1 January 2009: Runners follow New Year's Day tradition, if not the route

It was the 20th anniversary of the New Year's Day run from the coastguard station in Blundellsands, along the Sefton Coastal Path all the way to Weld Road in Birkdale. With plenty of members doing the London Marathon this year, a record number was expected but this festive season has been blighted with many people suffering cold and flu-like symptoms and so it was about 22 who took to the sandhills on a crisp and frosty morning. Last year, 10 ladies took part and unfortunately that number dropped to just three this year - Tracey Peters, Carole James and Christine Cutner.
Temperatures at the start were around freezing but a couple of degrees of wind-chill made it less pleasant than it has been in recent years. Nonetheless, all had an enjoyable run - and what an excellent way to start the New Year!
Richard Shearer and Steve Wilkinson arrived a good 5 minutes after the group had left Blundellsands but by the time they got to Hightown, Steve was already out in front. However, I think he was helped by the early leaders taking a wrong turning! That apart, the group more or less stayed together until the pitstop was reached with Paul Cutner providing refreshments in the Squirrel Reserve car park.
In the second half, they split up into 3 or 4 groups. Grice Grice, Paul Ashby and Hugh Evans stopped at Ainsdale, Brian's garmin telling him he'd run 10.56 miles at 9.28 pace. Rick Bowker tells me that Tracey, Paul, Mike Walker and Eddie Baxter took a shortcut through the Ainsdale pinewoods only to lose their way before they reached Ainsdale.
From the Squirrel Reserve, Richard Shearer and orienteering maestro Steve McLean shot off straight over the sandhills, apparently missing the pinewoods completely! They then went down the cycle track from Pontins missing the white post trail. Steve Wilkinson was another to take a wrong turning at Ainsdale, detouring to Royal Birkdale and finishing in about 2 hours 30 mins. Rick followed the official white post route and finished first, I think, in 2:00:13 with 14.47 miles on his garmin. Carol and Christine finished with about 13.5 miles showing. Nick Sinclair also completed the full distance and joined a contented group in the warmth of the Fisherman's Rest.
Most runners made it all the way to Birkdale which is a great achievement in itself!
What a great tradition the New Year's Day Run is. But perhaps we need to get some route maps printed!