Sponsored Runners 2011

Trail Run - the Rotary Runners 

Back in the Summer, Penrith Rotary Club went in search of non-athlete volunteers to accept a challenge. Would anyone commit themselves to a training regime to prepare for the tough 10K Lowther Park Trail Run in October? In exchange for that commitment they would receive free support from staff at Newton Rigg gym plus free entry to the race itself. Step forward three brave Penrith souls,  Sandra Kellet, 48yrs, a mum of three,  Malcolm Kirkbride, a 62 year old lapsed jogger and mother of two, 26 year old Gemma Beattie.

Volunteering is one thing, keeping up the training, dealing with the setbacks and actually
running in the race is quite another.  So the day dawned, Sunday the 9^th October with the rain falling steadily and a poor forecast; who would rise to the challenge?

In July Malcolm said, 'Last year I set myself a programme to enable me to enter the Cumbrian Run with a modest ambition to finish without being totally exhausted and uninjured, but ironically due to injury I didn't even get to the starting line. I'm confident that if I stick to the training I'll complete the course and at this early stage I think I'd be wise to have no higher ambition than that.'  In the event Malcolm was dogged by further injury. He trained for weeks but in trying to overcome a hamstring injury he further damaged it and had to withdraw a few days before the race.

Sandra began her Summer training by declaring, 'I feel the need of a challenge to keep myself fit and at the same time do some good for charity. Right now I am very confident about the run. More people should attempt exercise, I am so pleased I signed up for this.'  And there she was on race morning, beaming with anticipation, confident she would complete the course.  And so she did
despite the wet conditions, steep ground and at times muddy course. At the end of the race Sandra said, 'I feel great, I've joined a gym now and I'm definitely going to keep this up'

In July Gemma had said, 'I'm very interested in this challenge. I'm a mum of 2 kids, they are both
very active. Nice to show them mummy can be too! 10k would be a great challenge to keep me motivated .Oh, and one other thought.......... I must be mad'  Her training was interrupted by a health concern but putting that aside, she determined to participate. On race morning she arrived ready for the challenge.  On the starting line, she might have thought that she was definitely mad but irrespectively she carried on and finished the tough course. 'After the race Gemma said, 'I'm really pleased with myself! There was loads more mud than I was expecting, I will do it again, in fact I'm thinking about doing the  Rotary Swimathon after Christmas!'

So well done to Sandra and Gemma with commiserations to Malcolm who did all the hard
training but was unable to take part.

The Rotary Trail Run is an annual fund raising event at Lowther. Key charities this year to benefit are The Great North Air Ambulance Cumbria and Diabetes UK (Penrith)  The race next year will take place on Sunday 14^th October 2012. So diary entries please with entry forms on the Penrith Rotary Club website nearer the time.