The midpoint of the 127-mile long Leeds to Liverpool Canal is at Church on the edge of Accrington, and it is this little known fact that gives Accrington Road Runners a unique club race, and an opportunity to raise cash for charity.
Early one Saturday morning, two relay teams of runners from the club set off simultaneously from Leeds and Liverpool to race to the middle.
Each half is broken down into legs of roughly 10 miles each, and there were at least two runners on each leg.
There were over 40 taking part – that’s nearly half the membership, and in some pretty dreadful weather.
According to club president Dave Mallaby, everybody enjoyed it, but the biggest surprise was that, after 63 miles of racing, the teams finished within three minutes of each other.
After completing the event for the second time in three years, the Meningitis Trust is set to benefit from the sponsorship raised.
l Accrington Road Runners is a very sociable club which caters for all abilities. It meets at 6.30pm every Tuesday at Wilson’s Playing Fields, Clayton-le-Moors.
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