Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above and below - the start of the final Conwy parkrun event for several months due to construction work on part of the course. Very busy final parkrun at Conwy as construction work is set to begin on the new riverside cycle trail from the RSPB site... Report by Don Hale.  Parkrun photos courtesy of Bethan Wyn Roberts, John Hatton and Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com Nearly 400 runners packed the Conwy parkrun course on a near perfect day last Saturday morning for an emotional final event for several months due to the start of some extensive construction work covering part of the existing 5k riverside course from the RPSB site. This latest parkrun therefore attracted a host of visiting club and social runners from across the UK, including representatives from Cardiff, Ripon, Oswestry, Widnes, Sandbach, Pitreavie, and Brecon, to name but a few. And there was also a large presence of some 26 travelling athletes from  Littleborough Runners , plus a generous co...

*Pictured above - athletes are pictured at the impressive start of the races. North Wales ‘Bobbies’ beat the course at Gwrych Castle National XC championships... Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Gwrych Castle . https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   More than 300 police officers, backed by a host of supporters, volunteers and marshals, enjoyed a spectacular running event last Wednesday during the PSUK National Cross-Country Championships held at Gwrych Castle, near Abergele. Officers past and present representing about 19 male and female athletic teams from counties as far apart as Devon & Cornwall, Humberside, Wiltshire, Cheshire, South Wales, and Warwickshire, plus representatives from the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency, all competed to deliver an exciting series of races. *A tough climb (*above) for competitors along several laps of the Castle. The men ran four challenging laps around the Castle and the surrounding woodland area, whilst the ladies ran th...

A special 36-mile charity fundraising challenge in memory of Simon Lee. Message courtesy of Paula Jones at Porth Eirias Runners. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   The first of our charity fundraising runners takes on her challenge tomorrow (Saturday), so a huge shout out to  Nicola Goodall  who takes on a 36k run in memory of her brother, Simon Lee, who would have been 36 years old this month.  Her husband Gary is going to run 36 miles, with their children joining them for part of the run. They are raising money for three vital charities that support people bereaved by suicide - Cruse, SOBS and Suicide&co. These charities are included in our fundraising day on 29th March but if anyone would like to donate direct the links are at the bottom  Nicola joined Porth Eirias runners about 7 years ago and is one of our longest serving members!! She has trained extremely hard for this run joining other club members on their marathon training while juggling work, fami...

*Pictured above - Oleksandr Kadkalo competing in a trail race. EXCLUSIVE: How a Ukrainian veteran athlete Oleksandr Kadkalo copes with life and work in war-torn Kyiv. Ukrainian athlete Oleksandr Kadkalo runs the gauntlet every day in war-torn Kyiv…this is the true story of how a keen veteran runner and businessman copes with everyday life and constant threats from Russia.   Exclusive report by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Whilst writing various posts for my blog, I occasionally come across some quite remarkable people, who both read my blog, and share my love of running. This week, I have spoken with veteran athlete Oleksandr Kadkalo, who lives and works in war-torn Kyiv in Ukraine, who reveals the facts about coping with everyday life. He is the founder and co-owner of a 25-year-old business that deals with energy saving and supplies equipment for heating and water supplies.  We are both members of  Strava , a running, cycling and sports website, pro...

*Runners cross the Menai Suspension Bridge during the Anglesey races. Charity boost with the Bridge back at the Anglesey half-marathon and 10k races... Report by Don Hale. Anglesey are  photos courtesy of John Hatton. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Nearly 1,400 runners were finally able to take part in either the  Jones O Gymru Anglesey Half Marathon, or the optional 10k  races  over the famous Menai Suspension Bridge last Sunday morning, which was included within the route once again for the first time in several years due to essential maintenance work on this iconic attraction. Tagged by the event organisers  Always Aim High , as the most beautiful half marathon in North Wales, much of the course offered spectacular views across Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and attracted both club and social runners from all over Wales and the UK. The race also supported A lder Hey Children’s Charity  which cares for 450,000 babies, children and young people a...

*Pictured above - the  tough climb for runners at the Pipe Dream race. Winner Gavin Roberts broke V40 record at the Dolgarrog Pipe Dream fell race... Report and photos courtesy of race official Craig Jones. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Last Saturday (St David’s Day, March 1st) saw the very  successful  completion of the challenging  21st Dolgarrog Pipe Dream fell race, and the first counter of the North Wales Series.  It was a record turnout, with 139 runners in total. The weather was perfect, with sunny skies and no wind, and a course that was ideal underfoot. Gavin Roberts  ( Calder Valley ), won overall, breaking the V40 record, taking 44 seconds off the mark set by Math Roberts last year. Gavin ran home in 33.26. Placed third overall by the top of the steps, he overhauled the front two to take the lead and the win.  Kieran Wynne-Cattanach  was 2nd in 34.05, with  Rhys Jones  ( Hebog ) 3rd in 34.31. The ladies race was won ...

Ultra athletes Ben and Sarah Hudson quit the rat-race to enjoy some extraordinary new adventures in North Wales   Special Coast and Country feature: This is the first of a new series of special features looking at the life, careers, hopes and ambitions, of many talented and dedicated athletes and sports people in North Wales.   Introduction by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com This feature highlights the extraordinary life and careers of popular husband and wife couple, Ben and Sarah Hudson, who are both keen runners and obviously love a challenge, both in life and in athletics, and regularly take part in varied events ranging from parkruns to marathons, to long-distance and ultra races, often raising thousands of pounds for charities. They gave up the rat-race in London a few years ago to move to North Wales, where they quickly created a thriving local business in Betws-y-Coed, before opting to enjoy some exciting new adventures in this stunning region, a...