LOSTOCK AC’s Andrew Morley beat the UK’s winter blues with a storming performance at the 37th running of the Cave Shepherd Barbados marathon.

Starting at 5am to beat the 30°C midday heat and visiting the historic UNESCO world heritage site of Bridgetown and its scenic waterfront, Morley turned in a strong time of 3hrs 55mins 36secs in what were already very hot conditions to finish 18th overall and second in his age group.

Sunstroke and heat exhaustion were the last things on Albert Sunter and Tony Marlow’s minds as they headed to the village of Ingram in Northumberland for the Montane Cheviot Goat 55-mile ultramarathon.

Winds of up to 80mph forced a last-minute change of route from the race directors to prevent runners being exposed to the worst weather, but competitors were still faced with chest-high streams and energy-sapping deep heather around the most isolated part of England bordering Scotland.

Sunter and Marlow both had to draw on their years of experience in ultra and fell running to avoid hypothermia over the 55 miles and 9,500 feet of ascent to finish in 14-and-a-half hours.

Closer to home, and entering the festive spirit, were Anthony Maxwell, Sheila Garewal and Claire Shewbridge at the undulating Longridge Christmas Pudding 7-mile road race.

They turned in times of 1:02:02, 1:11:46 and 1:08:42 respectively.

Similarly for Karen Taylor, Kathryn Orrell and Joanne White, the festive season was in full swing at the Tatton Park Yule Yomp 10k where the three Lostockers clocked 1:11:09.