Team Hudson braved heavy rain and lightning threat at Cyprus Marathon.

By Don Hale


*Ben and Sarah Hudson pictured in the sun before the Cyprus downpour.

Report by Don Hale.

NWRRC Husband and wife team Sarah and Ben Hudson expected a run in the sun during the Cyprus marathon but instead faced a constant downpour and were thankful to avoid being struck by lightning!

Despite the unexpected and very soggy conditions Ben still recorded his second fastest marathon time finishing 77th overall out of 238 visiting runners in 3 hours 39 minutes and 47 seconds, whilst Sarah continued her excellent form and said she was over the moon to just dip under the four-hour barrier.


*(Pictured left) Ben ran his second fastest marathon despite the very wet conditions, and (*below) sheer joy for Sarah after recording a sub-4 marathon time.



Sarah finished in 121st place overall, and she was the 14th female athlete in a superb time of 3.58.47. Afterwards, she confirmed: ‘Cyprus marathon done and dusted. North Wales you have been “out rained,” and I was relieved not to have another close encounter with any lightning. I’m so chuffed to go sub-4. 

‘That was crazy and probably the wettest marathon we have ever run and definitely the most potential to get struck by lightning, but a great race all the same.’ 



* Sarah (*above) was out of breath but delighted with her time, and (*above right) the couple both received a commemorative Cyprus marathon medal.
Don Hale is a former award winning investigative journalist and now a best-selling author who has created a very popular blog post linked to numerous social media sites. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025.

Comments

Post a Comment

Your comments are welcomed

Most recent posts

Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again.

By Don Hale
Image
*Josh Keogh (*above left) who was the eventual race winner at Deganwy, is shown leading the pack with rival Martin Green along Conwy Cob. Deganwy 5-mile Charity Dash proved a winner once again. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was another hot and humid, but most enjoyable evening for the annual Deganwy Dash run on Friday night, which was staged over a scenic 5-mile course from the promenade to the RSPB Nature Reserve and back. Well-organised by the hard-working  John Hatton, Carla Green,  and their dedicated team of volunteers, this event attracted 343 finishers and helped to raise many thousands of pounds for children’s cancer charities, and for many other worthy causes. It was also good to see so many local running clubs well represented including members from Prestatyn RC, NWRRC, Denbigh Harriers, Colwyn Bay AAC, GOG Triathlon, Eryri Harriers, Cybi Striders, Porth Eirias Runners, Buckle...
Read more

Hot, humid and very busy at Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun - plus other parkrun results

By Don Hale
Image
*Above and below - Ready for action - some of the hard working volunteers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. Hot, humid and very busy at Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael  (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun proved to be the most popular North Wales event on a warm Saturday morning, which again attracted a host of runners and walkers from all over the UK, and even from Australia, including members from the 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer group for their regular end of the month gathering. Nine out of the first twelve finishing places were taken by first time entrants with  Paul Jones ( Shrewsbury AC) the first athlete home, recording a new course PB in 16.38, and he was chased by newbies  Conor Davies  second in 16.56, and  Niall Simmonds  (Southampton AC) third in 17.53. And well done to  Iain Burgess,  who ran extremely well in 4th place, despite ...
Read more

Promenade packed for a bumper bonanza at Rhos parkrun.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - popular sports coach, veteran athlete, and charity fundraiser John Hatton is presented with a special cake at Rhos parkrun by NWRRC club colleague Elizabeth Driscoll for his 400th stint as a volunteer at various venues. Promenade packed for a bumper bonanza at Rhos parkrun. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy  of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Above - the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday. The warmer weather and the Bank Holiday weekend attracted another bumper attendance of over five-hundred runners and walkers to the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. The event also recorded plenty of personal best times, and visitors from across the UK, who enjoyed this exciting flat, and picturesque promenade route, with the first three finishing places all going to first-timers. Jonathan Shaw  (Steel City Striders) was the first finisher overall and he was delighted with an excellent debut time...
Read more

Conwy parkrun under threat due to new proposals - SAVE CONWY PARKRUN GROUP FORMED.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - some of the new SAVE CONWY PARKUN group after their meeting last Saturday morning at the RSPB site at Conwy. *Blogstory about the SAVE CONWY PARKRUN campaign on the NWNW back page. Conwy parkrun under threat due to new proposals  Report by Don Hale https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The future of Conwy parkrun is currently under threat after Welsh Parkrun officials have decided to impose new changes to this picturesque 5k course, which include plans for a different start area on Conwy Cob, with alternative car parking arrangements. This parkrun has been out of action for about twelve weeks due to construction work on part of the course for a multi-million-pound cycle track, but just as runners were preparing to re-start their activities, they have now been hit a series of interventions, restrictions, and demands on the event organisers by parkrun officials who have continued the suspension of this popular event. Just a few years ago however, this event was vo...
Read more

Visitors set a hot pace on a cold, frosty morning at the Rhos parkrun – plus other results and reports from the region.

