Elizabeth Driscoll tackles the Cascais Ironman race in style

Report by Don Hale

It proved to be a happy landing for RAF air traffic controller Elizabeth Driscoll as she successfully navigated her way around the tough Cascais Ironman 70.3-mile course in Portugal.

The experienced North Wales Road Runner, who in everyday life has a very responsible role at RAF Valley on Anglesey, tackled three gruelling challenges, which included a difficult 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run – all carried out in very hot conditions.

Elizabeth eventually completed the event in 6 hours 33 minutes and 36 seconds and finished in 1,619th place overall, and she was the 262nd female and claimed 14th place in her F55 age cat.

This proved to be an incredible performance by this popular endurance athlete who first set her heart on completing this race whilst on secondment last year in the Falklands, where she also took part with repeated success in several other sporting challenges during her stay.

Following her return, Elizabeth has since spent the past four months training extremely hard for this ultimate Ironman race, and when she first arrived in Portugal this week, she explained: “At the end of last year when I had just gone to the Falklands for six months, some friends from the Tri club decided to enter the Cascais Ironman 70.3.

“Not wanting to miss out when I returned, I decided to enter too, not really thinking how much training was needed, how it would completely take over my life, and how much it would push me outside my comfort zone.”

And although slightly concerned about tackling something so huge, she added: “However, here we are, all ready to race tomorrow, it’s a bit on the warm side but a challenge that I am now looking forward to.”

In the end everything turned out just fine, and despite a slight niggling injury, Elizabeth successfully completed all her events in style, and shortly after crossing the welcome finish line, she confirmed: “Oh my! What a day! I am over the moon. Can’t believe my swim and bike time. The run was so hard.

“It was very hot, and my Achilles hurt all the way round, but I kept running all the way. What a day, I’m buzzing.”

Afterwards, the talented all-rounder then took a little time out to evaluate her amazing achievement before admitting: “What an amazing experience. I absolutely loved it! I finished in 6 hr 33 mins. I was a little apprehensive about getting in the water with 2,000 others, as I am not the strongest swimmer, but I needn’t have feared, the water was lovely, quite calm, so nothing to worry about, and I had a good swim and really enjoyed it.

“The bike course was great, a few cheeky hills but nothing that we hadn’t trained on, but the run was so hard, very hot, and my Achilles niggle decided to rear its ugly head again, so I was in pain the whole way round. I managed to keep running all the way so happy. But what a challenge – now what to do next?”

GOG TRIATHLON RESULTS

Rhian Roxburgh 5.02.53 (2nd in AG)

Claire Parsley 5.45.54

Merf Jones 5.49.04

Miklos Biro 5.53.43

Elizabeth Driscoll 6.33.36

Angharad Lewis 7.09.19

Steph Conway 7.32.33

Melissa Everley 8:07:13

North Wales Road Runners – other race results:

Amsterdam Parkrun

Road Runners Steve Forsyth and Jamie Tharme travelled to the Amsterdamse Bos Parkrun in Holland last weekend as a warm-up for the Amsterdam Half Marathon the following day.

In a massive field of nearly 500 starters, Steve had an incredible run to finish in 6th place in 17.39 and he also won his MV40 age cat, whilst Jamiecelebrated a massive new PB time of 21.06 to knock about a minute off his previous best parkrun to get home in 30th place and 4th MV45.

The event was won by Welshman Matthew Rees (Swansea Harriers) in 16.04.

Amsterdam Half Marathon

Steve Forsyth and Jamie Tharme said they both struggled in the Amsterdam half last Sunday, yet they still recorded decent times, with Steve finishing in 1 hour 28 minutes, and Jamie in 1.43.

Knutsford

Will Williams ran well in the Knutsford 10k dash last Sunday but said he was disappointed to finish in 134th place in 38.50, and 9th in his MV50 age cat.

Oswestry

Kelly Alford and Cai Roberts ran together in the hilly Oswestry 10k last Sunday.

Kelly finished 210th overall and 33rd female athlete, and Cai was just one place behind with both sharing the exact same time of 52.18. The race attracted nearly 600 runners.

Splashdown for young athletes at Conwy Parkrun

Report by Don Hale

Colwyn Bay youngster Alfie Shiland showed more experienced senior rivals a clean pair of heels despite the mud at the Conwy Parkrun last Saturday, as he splashed around the puddle-filled 5k course to claim another notable victory.

The talented JM11-14 athlete recorded an excellent time of 18 minutes and 20 seconds to finish 25 seconds ahead of nearest challenger Sam Davies, who despite recording a new PB of 18.45, was still unable to catch Alfie. Paul Jones finished 3rd in 19.36, and there were 176 finishers.

Carla Green from NWRRC was first female finisher, in 8th place overall, and she also won her VW50 age cat in 20.15.

A couple of other promising local juniors claimed the next places including Olivia Jones, who was the 2nd female in 22.28, and she also won her JW15-17 cat, with Colwyn Bay rival Ella Grundy was 3rd female athlete in 22.41 and 2nd JW15-17

North Wales Road Runners entered nine seniors and one junior member and claimed six podium places including two age category wins.

Following Carla’s superb performance, Stuart Culverhouse was the next club runner back in 9th place overall and he was 3rd MV50 cat in 20.50.

Adam Lemalle celebrated a new PB, finishing in 19th place in 22.23, and Gethin Wyn Jones took 38th spot in 23.32, while Steve Roberts finished 3rd MV55 in 47th place in 24.12.

In addition, veteran runner Rob Fryer continued to impress with another good run in 58th place to win his MV65 in 25.39, and master vet Mike Hayton claimed second MV70 in 96th place overall in 28.32.

Dave Spofforth and his son Ben ran around together and finished together with Ben in 101st place in 28.54 to claim 3rd JM10. Rachel Morris on her return from holiday finished in 142nd place overall in 33.20.

Generous praise was also given to the race director and to all the marshalls and volunteers.
*This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/