Almost 30 runners from St Albans Striders turned out to take on the latest fixture in the Sunday Cross Country League, in Willian near Letchworth. 

The conditions could have been worse considering the wintry weather in recent days, but there was just a misty fog looming in the area, and a few frozen and slippery puddles along the 4.9 mile route, some of which ran adjacent and parallel to the A1(M).

On the women's side, Wendy Walsh was the club's first finisher, coming 135th overall, twelve places ahead of Helen Cartlidge. The scoring team was rounded off with Jenny Maddocks, Katherine Caris-Harris and Mandy Attree. 

For the men, Jonathan Scott was in the leading pack, emerging across the finish line in 7th place overall. Gary Warren was 31st, Jon Reilly 68th, Richard Evans 76th, with Graham Foster, Mike Lancaster, Daniel Langton and Gareth Beavis completing the male scoring team for Striders. 

Among the other Striders who took part were Isla and Jim Hopkins who both made their senior cross country debuts.

Elsewhere Clair Drage successfully completed The Usual Suspects Marathon at Samphire Hoe Country Park near Dover. This marked the final leg in Drage's personal '12 marathons in 12 months' challenge for 2017. -Attached is a photo of Clair from a previous event this year.

Binh Tang Bartholomew and Claire Kremer both ran their 50th parkruns at St Albans parkrun's special festive event on Saturday. Mark Taplin also ran his 50th parkrun, but at Aldenham parkrun near Borehamwood. 

There are only about 150 places left in next month's Fred Hughes 10 mile race, taking place on 21st January 2018 in St Albans. For more info go to www.stalbansstriders.com/racin...