Sunday 10th December saw the annual Longridge 7 Christmas pudding run take place, with a number of Preston Harriers deciding to venture out and have a go at this undulating 7 mile course. This small, friendly and popular run provides the opportunity to earn your very own pudding for Christmas, if it lasts that long...
After last year's short notice and no doubt disappointing cancellation due to heavy ice, the field of 295 runners were ready and raring to go, perhaps spurred on by the thought of a take-home pudding. It was a chance for many to claim a PB too with this being quite a unique racing distance.
From the race head quarters at the local community centre, one of the few flat sections takes runners out onto Berry Lane to begin a climb. They they continued before bearing left and up again towards Longridge Fell. The race organisers have certainly ensured challenge on this route as after the Newdrop pub runners turn again and have another climb to the highest point of the race. Following this is a yoyo of incline and decline before the final leg-bursting and knee-shaking descent all the way down to the town.
Nine Harriers took on the challenge and first to gain his pudding was Tom Little who came 11th with a chiptime of 44.26. He was followed by Jason Parker, 2nd M45, in 17th
place posting 45.23. Next came Ben Hudson (who marked his birthday weekend with this race!) placing 30th in 47.48, and not too far away was Dougie Potter 35th
in 48.17. It might be worth popping round to Dougie's house with an appetite as he now has both a piece of cheese from last week's Myerscough ten miler and a pudding from this event.
Andy Acklam turned it into a family day out, running with his household and placing 104th
in 57.49. For the gents, Thomas McAteer also ran and was 116th in 59.03.
Charlotte Gregory was our first lady in 47th place with time of 49.55 with Nicola Foster 56th
and timed at 51.10 following closely behind. Olga Wiggins deserves a special mention too as a runner who competed yesterday after also running in the cross-country at Lancaster on Saturday. Put your feet up at work this week, Olga!