Swaledale Fell Runner - Peter Richardson

David Pointon and Rotarian Anthony Bakewell were guests at the Club when Peter Richardson gave a talk on long distance running and Fell Running. For non-runners the prospect of the imagined chore of daily training, the physical pain and the injuries sustained, never mind the cost of kit, suggest masochism of a high degree. Peter began by explaining that he did not have a ‘mid-life crisis’ but felt in middle age it might be a good idea to loose some weight and get fit.  He started jogging and within two months found he was running 4 miles and enjoying it. Now he runs some 1,500miles a year. His love of running was self evident in his presentation. He has run in the Great North Run, the London Marathon and marathons in Dublin and Edinbrough. If there is a local half marathon or any running event he tries to enter. It is not the hope of winning for distance running is more a challenge for oneself, improving, if possible, on your own time for the distance, taking account of the terrain. Latterly he has taken up Fell Running. Running has changed his outlook on life, given him many friends, not only those in the Swaledale Road Runners but those who share the camaraderie of ‘runners’.  He is a friend of the Wensleydale Club as he assists in the time-keeping of the annual James Herriot Country Trail Run. This year the Run will take place on Sunday 27^th. July.