On Saturday, Newport & District Running Club’s Liz and Gary Mountford took part in the “Run the Lights” 10k, a road race which takes place annually along the seafront in Blackpool. Unusually for road racing, this event starts at 9pm, and the famous Illuminations are turned on for all to enjoy after sunset. 

The route starts on Middle Walkway, just north of the North Pier, and runners run south along the Promenade, before turning around at the Pleasure Beach and returning to the finish at the same place as they started. The roads are closed to traffic during the course of the event, so the route is fully dedicated to the race.

Liz and Gary at the Blackpool “Run the Lights” 10k

In a field of 570 runners, Gary finished 139th overall, clocking a time of 52 minutes, 16 seconds, as well as taking 5th place in his category. Liz took 564th position in a time of 1:36:49, and said afterwards that: “it was a lovely run, lots of support from spectators and marshals”.