BURNDEN'S Lorraine Halwood completed her 27th marathon at the weekend.

Her latest success even took her further than expected – the course turned out to be 27.5 miles – and it was, in her own words, her toughest yet.

The route started in Darwen and skirted past Egerton, through Chapeltown and out to Holcombe before circling back to the start and finish line.

Halwood conquered the mud and rain and, despite a couple of tumbles, finished the arduous event 30th overall and fourth female runner in 6hrs 46min 24secs.

A day earlier, Colin Faulds had taken part in the first leg of the weekend’s double marathon from the same start and finish but over a differing route, heading further west and taking in White Coppice.

Faulds put in a fantastic effort to finish ninth overall in 5:06:17.

Laurence Keighley and Andy Warburton travelled to Abbey Village for Chorley AC’s popular trail race, the Roddlesworth Roller.

Keighley completed the 9km course in 49:21, while Warburton crossed the line in 52:13.

Three members headed for Yorkshire for one of the traditional 20-milers favoured by runners preparing for a spring marathon – the hilly Spen 20 at Liversedge, north of Huddersfield.

Marcus Chester was the first of the trio to finish, in a time of 2:47:47, followed by Jane Forrest in 2:53:00 and Colm O’Brien in 3:03:39.

Debra Hennessey and Gillian McGowan took part in the Heaton Park 10K with Hennessey returning a time of 1:00:05 and McGowan home in 1:13:00.