VETERAN runner Keith Penny tackled nearly 60 miles of the Pennine Way in the Montane Winter Spine Challenger North earlier this month – a 160-mile race from Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm.
The 70-year-old had trained incredibly hard in all sorts of conditions and terrain carrying full kit to make the start.
Runners cross some of the most beautiful but difficult terrain in Britain, including the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park, Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviots, and all in the middle of winter.
Although he retired after reaching the 55-mile checkpoint having climbed 9,000ft, Keith said: "I learnt so much and I’m so grateful I could be on the start line. One thing’s clear: with the right training and preparation, age is not a barrier."
Having swapped out his usual poles that kept collapsing, a new one fell apart, which led to falls and slow progress.
"Given how dependent I'd become on poles for stability, to help prevent slipping on ice, to jump across holes, to test the depth of fast flowing streams and bogs, and getting up the steep bits, I didn’t want to attempt the climb over Cross Fell without two working poles, given the conditions underfoot,” he said. "So at Dufton I retired.”
Meanwhile, joint Spirit and MonRoss Trailblazer Faye Johnson reached a significant milestone with her 100th parkrun at the Saturday, January 18, Monmouth Chippenham fields event.
Faye started parkrunning in 2019 and has gone on to run at 18 different locations and also volunteered to help run parkruns 28 times.
She brought up her 5k milestone with a quick 20 minutes 18 seconds finish to place second overall and first lady, in a run headed by Thomas Chinnick in 19.15.
Meanwhile, Spirit’s Katie Adams travelled to Pembrey for the 120th Welsh X-Country championships on Saturday (January 25) to watch her daughter, but also ran herself, covering the 7.7km loop course around Pembrey Country Park alongside 144 competitors in her race, finishing 23rd in 32mins 56secs and taking bronze in her age category.
On Sunday in freezing wet and windy weather, club mate Chris Baber also headed to the Chepstow Racecourse 10k, finishing 17th in his category in 56.27.