Running: All Hale the Gold-winning Don at North Wales Indoor Championships

North Wales Road Runners Club senior Don Hale turned back the clock more than 50 years and swapped the outside for the inside last Sunday when he won MV65 gold in the 60-metre sprint challenge at the North Wales Indoor Track and Field Championships at Coleg Cambria, Deeside.

The 67-year old athlete celebrated a double age win at both the Conwy Parkrun and later at these indoor championships when he finished 3rd overall and gained a podium place in the senior veterans final with a time of 11.32 secs, but took first position as a master veteran.

Having not run a sprint race for over five decades and with no indoor experience, no spikes, no starting blocks, and from a standing start, Don finished just over a second behind the race winner.

He praised the great support in the stadium and some very fast competition for his unexpected result, which may even be a Welsh record.

Josie has last laugh at Disney

Josie Davies ran a gruelling schedule of four demanding races in the heat at Florida’s Disney complex over four days, but came home smiling last week after completing the 48.6-mile challenge.

The events included a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and even a full marathon, and Josie ran the first race with her little boy in 41.13.

She later completed the 10k in 1.05.24, the half in 2.34.40, and the full marathon in 5.30.29.

Helen’s marathon training in the snow

Helen Hannam did her best to maintain her fitness in preparation for the forthcoming London Marathon with a series of Alpine snow challenges covering 138 miles during a brief family break.

PARKRUN ROUND-UP

There was a good turnout of NWRRC athletes at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday with Martin Green and Jonathan Kettle dominating the first two finishing positions, and Carla Green celebrated her 100th parkrun as the 1st female runner and cat winner.

There were 11 club runners among the 247 starters and they recorded seven age category wins and three second cat placings.

Battling very strong, gusty winds, and the usual soggy course, Martin led from start to finish in a fast time of 17 mins 39 secs for his M45 cat win. Jonathan however, was hot on his heels throughout, and was 2nd placed in the same age cat in 17.58.

Teenager Harry Driscoll gave another good performance in 8th place and was 1st SM18 cat in 19.48, and Tony Price-Jones was 11th and 2nd MV35 cat in 21.18. Steve Roberts finished just ahead of Carla Green in 14th place, and was 1st MV45 in 21.41, with Carla one second adrift.

Gethin Wyn Jones returned after a short break to finish 25th in 22.40, and Daniel Owens, running with regular guide Anthony Parvin, won his SM25 cat in 27th place in 22.49.

Youngster Joe Culverhouse, who was running with his father Stuart, equalled his PB in 23.12 but won his JM10 cat.

Veteran Don Hale won his MV65 age cat in 48th spot in 23.59, with colleague Rob Fryer claiming the 2nd MV65 cat placing in 68th place in 24.59, and Liz Driscoll, returned to the parkrun, whilst still struggling to overcome a niggling from injury in 197th spot in 34.01.

Tough course for Pat at Shrewsbury cross-country

Pat Finnie headed to the hills at Shrewsbury last Saturday afternoon in the latest round of races in the North Wales Cross-Country League and ran well to complete the challenging 5-mile plus course in 44 mins 42 secs for 153rd place overall, and 10th in his MV60 age group.

Pat said the race was ‘very tough’ and included eight short but steep hills on the new circuit.

Conwy junior parkrun

The Conwy Junior Parkrun continues to go from strength to strength with their best-ever turn out last Sunday morning with 43 youngsters taking part.

Kacey Alford was the only NWRRC linked participant, but she managed a PB on the muddy 2k course of 13 mins 44 secs, for her second event in 21st place overall, 8th female, and she was 5th JW10 cat.