IT was another busy weekend for Airecentre Pacers with the letter L the key - racing in Leeds, Longridge and Lanzarote.

Some impressive Parkrun performances started the weekend off with three Pacers making the trip to both Woodhouse Moor and Bradford Parkruns.

At Woodhouse Moor (Leeds,) Owain Gwilym ran an impressive 20.33 to finish runner up in the MV35-39 category.

Compatriots Chris Hill (23.13) and Debbie Bland (25.14) went one better by winning their respective male and female V65 categories with Bland also winning the overall Age Grade race performance (82.8 per cent).

Meanwhile, at Lister Park Sally Haigh won her FV50 age group with a fine 24.20 run seeing her home as fifth lady. Paul Grindley (23.22) and Andy Gledhill (26.43) also raced.

A posse of Pacers took on the Christmas Cracker 10k – one of a series of races based on the canal towpath starting and finishing in Kirkstall.

Run over two days, the series features several distances from 5k to full marathon.

Pacers Julie Rigby (51.46), Helen Alcock (55.23) and Jemma Hampshaw (1.00.25) took part in the 10k race with Rigby clocking a 10k personal best. Even more impressive when it was later discovered the course was 500m too long!

Next up on the racing scene, Bland headed for a wet and very windy Longridge near Preston to race the 36th Longridge Christmas Pudding Race.

This seven-miler takes runners on a hilly traverse of the Beacon Fell Country Park in the Trough of Bowland.

In her penultimate race of the year, Bland clocked 1.01.46 to win first FV65, her 46th age group win of the year.

William Woodhead headed for the warmer climes of the Canary Islands to race the Lanzarote Marathon.

This popular race draws many entrants from the UK and mainland Europe seeking warmer racing conditions and Lanzarote did not disappoint, serving up temperatures in the mid 20s. Woodhead, nursing a few niggles, clocked 4.29.26.

Finally, the time is fast approaching when the long training grind for spring marathons begins, notably London Marathon held at the end of April 2020.

One of Pacers top runners, Andrew Humphries, has secured one of the coveted Championship Entry places.

These are offered to runners who have recently run a marathon in under 2.45 (men) and 3.15 (ladies).

The club also has three runners who have secured Good for Age entry – Kate McFarlane, Haigh and Bland with Woodhead successful in the ballot for the single Club Place in 2020.