A group from Garden City Runners set out to find some warm winter sunshine - as they took on the Lanzarote International Running Challenge.

The object of the traditional event in the Canaries was to complete four races on each of the four days.

First up was a 10k with the GCR contingent led home by Sophie Packman in a time of 51 minutes 17 seconds.

She was followed by Nikki Cowen (55:54), Stuart Mann (59:59), Chrissy Johnson (1:02:29), Sharon Stephens (1:05:10), Caroline O’Dwyer (1:11:58) and Wayne Aylott (1:12:46).

The task for day two was a 13k ridge trail run and again Packman come home first for GCR in 1:13:59.

Caroline Griffin's first involvement ended with a time of 1:22:00 with Cowen (1:22:53), Tom Rogers (1:28:00), Johnson (1:29:32), Stephens (1:41:36), Aylott (1:47:13) and Caroline O’Dwyer (1:49:48) the others completing this leg.

Packman's superb form continued on day three with a time of 28:02 for a 5k beach run.

Cowen was again not too far behind in 30:21 ahead of Stephens (37:39), Aylott (38:45), Johnson (39:10), Nayrobis Valencia Aylott and Rogers (both 41:01).

The final day comprised a 21k trail half marathon and Packman signed off with another first place finish for GCR, this time in a time of 1:49:58.

She was followed by Cowen (2.00:38), Johnson (2:15:17), Stephens (2:25:05), Aylott (2.40:19) and O’Dwyer (2.53:04).

Wesley de Villiers and Ali Mayhew, colleagues from the Panshanger Parkrun, also ran with the GCR group while the winner of the Lanzarote handicap trophy was Johnson.

What started as a way of surviving the COVID-19  lockdowns has now grown into a fund-raising effort for Gerard MacDonald.

A wheelchair user, the husband of GCR’s Jane Molloy completed a marathon around The Emirates Stadium, home of Premier League Arsenal.

And after completing marathon efforts at London, Brighton and Dublin, he set a new PB for the 70-odd laps around the ground, clocking 3:50.

Molloy said: "From the outset, Gerard adopted Children with Cancer UK as his charity, and has so far raised over £25,000 for them.

"This total has been significantly helped by the generosity of my wonderful GCR buddies, to whom I am eternally grateful, as is Gerard."

He continues to do fundraising challenges and events and will be back at London in 2025.

He is also hoping to do other stadium marathons, including Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

Donations can be made at https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/gerard-macdonald