From John Hayes…
I’ve never run the Solstice Saunter before. I blame this on my obsession with Ilkley Lido. On 21 June every year they hold the Solstice Swim. That involves getting up at 4.30am and joining a surprisingly large crowd of people for a sunrise dip. By evening, therefore, I’m too tired to do a race. Sarah (who is tougher than me) has been doing both the Solstice Swim and Saunter for years and has kept telling me I’m missing out on a brilliant event. So this year I decided to stop being a wimp and do both. (It helped that it was a Saturday so I could sneak in a daytime sleep between the two events). The route takes in the best of the trails at Bolton Abbey. It raises funds for the Sue Ryder charity which is a fabulous cause, close to many people’s hearts. This year it was incredibly hot (27 degrees C). Despite this, they still held a funky mass “warm up” with various dance moves (which I was hopeless at) interspersed with squats and lunges (ditto). It was good to see other Harriers at the finish, all feasting on Jammy Dodger biscuits which are handed out alongside the medals. Many congratulations to Kirsty Wicks who came in as 1st female.