IN a quieter week for members of Irvine running and jogging group Ron's Runners the committee have passed to all members of the club the duty roster for the upcoming 5k trail race on Wednesday, April 19 at the Beach Park and pass their appreciation to those 25 or so, who sacrificed their own hopes of competing, to ensure smooth running of the event.

Although the route is reported as a first rate trail with all the twists and turns needed to remain off roadways and traffic free the number of officials required is disproportionally large. Those acting as officials this year, as last, are members of the club and all themselves active runners and it was remarked last year how supportive they all were of even the very slowest of those entering they event. Again, this year the race is also the 5k Ayrshire Championship.

With a race start time of 7pm registration is at the Irvine Water Sports club at harbourside.

On his travels recently Andy McNaughton, who is making his first attempt at an ultra-distance event “the Clyde stride Ultra” which starts at Partick Station Glasgow and finishes 40 miles away at Lanark station, entered the Loch Catrine marathon as another step in his preparation.

Running well within his abilities, Andy described his 4 hr 20 mins and 07sec finishing time as a very pleasing performance for a challenging hilly route from Trossachs Pier to the far end of the loch and back again. There are a series of races on the day and the event is staged to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland and to this end no prizes are given to finishers.

On a training run experienced ultra runners Sylvia Mulholland with Sandra Hunter as back up driver last week run along part of the River Ayr Way Starting at Limmerhaugh hump bridge passed Fisherman’s Bridge on to Sorn through Catrine then towards Stair and Failford, Tarryholme bridge was next then came Oswald Bridge before finally stopping at Dam Park Stadium Ayr.

On a day of glorious spring weather, giving rise to some joyous carefree running, the pair run a total of 30.34 miles over the time 6 hrs and just under 7 minutes giving an average pace of slightly over 12 mins per mile. And they call it a "training run!"

Neil also hopes to complete the Moon Walk 55 miles which is held in June.

At the local 5k this week Andy Stewart led his clubmates home timing 20:34 followed by a yet another fine performance from Neil Kyle who set a new personal best with 21:15 and close behind Cameron Miller 21:16 then Hugh Hood 23:00 and a steady run from Neil McMullen produced 23:28.

Leading the ladies home this week, Sylvia Mullholland recorded 24:01 to claim the third lady home while Pamela Porteous timed 25:22. Paul McCallum this week recorded 25:30 ahead of Rachel Wood slowly getting back to true form posted 28:36 in her best run for some time.

Amy Dickson again just headed her mum Suzanne both timing 30:37 which helped Margaret Craig to record 30:38.

With only one more park run to reach the 100-mark, Eric Pearson finished with 32:37 with Mary Huggan still in recovery mode happy with her 35:52. Stewards this week were Cameron Miller and John Owens.

Those interested in running or runners seeking company when running are welcome to attend training sessions which are at 6pm on Tuesday at Eglinton Park and Thursday from the escalators at the bottom of the Mall. Contact jogalong2010@hotmail.com for more details.