks Fell Race, the peaks being Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, totalling a massive 5,387 feet of climb over 24.3 miles. The strict cutoffs mean this event is only for those with excellent strength, fitness and endurance and so attracts elite athletes; over 100 runners were timed out and so unable to finish. Simon Rycroft was first back for PRC in a marvellous time of 4 hours 39 minutes, 246th out of 618 finishers. Simon Jones was next in 4 hours 46 minutes with Boyd Brad only 14 seconds behind him, also clocking 4 hours 46 minutes. Kim Cavill crossed the line in 4 hours 50 minutes, 41st female. This was Kim’s 13th Three Peaks completion and her fastest so far out of three on the extended course that has now been open for 3 years. If she can complete two more, she will be one of the few women to have done that, six so far since 1979 when it was finally decided that women should be allowed to run it! Tom Pilley was close behind Kim in 4 hours 52 minutes. Followed by Nick Outram in 4 hours 59 minutes and Mike Wilson in 5 hours 31 minutes. Lucy Saggers and Karen Farmer-Scott, both new to the event crossed the finish line in a brilliant 5 hours 39 minutes, which placed Karen 5th F60. Nick Cousins was just timed out after completing 2 peaks and Alice Hayter only just missed the cutoff after the first peak.

Taking on a very different type of running Charles Corbett and David Stephenson joined 57,000 competitors in the London Marathon, a world record number of marathon runners. The logistics of getting to the start line can be the most stressful part with such numbers and the heat is more intense in the crowded streets. The support, however, is truly amazing inspiring Charles to finish in 3 hours 44 minutes and David Stephenson in 5 hours 18 minutes. London Marathon is also the largest fundraising event in the world and both Charles and David raised much needed funds for their chosen charities.

Lisa and Chris Adams dashed across the Atlantic to join the Nashville Marathon. They had a great time at the home of Country and Western music with Chris finishing in Chris 4 hours 58 and Lisa in 5 hours 57 minutes.

Sunday also saw the running of the last race in the Winter Fell Race Series, the Hooded Horse Fell Race, a 6.3 mile romp through the woods below the White Horse with nearly 1,200 feet of climb. Dave Smith had an excellent run finishing in 52 minutes 45 seconds, placing him 2nd M55 and 18th overall. Kelly Richmond was next in 56 minutes 51 seconds earning her the prize for 2nd female. Kelly was followed by James Loftus in 57 minutes 18 seconds and Nicola Thorpe in 70 minutes 59, 1st F55. Then came Lynn Humpleby in 71 minutes 46 seconds and Erin Outram in 72 minutes 34 minutes. Despite running the Three Peaks the previous day, Alice Hayter clocked 73 minutes 36 seconds and Serena Partridge finished in 93 minutes 22 seconds. The overall results for the series are still being finalised but Pickering Ladies are the clear winners for the team prize. Individual series prize winners will be in next week’s report.

Alison Hyde ran the SeeYorkRunYork Easter Edge Challenge, a lapped course in York and completed 17 miles in 5 hours 30 minutes.

Sisters Heather and Chloe Riley competed in the Yorkshire Wildlife Park 10k. Chloe completed this interesting event in 58 minutes 59 seconds and Heather in 73 minutes 31 seconds.