Double trouble for Mal and chatty Sarah at Abingdon Marathon.

By Don Hale

*Mal Preece (*pictured above) was going well until he collected a hip injury during the Abingdon Marathon.

Double trouble for Mal and Sarah at Abingdon Marathon.

Report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

Two members of NWRRC took part in the Abingdon Marathon last weekend with Mal Preece running the full distance despite suffering a hip injury shortly after passing the half-way point, which scuppered any hopes of recording a new PB, and Sarah Ferguson Hudson, who ran the last half just to help support her friend but was later reprimanded by an official for chatting too much!

After the race, Mal confirmed: “I ran the Abingdon Marathon ran but alas no PB for me today. It was a fantastic flat course. I was on for a massive PB at halfway 3.17, but my hip gave way. I recommend this course however, for anyone chasing a new PB time.”


Sarah (*pictured right), added: “I think everyone is aware that I may talk too much, but I think I excelled myself today by being told off by a race marshal for chatting too much whilst running. I only ran the second half to keep my friend Emma Vadhesha company, as I am doing Marathon Eryri next Sat. I would definitely love to do the whole thing, and such a great atmosphere! 

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

Course problems continue for volunteers at Nant y Pandy parkrun on Anglesey

By Don Hale
Image
Course problems continue for volunteers at Nant y Pandy parkrun on Anglesey... Information and photos courtesy of Nant y Pandy officials. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog We're missing you at Nant y Pandy parkrun but unfortunately, what was supposed to be a 4 week closure to repair our zig-zag bridge, has become a more complex project and we don't know how long it will take before we can resume our event in Llangefni.   As you can see from the photos, it is possible to get out to the lake, but it is far from an accessible path, so if you're planning a 'not parkrun', please take care! We were directed to a notice in the car park this morning warning that the main path to the railway bridge (Richard's marshal point 3) will be closed Monday-Friday 7:30am until 5:30pm from 10th April until 20th June. Whether this is connected to the repairs we are waiting for we are unclear at the present time. Nant y Pandy parkrun and Nant Y Pandy 5k Your Way, M...
Read more

Bumper Easter attendances at North Wales parkruns.

By Don Hale
Image
    *Pictured above - The start of the Easter parkrun on Conwy Cob Bumper Easter attendances at North Wales parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a bumper Easter Saturday holiday attendance of 623 mixed ability runners and walkers at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun, and most of the other NW events also reported some similar and excellent numbers, and fast finishing times. At Rhos, the entrants were welcomed by a team of hard working volunteers dressed in Easter Bunny style outfit, and the first eighteen finishers quite amazingly all dipped under the 18-minute mark, with just a few seconds separating the first three runners, including debutant  Sam Ashton  the first man back in 17.12, with fellow debutant  Drew Darlington  second 17.16, and  Jeremy Pena  third with a new course PB in 17.58.  *Eleanor Ashcroft  was the first female finisher (33rd ove...
Read more

Another update on the parkrun Dublin trip on Saturday April 11th from Dave Munday,

By Don Hale
Image
Another update on the Dublin trip on Saturday April 11th from Dave Munday, who runs the parkrun North Wales website... Quite a few people now booked on the ferry, different groups doing different Dublin parkruns, just for info St Anne’s is cancelled, Darndale is also cancelled for Saturday, thats 2 that are close to the port. Please see below this was one of the six closest to the ferry port and one that was suggested as a possible for this trip. The plan is still to get your parkrun done, get plenty of photos and post up on the parkrun group, so far some people are doing Fairview, Father Collins and Malahide so plenty of choice and then if you want to meet up for drinks or food, we are heading to the Church Cafe in the centre of Dublin. Details on previous post of Location and timing. Still places available on the ferry to Dublin, if you fancy joining us please get booked on the ferry is just £12 return Holyhead to Dublin. Everyone Will be made welcome to join the group. *Further deta...
Read more

Egg-citing medals and Easter eggs for youngsters at Conwy Junior Parkrun

By Don Hale
Image
*Pictured above - junior parkrunners and officials at Conwy last Sunday. Egg-citing medals and Easter eggs for youngsters at Conwy Junior Parkrun.. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog There was a massive turn-out of some 117 enthusiastic youngsters at the Conwy Junior parkrun on Easter Sunday, where some special medals provided by sponsor John Hatton, together with Easter eggs donated by the Paysanne Restaurant, were handed out to the children. John later confirmed: "I bought 75 medals all engraved, so now I have to purchase a load more to give out next week, plus will have to post some. Also the Paysanne Restaurant donated 108 Easter eggs, but we ran out of them. I was a little stressed out last year at Easter, and never imagined a turnout like today."
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

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

Runners battled the elements at the new Llandudno 10 miler and half marathon

By Don Hale
Image
*North Wales Road Runners at the start of the Llandudno 10 mile and half marathon. Over 1,000 runners beat the weather at the new 10 mile and half marathon races... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 hardy athletes on Sunday for the Victorian 10 mile and half marathon races which started with a loop along Llandudno promenade before heading out towards Colwyn Bay, and a reverse route home. The mass pack of runners had to negotiate a challenging course and a fierce and swirling headwind, with some heavy showers thrown in for good measure along their tough journey. And yet despite the brutal conditions it still failed to deter numerous elite entrants with M35  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC) winning the half marathon race in a very good chip time of just 1 hour 16 minutes and 43 seconds. He was followed by M50  Martin Green  (Meirionnydd RC) in 1.18.57, and M35...
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

Parkrun boss finally makes a belated statement about the latest controversy to remove important records! But ignores the real reason!

By Don Hale
Image
Parkrun boss finally makes a belated statement about the latest controversy to remove important record! But is it just a smokescreen to cover up a previous row over transgender athletes? By Don Hale.  https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It's taken about a week for Russ Jefferys, the CEO of parkrun global to belatedly make a statement about last Thursday’s controversial decision to remove male and female, first, and fast finishers, plus age grades, and age category records from their website. It is something that has naturally attracted strong debate up and down the country, and no doubt at numerous parkruns across the world! But I still question whether this latest debacle is just a smokescreen to try to hide, and hence remove any existing records relating to transgender athletes! Parkrun came into being many years ago following a great idea by several like-minded runners, who organised a timed 5k run in their local park, and so from a small acor...
Read more

Welsh Masters Athletics - Results and photos from the EMAA Inter-area indoor event Lee Valley.

By Don Hale
Image
*The Welsh Masters Athletics relay team -  Ian Broadhurst, Andy Weetman, Michael David Smith and Brett Davis. *Andy Rushbrook and Peter Hawney after their shot put comp etition. Welsh Masters Athletics - Results and photos from the EMAA Inter-area indoor event Lee Valley... https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Thanks to some members of Welsh Masters Athletics, I have included some photos and reports from last weekend's English Masters Athletic Association (EMAA) competition at the Lee Valley indoor stadium. This event included the Inter-area challenge championships. My thanks to Brett Davis and members of Newport Harriers for the contents. The results can be viewed on the following links.  https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=673430 https://bmaf.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/emaa-inter-area-indoors/event/ Brett Davis, a top international competitor, and a director of Welsh Masters Athletics said: "The results are still provi...
Read more