Gareth Pratt, Rachel Hancock, Andy Laycock and Janet Rhodes completed the Rivington Half Marathon. This is an extremely tough half marathon with an elevation gain of over 1,300ft. This is a marathon of mix terrain with hills, mud, ankle deep water, fields, steps, styles, gates and rocky trails making this an interesting and challenging race.
Starting and finishing at Rivington and Blackrod High School we were straight into a steep climb up the rocky path, which is Roynton Road, then some lovely downhill. Participants run all the way down Sheephouse Lane to the bowling green then up the rocky path towards Yarrow, then back down towards Anglezarke and on towards White Coppice. At the halfway point runners were cheered on by other Lostock members.
It was then back from White Coppice cricket club along the path through lots of ankle-deep water towards the tip of Anglezarke then up the steep steps and up across the boggy field towards Nab Hill followed by a lovely long mile downhill.
Then back towards Rivington and the lower trails and then back to the school to finish after an unnecessary lap around a muddy field. Pratt was the first Lostocker home in fantastic 2.06.32. The next across the finish line was Hancock in 2.12.47 who won her age category. Laycock was next in 2.16.06 followed by Rhodes in 2.25.57.
