Race report by Tony Marlow:
2024 started off as a good year race well for me. Several new races (to me) under my belt and feeling back on it after a lean couple of years. Then I pick up a foot injury, started major house renovations on top of the usual work! This meant 4 months without a race so when the fell captain informed me that I had to do one more to count in the club champs I decided it was time to pull up my socks and get on with it! The race in question was the Dave Staff Memorial put on by our neighbouring club Darwen Dashers. The route starts in Sunnyhurst woods and winds its way over 4 miles upto and around Darwen Tower. Four Lostock runners made the start line, Checkers who had done cross country yesterday, Josie who had done the Tour of Pendle yesterday, Rob Sharkey and myself. The weather was cold and damp but reasonably bright at the start, perfect for a winter race. I had decided that being very unfit and not wishing to cause any further angst to my foot that I would start off near the back and trot round just to make the count. YEAH does anyone actually do that in a race?!! Within the first 20 yards I saw Rob Sharkey streaking up the outside and I tried to hang on to him, best laid plans and all! Well as soon as the track began to climb up the hillside my lack of climbing fitness hit and Rob was gone so I settled into a steady pace trying to hang on to people who I thought were about my age! I managed to pick up a few places on the decents as I’m a reasonable decender but lost them again on the climbs. By the time we passed under the tower for the final time I realised it was downhill all the way and spying my friend Mark Ellithorn about 100 metres ahead of me I engaged the quads, disengaged the brain and let go! Well it paid off as I caught and passed Mark with about 200 metres before the finish and held on. Yessss! So much for not racing!
Rob Sharkey led the Lostockers home in 35.01 and a fantastic 7th place overall, Tony Marlow 40.01 36th overall, Josie Greenhalgh 40.58 40th overall 5th lady and 1st vet 50, Mark Checkley 51.08 71st.
