Mixed emotions but a great experience for local athletes at London Marathon
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
Seven North Wales Road Runners competed in the televised London Marathon last Sunday amongst a mass participation of some 50,000 runners, who raised tens of thousands of pounds for various worthy charities, with many athletes recalling mixed emotions and personal best times!
Mal Preece was the first NWRRC member home with an excellent time of 3 hours and 20 minutes – and he celebrated following a great new PB time.
Afterwards he confirmed: “Very pleased with a new six-minute PB. I ran my first marathon back in 2011 at Chester, and to date I’ve knocked 20 minutes off that time. Looking to chip away my latest PB again next year with GFA time. My goal was to get my qualifying time for Berlin next year, which I achieved.”
Will Evans was also on top form to record 3.27, but later admitted just how hard this race is, stating: “Wow! That was a long way, and it nearly broke me, but happy to go under 3.30.”
Ben and Sarah Hudson enjoyed the occasion but also faced mixed emotions, with Ben claiming a new PB by finishing in 3.31, and Sarah recording 3.47, but she too spoke of the exhausting challenge of this popular event.
“It was not my day today, but I left it all out there. What an experience! It didn’t quite go according to any of my plans, and I was totally broken half-way around.
“No excuses, but just so proud to finish in 3.47, and even more proud of Ben and his new PB. Thank you so much for all words of support and sponsorship…means so much. And here’s to Berlin and another crack at our sub 3.30 mission!”
Samantha Williams was thrilled with her time of 4.40, her second fastest marathon time, and Kelly Marie Alford and her partner Cai Roberts ran for charity in their telly-tubby fancy dress costumes, finishing in 4.51.
*There were additional plaudits to other local charity fundraisers including Conwy parkrunner Elaine Heyes, who completed the London Marathon in 4.55, and also to Josie Davies and Mandy Owen.
Other race results
Wrexham
Sion Thomas ran in the Wrexham 10k last Sunday and finished 74th out of 782 entrants with a good time of 44.15.
Caernarfon
Gwennan Charlton competed in the Moel Smytho Orienteering event last weekend at Rhosgadfan, near Caernarfon, which included a 3.6k challenging course and she finished in 33.29.
News snippets
International selection: There were international call-ups this month by Welsh Masters for three NWRRC members, including Will Williams, and husband and wife duo Martin and Carla Green, for two varied distance events.
This formidable trio have been selected to represent Wales at the forthcoming Masters’ international 10k race at Birmingham on Sunday 5th May, and then in the Masters’ International half-marathon in Manchester on Sunday 26th May.
Race full: Entries for the popular 5-mile Deganwy Dash, now known as Rohan’s Run in memory of student Rohan Ingley, have now closed, as the 350-entry limit has been reached. This event on Friday 31st May, will help to raise thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities, and follows the Conwy Estuary pathway, including a very picturesque route from Deganwy Quay to the RSPB reserve via the Cob and back.
Unusually dry conditions at Conwy Parkrun boosted finishing times
Report by Don Hale
https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com
North Wales Road Runners entered only nine athletes at the Conwy Parkrun due to other commitments including the London Marathon the following day, but they still claimed four age category wins and recorded some excellent finishing times.
This ever-popular weekly event attracted another bumper attendance with 239 mixed ability runners taking part in this spectacular 5k riverside course, which again proved unusually dry despite mixed weather conditions all week.
NWRRC athlete Will Williams enjoyed a good result in 2nd place overall and won his VM50 cat in 18 minutes and 36 seconds, with Stuart Culverhouse 4th, and 2nd VM50 in 20.21, and Adam Lemalle celebrated another PB time of 21.22 and was top VM40.
Steve Roberts finished 21st in 22.05, whilst Hannah Griffiths won her VW50 cat with another impressive performance in 77th place overall in 25.41.
Meanwhile, Gethin Wyn Jones continued his fitness battle, and must have been pleased with his 26.52 in 102nd place, with master veteran Barrie Wells winning his VM70 cat after finishing 136th in 28.38. And fellow veteran John O’Shea was 149th in 29.29, and Elizabeth Driscoll posted 41.52 in 229th place.
*The first finisher overall was visiting athlete George Loxton (Belgrave Harriers) with a new PB of 17.07, and he won his SM20-24 age cat, with Will Williams (NWRRC) 2nd in 18.36, and Richard Scoppie 3rd plus 1st VM45 in 19.39.
*The 1st female finisher was Samantha Edwards (Red Rose Runners) on her course debut (22nd overall), in 22.06, and she also won her VW35.39 cat. She was followed by promising junior athlete and another debutant in Elin Evans in 27th place overall and 1st JW11-14 as 2nd female athlete in 22.32, with Ffion Roberts 3rd female in 22.58 and 1st SW20-24 in 34th place overall.
*The 1st Lady at Conwy Parkrun, Samantha Edwards from Preston, ran with her mascot ‘Geraffe,’ and a couple from Nottingham began their long journey to North Wales last Sunday, and cycled from Cardiff especially to run the Conwy Parkrun, and were later catching the train back home.
*Praise was given to the run director, and to all the volunteers and marshalls. This is the link to the provisional results from Conwy:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/
Penrhyn Castle Parkrun
Martin Green finished 4th overall at the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun last Saturday in a superb time of just 17.39, and he won his VM45 age cat.