By Don Hale
Image
*Runners listen to the briefing at the start of the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. Visitors set a hot pace on a cold, frosty morning at the Rhos parkrun – plus other results and reports from the region... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Pictured above and below - the mass start of the Rhos parkrun. It was another jam-packed and fun-filled occasion on Saturday morning at the new Llandrillo yn Rhos (Y Promenade) parkrun last Saturday following a record-breaking attendance on Christmas Day. Despite the freezing temperatures and a generous covering of heavy frost around the region, with the icy conditions causing the cancellation of rival events at  Conwy  and at  Nova , the Rhos parkrun, possibly aided by a light layer of sand at key points, was given the green light, much to the delight of 576 eager entrants. And many runners later expressed their gratitude to the run director  Dougie Graham  and his RD colleagues,...
Read more

Last few entries for the Deganwy 5 mile Dash - see full details - 29th May 2026.

By Don Hale
Image
Time to enter the famous Deganwy 5-mile Dash - limited to just 50 places left for this unique charity race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Entries for the famous Deganwy 5-mile Dash are now open, and runners are advised to enter early as numbers are limited with only about 50 places left due to the popularity of this essential fundraising event for Children’s Cancer charities. *This is the important link for Deganwy Dash entries:   https://in.tdlentries.co.uk/2026-deganwy-dash The event on Friday 29th May 2026 starts and finishes on Deganwy Promenade close to the revamped shelter and follows a picturesque course along the river estuary and around Conwy Cob to the RSPB Nature Reserve, where it turns and returns back along the same route to the finish. Run director John Hatton confirmed this week: “The Deganwy Dash is now live now for entries. The aim of the race is to still raise money for Cancer in Children. Joshua Tree is our main recipient for money plus as be...
Read more

URGENT APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS AT SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY EVENT AT COLWYN BAY

By Don Hale
Image
URGENT APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS AT SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY EVENT. Darren Dentith, one of the XC event organisers is urgently appealing for some voluntary support for an important Cross-Country championship in Colwyn Bay this week. He said: "I will be holding the Colwyn Bay and Abergele schools cross-country event in Eirias Park. Last year over 200 runners participated and it's looking similar for 2026. * Please message me directly via Facebook/Messenger if you are able to help set up, marshal etc, or just turn-up on the day. Thursday 21st May at Eirias Park. Set up from 2.30pm, first race of 4 at 4pm, we should be finished by 5pm. Diolch, Darren If you, or anyone you know can help in any way, please let me know!
Read more

Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race...plus other race results.

By Don Hale
Image
*North Wales Road Runners are pictured (*above) just before the start of the festive handicap race on the promenade at Rhos on Sea. Christmas cracker at the NWRRC handicap race. Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Twenty-four members of NWRRC took part in the annual Christmas club handicap race, which this year was staged from the Rhos on Sea clock tower to the renovated far end of the promenade and back over a 4.5-mile course. Well organised with times recorded and verified by  Carla Green  and  Elizabeth Driscoll , with support from other members, the handicap rules this time included each runner having to hand in their watches and mobile phones, and the need to predict their finishing times, so that no one knew their exact pace, or whether their estimated times were likely to be accurate, until they actually reached the finish line. The top three female winners , who were the closest to their times included the winner –  Kay Hatto...
Read more

Tristan Owen's Manchester Marathon plans for the Rotary Club's Community Chest Appeal.

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - Llandudno undertaker and keen runner Tristan Owen will be competing in the Manchester Marathon for the Rotary Club'a charity appeal. Tristan Owen will be running in the Manchester Marathon and he is fundraising for the Rotary Club’s Community Chest Fun Appeal.   This is another special community-based story within a new series of unique features looking at the life, careers, hopes and ambitions, of many talented and dedicated athletes, sports people, and fundraisers within North Wales. *Tristan is shown (*above), second  from the left with his team mates.   Special sporting feature: Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   This latest feature highlights the determination of a well-known local undertaker, businessman, and charity fundraiser  Tristan Owen , who first began his running journey about 18 months ago, after taking part in the  Conwy parkrun . Since then, the under-taker has fast become an over-taker, recording...
Read more

BUILDING THE IRON - By author Geoff Lewis - Engineering adventure rebuilding Swansea with Ruston Bucyrus diggers

By Don Hale
Image
Special Coast and Country book review coastandcountry.blog donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 BUILDING THE IRON - ENGINEERING ADVENTURE REBUILDING SWANSEA WITH RUSTON BUCYRUS DIGGERS                                         BY AUTHOR GEOFF LEWIS ENGINEERING ADVENTURE REBUILDING SWANSEA WITH RUSTON BUCYRUS DIGGERS - By Geoff Lewis. Price £19.64 Per Copy Plus UK shipping in protective wallet £4.85. **Orders can be made online via the link on the website shown below: TEL: 029 20867364     MOB: 07944 692695. https://www.diggerynook.com Hello and Greetings from my long ago days of boyhood; days of yore when machinery mechanics roamed the land fixing diggers, bulldozers, tipper trucks and anything else wot' needed fixin'. I have a story to tell of a different way of life; born into the war torn town of Swansea in 1943 and one of the most exciting periods in our countries exis...
Read more