Dudley Ladies Show Heart

More than 1000 runners braved the rain and cold weather to take part in Dudley's five-mile Action Heart Run on Sunday 25th February.

The race was again supported by hordes of Dudley Ladies rubbing shoulders along side both elite and good club runners, including Marion Willetts, Ann Kelly, Chris Clark and Eileen Bolton shown left, enjoying a bit of pre-race bonding.

Organisers said the response to this years event had been just as strong as the 2006 event - and they hope to break the £20,000 fundraising barrier set last year.

The route took runners around a five-mile circuit starting in the hospital grounds and then out to Himley Road and Milking Bank before bringing them back to Russells Hall.

Expectations and anxieties  were running high amongst some of our competitors as the countdown to the 9.30am start began. For many, this was their first race and for others, it was the culmination of weeks and weeks of running around the cold, wet and dark streets of Wombourne in preparation for their big event.

First back for the club was Carrie Creamer, shown left, in 44.50, followed by Rebecca Gentle in 50.56 and Star of the day 61 year old Marion Willetts, shown right in 51.00.

Other runners that accounted for themselves well included, Yvonne O'Neil, Shirley Jones, Claire Morgan, Jackie Fellows, Eileen Bolton, Heather Davies, Chris Clark, Debbie Mottram, Paulette Hayhurst, Marie Smith, Ann Kelly, Irene Evans, Rachel Harris, Sarah Jones, Sue Hutton, Lisa Hadlington, Liz McCarvill, Denise Anslow and Natalie Dellar. Apologies to all the others not mentioned.

Natalie Dellar writes:

"Well, we survived!

It wasn't too bad, we started (and ended) near the back, tried to go at steady pace - the weather held out until the end when it started to rain but it was quite refreshing by that stage.

We got to 4.5 miles, and I must admit I started to crumble a bit going up the high street towards the hospital, so Denise went off ahead to get it over with and I jogged (staggered? Crawled?) my way up back to Russell's hall at a very slow pace.

It took me an hour and 5 minutes, o.k. for the first time I thought. I've got a sneaking feeling I was last, if there were people behind me they were very far behind but I was quite happy to have got to the 4.5 miles mark in relative comfort, that last bit is really tough...

One thing to be said for being in the last few finishers was we seemed to get given 2 goody bags to get rid of them :-)"

So it seems that everyone had a good time and enjoyed the challenge of what is undoubtedly one of the hilliest 5-mile races around. If you can do well at this race then you'll do well anywhere.

So well done to all those that finished with a smile on their face!!!!!