Roadrunners go the distance in Morocco (From This Is Lancashire)

Roadrunners go the distance in Morocco

3:50pm Thursday 11th February 2010 in

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BURNDEN Roadrunners’ Pete Hopley, Stew Jones, and Dave Pearson travelled to Morocco to take part in the 21st running of the Marrakech Marathon and Half Marathon.

A cold, bright start greeted the 5,000 runners who had gathered from all over the world in pleasant temperatures of 25 degrees.

The route was winding but flat and all three Burnden boys were rewarded with creditable times.

Stew Jones was the first Brit home in the half marathon in 1:25:25, Dave Pearson ran 1:34:33.

Pete Hopley managed to hang on in the marathon and set a new personal best of 3:09:33 in 103rd place.

Lostock AC runner Neil Smith switched from the marathon to the half marathon due to injury and clocked 1:34:55.

Eight Burnden Roadrunners were among 250 competitors who lined up to take part in Sunday’s 10 mile Trail Race in Radcliffe.

Keith Thomas was first home for Burnden and 13th overall, picking up third V50 prize in a time of 1:03:20 and Andy Staveley also scraped into the top 20 in 1:06:31.

Stew Jones (1:08:57), Don Nichol (1:16:02), Dave Pearson (1:16:25) and Chris Greenall (1:21:59) completed the men’s team.

Anne Ferguson was Burnden’s first lady, third F50 and 11th overall in 1:19:29 and Clare Foster completed the course in 1:36:18.