Race report by Gareth:
Last night was the penultimate chapter in this years midweek road/trail champs…the Radcliffe AC multi terrain 5K race.
Another incredible turnout of 18 Lostockers rocked up at the lovely Sedgley Park RUFC which had great facilities for a race HQ, not to mention a BBQ & bar for after the race!
This is a great test for a 5K, you could comfortably add 3 minutes plus to your usual 5K time & still have ran a great race. It’s such an interesting & varied route, absolutely never dull & provides a few challenges along the way.
Starting on the road just round the corner from the rugby club we were soon heading downhill into Phillips Park across cobbles, down a steeper hill on trail, then the weirdest sensation of all across a single file bridge over the M60 which bounces as you run on it, makes your legs feel crazy! Back into the park on the other side of the motorway onto some more single file trail, through a couple of fields, then onto a flat gravel section, back onto trail alongside the River Irwell where you slowly start to go back uphill, turn a corner then bang!..a really steep shortish hill about 1/3 of a mile long which reduced most of us to a walk, back across another less bouncy motorway bridge before heading back very briefly on tarmac before a fast finish alongside the rugby pitch. I get why its called a “multi terrain” race lol.
Too many members to mention individually but stand out performances & age category wins for Janet & Gillian (FV50 & FV70 respectively) a brilliant 3rd place FV50 for Rachel Susan Hancock & special shoutout for a super impressive 2nd place FV55 for Lynda! so well deserved, I see how hard you push yourself on the track each Friday, so good to see you get the benefit 💪.
Massive well done to all who took part in this tough event on which turned out to be a beautiful evening for racing 💚🖤.
Final stop on the midweek champs….Ramsbottom Mile on Tue 5th August…see you there!
https://www.ukresults.net/2025/rad5k.html
