Race report by Janet:
Gin Pit 5 2025
The penultimate race in the Central Lancashire Grand Prix with a very civilised start time of 10.30 am on a Sunday. Eight Lostockers took on the mud and ankle deep puddles on this twisty narrow course with a few loops on gravel tracks, a hill to start and finish and a special guest appearance in the middle for good measure. I don’t think any of us were really feeling it at the start, some carrying a bruise or two from paint balling and feeling a bit heavy from a night of celebrating Ste Hancocks 60th birthday. Well done to Greg Kilshaw for making it to the starting line at all (there were a few notable by their absence!). As usual we all put in a bit of effort and were rewarded with copious amounts of mud, which Chris B assured us we would have paid a lot of money for in a health spa. No individual prizes this time but we all unbelievably stayed on our feet! Thanks to Emma and baby Orla (in tiny running kit) for the photos and moral support, although I have my suspicions that Orla slept through most of it. Greg had a cracking run and I enjoyed following him through the puddles for the last mile or so after I eventually caught him up. Hazel says she’s never doing it again! Jo actually said she enjoyed it! But mostly because she took very steadily and was pleased to have remained upright. Chris breezed round and finished strongly whilst appreciating the exfoliating benefits. Gill took it all in her stride, her cross country experience certainly helped here and Mary put in another strong performance in her second race of the weekend. The tshirt and cake at the end almost made it worthwhile. Well done everyone.

Lostockers were on tour at Parkrun this weekend: Katie Edern ran 31:33 at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh to finish third in her age category, while Rachel Stevens produced an excellent run at Oosterplas Parkrun in the Netherlands, finishing in 26:45 to place eighth overall, second female and first in her age category.
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