Three Pont. Runners made the trip across to Carlisle for this Half Marathon. This meant a 7.30am departure and a temperature at the start of just +3 degrees. The course is undulating (that means hilly throughout) and times are probably a couple of minutes slower than the Great North Run. First Pont. Runner home was Jon Parkin in 1 hour 35 minutes and 13 seconds, placed 190th overall (out of 1,221 finishers) and 54th in his category. Next was David Buffham, 304th in a time of 1.41.18, good enough for 19th of 76th over 50s. Third was Elliott Ward (running as Nigel Mills) who sufferd a calf strain at 3 miles, decided the quickest way home was to finish the run and got there in a creditable 1.54.37 in the circumstances. Anyway, he was back early enough to get to the Newcastle v Man United game where some of the Newcastle defenders were a little less dedicated.