North Wales Road Runners on track at Tywyn ‘Race the Train’ events

Report by Don Hale

Three Road Runners competed in two different but challenging races at the Tywyn Rotary Club’s ‘Race the Train’ events which utilised the famous Tal-y-Llyn Railway.

Run over farm tracks, open fields and rich pastures, with options to take part in any one of four varied distances ranging from 3.5 to 14 miles, this was the 37th annual race series, and attracted hundreds of competitors from across the UK.

Whatever distance selected, the runners were later distributed by coach or train to their agreed starting points at various stations along the line, and then given the arduous task of trying to beat the train back to the finish at Tywyn.

Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost ran in the Quarry Challenge 10k and both members were pleased with their performances on a warm and windy day. Kay ran well and finished 75th out of 256 entrants, and she was the 13th female athlete and claimed 4th place in her VW55 age cat in 54.56.

Cheryl, recovering from a period of ill health, finished very close behind her club colleague in 79th place overall and 5th in the same cat, running home in 55.14.

Richard Eccles opted for the longer Rotary Challenge endurance race over 14-miles which covered much of the same course as the other three races. He was one of 436 entrants and finished in 101st place in 1 hour 58 minutes and 31 seconds to claim 5th place in his MV55 age cat.

Afterwards however, Richard said he was disappointed with his effort. “A bad race for me, too hot, and I struggled into a headwind on the way home, so a humbling run but enjoyable once completed.”

*The event was expected to have raised thousands of pounds for the Rotary Club’s nominated charities, Blind Veterans, and the Welsh Air Ambulance.

Other club race results

Birchwood

Three NWRRC members took part in the Birchwood 10k race. Kelly-Marie Alford and Cai Roberts ran together again with Kelly finishing in 156th place in 50.46 and the 7th F35 athlete, with Cai sharing the same time and just one place behind. Mandy Owen also continued with her return to fitness with another determined run in 56.13 and 220th place.

America

Jon Evans continued his American adventure last weekend and returned to the Theodore Roosevelt Island DC Parkun in America where he celebrated a great new course PB of 22.55 to win his MV55 age cat, marking a 27-second improvement to his time from last week and finishing in 7th place overall.

Hemel Hempstead

Stuart Culverhouse completed a tough course at the Gadebridge Parkrun, near Hemel Hempstead and finished 6th overall and 1st in his MV50 age cat with a good time of 20.49.

Penrhyn

Will Williams ran at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun and won his MV45 cat, finishing 5th overall in a great time of 19.06.

Ellesmere Port

Nicola Wylie enjoyed her trip out to the Ellesmere Port Parkrun last Saturday to record her fastest parkrun time so far. Nicola finished in 26th place overall but was the 3rd female runner and won her VW50 age cat in 24.01.

Ruthin

NWRRC duo Gethin Wyn Jones and Jamie Tharme travelled to a very windy event at the Ruthin Memorial Playing Fields Parkrun last Saturday, with Gethin claiming 7th place and 2nd in his MV35 age cat in 20.11, and Jamie finishing 14th overall and 3rd in his MV40 cat in 22.06.