Gwen Charlton completed the NW Pilgrims Trail Marathon in style...and news of Helen's charity runs.

By Don Hale

*Gwen Charlton pictured above - after completing her gruelling trail marathon.

Gwen Charlton completed the tough NW Pilgrims Trail Marathon in style...and news of Helen's charity runs.

Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Gwen Charlton.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk


 

Road Runner Gwen Charlton took to the trails last Saturday to compete in one of the toughest, but scenic, races in the country, the North Wales Pilgrims Trail Marathon, and yet despite this extreme challenge, she ran extremely well and afterwards said, she was very pleased with her determined efforts.

Gwen eventually completed her trek in a highly credible time of 7 hours 50 minutes and 58 seconds to finish in 158th place overall, and she was the 71st female athlete. 

She later confirmed: “This must be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Absolutely stunning route along the top coast of Llyn Peninsula with lots of steps, fields, cows, sheep, wonky paths, rocks, gates, beaches, sun, hills, cliffs, fab runners and most importantly - awesome marshals. Also, a nice little surprise as the Red Arrows fly past! Glad to have done it, another bucket list item ticked off.”


*There were 286 finishers in total, and quite amazingly, the race winner was Jake Davies who ran home in just 3.35.50, with Llyr Davies 2nd in 3.37.06, and DW Thomas 3rd in 3.42.21. The first female finisher was Georgina Roberts 4.23.21, with Lucy Bracegirdle 2nd in 4.25.10, and Eleri Wright 3rd in 4.33.56. 


*Pictured (*below), some fascinating photos taken by Gwen during her race journey.




Helen’s Cancer Research runs.


*Other race results: Stoke: 

Helen Hannam completed her second Race 4 Life charity 5k run within a few days for Cancer Research last week. Her first run was at Rhyl last Sunday, where she finished as the 6th female in a time of 26.56, and then she travelled to Stoke to meet up with her family for another similar and popular charity event.

Helen later said: “Race 4 Life, part 2 in the Stoke 5k event. I walked around the beautiful Trentham Lake with Mum and Izzy in just under an hour. An amazing atmosphere, support, and marshalls. Nice to chill-out and chat for a change without running around. 

“Thanks to Emma Dewit for the big hug, I really needed that to get me through the last emotional mile. Thanks too, to my chauffeur and photographer extraordinaire Lee too. Well done to everyone who smashed it today."


  


*Helen is pictured (*above left), with her mother Carol Action, and (*above right), with her mum and Isabell Gratton. 





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.

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