Running news: Mark Davies makes surprise and emotional return to running at Conwy

EXCLUSIVE report by Don Hale

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

It was an emotional moment at Conwy Parkrun last Saturday morning as about 300 athletes, volunteers, and marshalls welcomed a surprise and a quite remarkable return to action by Mark Davies, an award-winning international fell and mountain race runner, who miraculously survived a life-changing hit and run accident in January last year.

Mark, who won a special achievement award just two months before this horrific incident, following his previous success at the Swiss Peaks 360 Mountain Race, has spent considerable time over the past 19 months in specialist hospitals, and rehab, trying to build his life back, with the dream of eventually being able to work, walk, and hopefully run normally again.

On Saturday at the RSPB Nature Reserve, and supported by friends, relatives, and club colleagues from North Wales Road Runners, he eventually realised his ambition to at least jog again and made his parkrun debut on a very heavy and puddle-filled 5k course.

John Hatton from NWRRC, who is also the parkrun MC, together with run director Bethan Wyn Roberts, introduced Mark to the crowd, and confirmed some brief details about his accident and the injury problems that have devastated his life ever since.

Although Mark still has a long way to go in his determined bid to rebuild his world, his unexpected and incredible performance at Conwy was an important step in the right direction, and he was pleased to finally complete his run at a steady pace. He eventually finished 246th overall in 36 minutes and 35 seconds, as a highly respected VM45 athlete.

After the parkrun, Mark bravely confirmed details of his ongoing fitness battle: “Where do I start. I had my knee rebuilt at the back and side when I came home from Heywood hospital after eight months in Stoke hospital. I thought a new knee would be fine once it was heeled. How wrong was I?

“I thought I would just start up again. Little did I realise that I was going to be like a child learning to walk again. I thought it was just a lifting my foot problem at first, but it’s still a problem now, with not being fit enough to run.

“Parkrun was a great help as a first run-out and I have been running around the block about four or five times a day since May when my brace came off my leg. As for the future. I just plan to keep trying to run again, and hopefully being able to run the Dragons Back race again in two-year’s time.

“I can’t work anymore as my right arm hardly moves, and that is my main arm, so all I have left is my running. Switzerland is a thing of the past for me now!”

The event also marked the parkrun promotion of the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer appeal, which celebrated its birthday event, with many supporters wearing blue t-shirts and tops, to either help out, or run and walk, this picturesque river route.

Conwy Parkrun results and report

North Wales Road Runners turned out 12 members at Conwy this week, which included Mark Davies, and Daniel Owens, a partially sighted athlete, who was guided this week by Gwyn Williams (Colwyn Bay AC).

Sion Thomas led the club team home in 17th place and finished 1st in his VM40 age cat in 22.10, with Karl Morris 20th, and 2nd in the same cat as Sion, and just seven-seconds adrift in 22.17.

Steve Roberts was 32nd in 23.29, with Hannah Griffith 78th and 1st VW50 in 26.15, with master veteran Rob Fryer 87th and 2nd VM70 in 26.37. Fellow master Don Hale struggled a bit this week and finished 3rd in the same age cat as Rob, in 104th place in 27.27.

Veteran Len Jackson ran his fastest parkrun this year in 27.55 in 116th place and 4th VM65, with Daniel Owens and his guide Gwyn Williams running home together in 125th place in a shared 28.12.

Another master vet Mark Mason also finished 4th VM70 in 29.06 in 135th place, and deserved plaudits were also given to recovering club athletes Carla Green and Elizabeth Driscoll, with Carla finishing in 228th place in 35.18, Mark Davies 246th in 36.35, and Elizabeth 272nd in 49.06.

First runner back at Conwy was Josh Keogh who completed a hat-trick of consecutive victories in 18.13, and was 1st SM30. James Williams (Lymm Runners, finished 2nd in 19.12, with Oliver Seldon 3rd in 19.47.

For the ladies, promising junior twins Ella and Gwen Hayes (Deeside AC) – who are the granddaughters of photographer Bill Scrivens – claimed the 1st and 2nd female finishing places on their course debuts following an outstanding tussle, with Ella 5th overall in 20.04, and Gwen just one place and six seconds behind her. They also finished 1st and 2nd in their JW11-14 age cat, and a couple of other visiting debut runners from Yaxley Runners & Joggers, took the next two places, which included SW20 athlete, Ellie Piccaver 3rd in 21.56, and VW60 athlete Roslyn Loutit, the 4th female in 21.57. There were 289 finishers this week.

