FAST KERMODE SCORES ITALIAN PB

Speedy Michael ‘Fast Mode’ Kermode has been knocking seconds and minutes from his PBs for a while and this week he hit the big one.

Rome Marathon was Michael’s destination and he was round the course faster than you can eat a bowl of pasta.

In February, race directors across Europe met in Vienna to launch a new running series named the European Marathon Classics. Rome was the first city setting on this iconic list and aimed for a route described as the most scenic marathon in the world. Starting at the famous landmark, the Colosseum, the course then heads along the River Tiber, passing Vatican City on its way, before finishing at the Circo Massimo. Back in the UK, members of Burnden Road Runners tuned into the race in support of Michael who successfully set a new PB of 3:00:21. Bella!

CONISTON 14 FOR GERRARD

The Coniston 14 road race attracts some 1,600 runners each year and is organised by an enthusiastic group of villages. Boasting some stunning scenery, runners are treated to a myriad of lakeshore views, woodland sections and mountain backdrops including the Old Man of Coniston. Gayle Gerrard represented Burnden and finished 4th in her age category out of 45 – crossing in 1:56:35.

SUNSHINE FOR SUNNYWOOD

David Morrison ran the Sunnywood Project Link Challenge event this week, a course meant to be a 20.8 mile. Unfortunately, quite a few runners took wrong turnings, wrong forks, or missed side paths due to missing arrows on the signage and ended up doing just over half a mile more! Starting and finishing in Burrs Country Park in Bury and following a "village link" route that connects many of the local villages, it is a beautiful and scenic route and the sun made a rare appearance. Despite this, a boggy and muddy course made it difficult to run but David managed to get a 10 minute PB on last year’s effort, despite the warm weather and extra distance!

WILMSLOW HALF FIRST FOR EMMA

Emma Beardwell made her debut for Burnden Road Runners at the Wilmslow Half Marathon this week. Part of the Running Festival, the Half is a flat, one-lap course starting at King’s Road and finishing at Mobberley Road. Emma smashed her debut in a super 2:04:09 while partner Gregg Beardwell cracked a sub-2 in 1:52:03.

FRANCESCA 2ND LADY AT HOLLY’S HEARTS

Holly’s Hearts is a charity raising funds for children suffering with cancer. Created by her parents, the charity is also a lasting tribute and a memorial to little Holly Prince from Wigan who passed away at age 5 after a two year battle. The Holly Prince 10 Miler is one of the fundraising events for the charity and is a road race starting from Astley Miner’s Club. Francesca Caine represented Burnden and finished as 2nd lady and 10th overall with a superb time of 1:19:08.