Great Langdale marathon changes direction (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Great Langdale marathon changes direction

1:22pm Friday 29th August 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

THERE is a change to this year's Great Langdale Marathon and Half-Marathon.

The races are being run in the opposite direction for increased safety and organiser Rod Berry reckons the winner's time could be faster than the current 2hr 55min 11sec record.

One of the reasons - leaving aside the reverse-route - is that Steve Little, a three-times half-marathon winner at the venue, switches to the longer distance at Great Langdale, though he has tackled New York and other big marathons in the past.

Another good local fell-runner, Grasmere's John Shedwick, the bar manager at Tweedies, is also planning a tilt at the marathon and has clocked a good time in training, says Rod.

It is the 20th anniversary of the half-marathon - quite an occasion - and Rod is having each competitiors’ name printed on special commemorative tee-shirts. Entry is all but full at the 500 maximum with only a few places left before the September 1 cut-off.

Go to www.greatlangdaleraces.org.uk