THE unusual is usually what attracts running partners Russell Brooks and Louise Leatherbarrow to take part in races.

They have run ridiculously long distances, challenged themselves in some of the toughest events the human body can stand, and travelled to far-flung places around the world to enjoy – or endure – different running experiences.

But the travelling endurance runners from Bolton's latest outing left them cold – literally.

"It was the coldest I've ever been in my life," said Louise of the Hardmoors 55 race which takes competitors through 55 miles from Helmsley to Guisborough through the North York Moors and Cleveland Hills.

The weather was particularly bad at the time and Louise says: "To be honest, there was much debate whether the race should have gone ahead.

"The forecast was pretty bad and the kit list was the strictest I have seen – but much-needed.

"Basically from start to finish this is a mega-tough race, and to mix in the absolute horrendous conditions we faced throughout the whole of the race, from blizzards to hail to snow to rain, and constant winds with temperatures as low as minus-15, it really was unforgettable.

"Looking back it's not surprising so many dropped out or were unable to complete, as soon as you stopped you felt the cold creeping in on you even further.

"I knew Russ (one of the founder members of Team Deane athletics club in Bolton) was just in front of me and I knew he wouldn’t have stopped unless he had too.

"My water bottles had frozen, and at the last feed station they were putting them in warm water to defrost them.

"It literally took five minutes before they froze again. Another feed station had an array of choice in peanuts covered in snow, frozen sausage rolls, and frozen jelly babies!

"The race was eventually stopped for some runners but we had already passed this point with less than a third of runners completing the full 55 miles.

"All credit to everyone who took part, and to the emergency services and marshals on the day.

"We really have never been so cold – you really couldn’t layer up enough.

"I knew I had to keep going forward and just keep moving – parts of the race where maybe I would have gone slower up a steep hill I had to go quicker to stop that cold setting in as you didn’t know what was going to happen at certain points. Visibility was down to a foot or zero at some points."