Praise was given to the run director Bethan Wyn Roberts and to all the hardworking volunteers and marshals. This is a link to the provisional results:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conwy/results/latestresults/

Llyr third in tough Llandudno Duathlon

Report by Don Hale

Road Runner Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts finished 3rd in the Llandudno Duathlon on Sunday following a tremendous performance over a very tough and challenging course, which included both a 5k and 10k run, interspersed by four bike laps around the Great Orme.

Llyr’s impressive split times were: 18 mins and 13 secs for the 5k run. 1 hr 10 mins for the bike and 37 mins and 50secs for the final 10km run!

After the event he confirmed: “I came third in the Duathlon. Really chuffed, as it was a standard distance, which is basically two times the distance that I do in the sprint. So, I’ll take that in my first attempt at this even. Lots of support around the course from NWRRC members, and Carla Green on the Orme was immense.”

Tri-Harder trio beat their estimated times in the Llandudno Triathlon relay

Richard and Katie Scamans and their friend Dave Myles formed a trio called Tri-Harder and competed in the Llandudno Triathlon on Sunday, with all three members recording season’s best times.

Just before the race an optimistic Richard, also a member of NWRRC, said: “We will be tackling the Triathlon as a relay team with Katie swimming a mile in the sea, and Dave cycling 35k – involving riding around the Great Orme four times! I somehow think I’ve got off lightly with just a flat 10k run along the prom and back three times.’

“Katie will start us off at 9.10am, then Dave will start around 10.00am on his bike, and I’ll be running on the prom around 11.45. It’s a great event, lots to see especially around the transition area.”

And after their efforts and delighted Richard added: “Well we did it, and it’s a season’s bests for all three of us. Well-done to Katie who was two minutes under her expected time, and Dave was 15 minutes under his expected time, whilst I ran two minutes under my expected time. It was good fun, and thanks for all the support out and about on the course.”

Richard later posted their times which included Katie’s swim in 47 minutes and 21 seconds, with Dave’s bike ride in 1hr 29 minutes and 18 seconds, whilst Richard completed his 10k run in 43 minutes and 30 seconds. Their total times including transitions was 3 hrs 2 mins and 40 seconds.

Ben and Sarah celebrated running the Berlin Marathon

Road running ultra-athletes Ben and Sarah Hudson celebrated running the Berlin Marathon last Sunday with respectable times despite still feeling the effects of their recent ultra distance challenges and competing with nearly 60,000 other runners!

Sarah confirmed: “Berlin done…no PB’s today as our legs are still not very happy after all the ultras, but we are over the moon with 3.58.08 for me, and 3.45.29 for Ben.

“I was just so chuffed to go sub 4 today! The conditions were pretty amazing, sunny and a lovely breeze but it’s so busy! Amazing atmosphere though!”

Monster run at Loch Ness

NWRRC member James Jones tackled a monster run with some friends on Sunday during the Loch Ness Marathon and he ran well, finishing in 3 hrs 36 minutes.

Other results:

Ruthin: Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton took part in the Ruthin Memorial Playing Fields Parkrun last Saturday and won both their respective age categories. Cheryl finished 18th overall, 4th female in 22.55 and won her VW55 cat, whilst Kay won her VW60 cat in 23rd place in 23.19, and was the 7th female finisher.
Newark: Harry Driscoll travelled to the Newark Parkrun and claimed 2nd place overall with a good run in 19.03 and he won his SM20 age cat.
Prestatyn: Stuart Culverhouse won his VM50 age cat at the Nova Parkrun at Prestatyn after he finished 3rd overall in 20.34.
Penrhyn: Steve Mason finished 24th in the Penrhyn Castle Parkrun, and he was 2nd VM50 in 20.47.
Sheffield: Michael Finnie ran his fastest time this year at Sheffield last Saturday during his 309th parkrun, this time at the Graves Park over a tough and hilly course, where he finished 3rd in his VM65 age cat in 28.08.
Lancaster: James Jones was 150th on his debut in a time of 31.13, at the Lancaster Parkrun as he journeyed to Loch Ness last Saturday.