Ten Stocksbridge Running Club members joined the festive Percy Pudding 10km road race at Loxley on Sunday 1st December. Despite the day promising heavy rain we donned our brightest running gear and tinsel to get into the Yuletide spirit. There were Santa hats galore, elf suits, reindeer hats and even a runner in a Christmas tree!
The race route started just beyond the Admiral Rodney pub and a sea of colourful runners flowed all the way down Loxley Road, across the wall at Dam Flask, to the Plough Inn at Low Bradfield. Here, volunteers from Steel City Striders Club whipped everyone into a fast spin around a bollard and cheered us all back the way we had come for the final 3 miles. By this time the rain had stopped and we were eager to climb the steady ascent back up Loxley Road to our waiting prizes of Christmas puddings, and 30th race anniversary bobble hats and drink mats.
Jonathan Middleton was the first club male back in 44:40 and 7th in his age group.
Charlotte Carr was the first club senior woman in 48:54, also getting a PB.
Narni Fulford, sporting a magnificent Santa beard, was hot on her heels in 49:43.
Samantha Middleton, Jenny Elsegood, Heather Lindley and Charlotte Bailey next steamed over the finish line in 55:05, 55:08, 55:22 and 55:36 respectively.
Hot on their tails were Jolene Allen in 57:11, Cathy Steel in 58:06 (also a Percy Pud best time for Cathy), and Charlotte Middleton in 62:46.
The Steel City Striders have once again excelled with their slick organisation in putting on a race with a warm and friendly December glow.
