Where Clitheroe, Lancs
When December 27, 2005
First Man Tomas Abyu 29:33
First Woman Helen Clitheroe 32:20
Last Finisher 1:24:45
No. of finishers 777
Most people find it difficult to scrape themselves off the sofa during the Christmas break, but somehow, every year, the Ribble Valley 10K manages to lure hundreds of runners on to its pretty, but far from easy, course.
Starting in Clitheroe, runners were lulled into a false sense of security by the opening mile, a swift downhill section which the leaders of the pack whizzed through in under 4:30. After that the route could be described as undulating - finishing by climbing back up part of what had been the downhill first section.
Thankfully, though, the inclines and declines balanced out, and crisp, relatively mild conditions helped to make it a record year for the race. The extra 100 or so runners taking part did lead to a few problems at the finish, where a queue formed in the middle of the pack, but as well as the record turnout, times were faster than ever.
Tomas Abyu shaved two seconds off the previous men's record, while Helen Clitheroe, a Preston Harrier, broke her own record to win the women's race.
