THE skyscrapers of Manhattan inspired Lostock AC's Paul Lacey to a personal-best time at the weekend's New York City half marathon.

Starting in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the race takes in the Lower East Side before heading along 42nd Street to Times Square and finishing in Central Park.

Lacey completed the 13.1 miles in 1hr 41mins 45secs for a never-to-be-forgotten experience. 

On home shores, a 10-strong Lostock team achieved notable success at the LDWA annual Two Crosses race.

Albert Sunter and Toney Donnelly were joint fourth and first-placed pair in the longer 25.3-mile race in a time of 4:22:00, with Josie Greenhalgh first-placed woman in 4:30:00.

Tony Marlow finished in 4:31:00 and Mike Ernill clocked 5:05:00.

Heavy rain prior to the race made for tough going, although that did not stop Jordan and Abigail Sunter finishing as first-placed team and joint sixth in the shorter 17-mile race.

Kerry Varden and Brian Halton had identical times of 3:48:00, Mark Sammon finished in 3:48:00 and Paul Speed clocked 3:55:00.

A busy weekend of racing for Lostock saw Gareth Pratt and Hazel Hatfield turn in times of 1:45:55 and 1:55:54, respectively, at the Wigan half marathon, while Karen Taylor, Joanne White and Claire Shewbridge continued their Manchester and London marathon preparations with 3:35:00 and 3:35:17 for White and Taylor, respectively, at the Trimpell 20 road race in Lancaster, and 3:11:47 for Shewbridge at a flooded Wrexham Running Festival 20-miler.