Bob and Berts 5/10k
A wet and windy Saturday morning served up a tough challenge for over two hundred runners at the weekend, with options at 5 and 10k from the Groomsport starting point. Aaron McCauley was in fine form over the longer distance and placed an impressive seventh overall in a time of 41:29.
Despite having to contend with difficult underfoot conditions along the coastal path, Nicola Gibson’s running renaissance continues apace, 25:01 good enough to secure the honours for second place, while Samantha Caldwell has also made significant strides in recent times and finished well up the field in a time of 32:30 (16th).
Palma Half Marathon
In slightly more pleasant conditions, a North Down favourite returned to the running calendar on Sunday, with the Spanish resort town hosting events at 10k, half and full marathon. Dean Varley made the best of the autumnal sunshine and cruised around the half marathon route in 1:35:06, for 126th out of a field of near 2000 competitors.
Boston Marathon
Just eight days after competing at the London marathon, Helen Byers was at it again, crossing the pond to clock up her fifth of the six marathon majors at the historic Boston event. Famed for its point to point course, incorporating the infamous heartbreak hill around the 20 mile mark, Boston delivered another great day out, the North Down lady making light of the heat and humidity, before crossing the line in 3:39:33.