Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - Rachel Morris proudly displays her London Marathon medal. The unique challenge of the London Marathon - four brave athletes recall their personal dramas... Introduction by Don Hale and reports directly from the athletes concerning their own personal journeys as mentioned via Facebook.   This is a special page to acknowledge the brave and dedicated efforts from just a few of the many North Wales based runners who successfully tackled this year’s London Marathon, with some also raising thousands of pounds for charity and worthy causes.    This is a summary of their dramas and memories from this iconic event.   RACHEL MORRIS: TCS London Marathon 2026  completed in 5hr 15min 04 seconds. I came away with a PB after knocking off 8 minutes from my last London Marathon. Absolutely loved it, so well organised, and the spectators were amazing I had loads of shout-outs due to my name and the Welsh Dragon being on my top  Thanks to all of you who hav...

*(Above) The packed start of the Rhos parkrun last Saturday morning. Talented junior athlete recorded a fast finish at a busy Rhos parkrun...plus a results round-up... Report by Don Hale. Photos by Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   *Pictured above - some of the team of volunteers at the Rhos parkrun. It was another busy Saturday morning at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun with over 400 mixed ability runners and walkers finally celebrating an open route along the picturesque promenade. JW11-14 youngster  Finlay Potter  (Warriors Pentathlon & AC) was the first runner home with a new course PB in a superb time of just 16 minutes and 54 seconds, and he finished narrowly ahead of  James Yarwood  (Wrexham AAC), who pushed his double stroller child buggy around the course together with his twins in 17.09, with JM15-17  George Ledsham  third with a new course PB of 17.25.  And quite remarkably, the top six finish...

Coast and Country book feature: The Silent Admiral: The life and times of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Frederick William Richards GCB (30 November 1833 – 28 September 1912) by S V Keeliher . *Now available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dJ4lUi Sean Vincenzo Keeliher, the author of this book, has spent the majority of his working life in administration advising and supporting businesses improve their operational performance.  Aside from being a devoted family man and a much beloved grandfather to Hadyn and Nova he has a passion for naval history and social history, with a special interest in the administration of the Royal Navy during a period of the Victorian era referred to as the Pax Britannica. The Silent Admiral: The Life and Times of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Frederick William Richards, GCB r ecounts the life and times of the greatest naval administrator of the Victorian era, perhaps even the greatest that the Service has ever produced.  Sean attempts to take every reader on a ...

Coast and Country book review - The Tree on The Moon: The Mariam have arrived!   A fantasy novel by William Pratt. Now available on Amazon via this link:   https://amzn.to/3RduJNl About the author – North Wales based author William Pratt Born a baby boomer. Living with the mantra 'if you worry or don't, the same conclusion will be reached.  A risk taker who is an archivist for the details of seventy-seven years of life on earth. Always living the next imagined scenarios, now with time to illiterate them.  Writing music was my trigger, now writing is my drug of choice. About the book:  The Tree on The Moon: The Mariam have arrived!   Now available on Amazon via this link:   https://amzn.to/3RduJNl Then:  The Mariam from planet Marisman came to Earth six thousand years ago wanting to share their special knowledge to advance human progression. However, their unique gifts are jealously coveted by humans.  Now:  Mariam descendants, eighteen y...

  *Flashback to last year's RNLI 5k race on Llandudno prom. RNLI Llandudno 5K & 1K Fun Run 2026 donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Race organiser John Hatton challenges runners to be part of something special and help save lives at sea by signing up for charity runs, hosted by Llandudno RNLI!  And John also added: " Just working on a race for next year 5k RSPB.  I came up with the idea, when I was invited to a site visit by the Contractors, Jennings.   "I have spoken to Helen the manager and she is really keen, we can have cafe as race HQ plus of course the toilets, it will help put back what they have lost over the time with the new course at Conwy." 💙 Sign up today and be a lifesaver! https://rnli.niftyentries.com/RLNI-Llandudno-5K-1K-Fun-Run-2026   *Just giving link if you want  to donate only https://www.justgiving.com/page/llandudno-rnli-5km-2026 🏃‍♂️  5km Run  – Open to all ages and abilities -  11:00am  👟  1km Fun Run ...

*A quartet of NWRRC members are shown at the Rhostryfan 10k race (l-r): Adam Lemalle, Nia Lister, Helen Hannam and Carla Green. Plenty of action from the midweek races Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Several NW Road Runners competed in the Rhostryfan 10k race near Caernarfon last Wednesday evening, and some members also took part in the Foel Lus fell race at Penmaenmawr the previous evening. At the demanding Rhostryfan event  Adam Lemalle  finished well in 26th place out of 70 entrants in 46.46, and he was second in his M40 age cat, with  Carla Green  35th overall, and third in her F50 age cat in 48.59.  Nia Lister  was 66th in 1.01.07, with  Helen Hannam  just one place and five-seconds adrift after running the course together. The event was won by  Tom Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) in 33,22, with  Deio Llyn Roberts  (Hebog) second in 36.03, and  Andrew Douse  (Cybi Striders)...

*Steve Gardner won two gold medals at the North Wales championships. Two gold medals for Steve Gardner in the North Wales track championships. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   Team GB and Welsh International track star Steve Gardner won two prestigious gold medals in the North Wales Track & Field championships last weekend. The experienced and highly versatile veteran athlete, who has recently celebrated continued success in both steeplechase track events, and at top Sprint Duathlon races, was delighted to win his MV60age category in both the 800m and 1500m events. After his races Steve confirmed:   “I competed in the  North Wales Track and Field Outdoor Champs at Treborth  yesterday.  The meeting was for athletes of various ages, however, the younger athletes far outnumbered the Masters’ contingent. “I competed in the 800m consisting of mixed gender and age range finishing in 6th place overall in a time of 2.21.64. A ...

*Pictured above - the start of the Conwy parkrun on the Cob. Numbers boost at Conwy parkrun and at many other parkruns. Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Michael (Pat) Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   The postponement due to varied reasons of four North Wales parkruns last weekend provided a boost to the numbers at Conwy parkrun, and a few other local events last Saturday morning, plus the improved weather conditions. Iain Burgess  was the outstanding first finisher at  Conwy  with a new course PB in 18.09, and  Robert Evans  (NWRRC) was next in 18.46, with  James Williams  (Lymm Runners) third in 19.04.  *Iain Burgess (*above left) was the first finisher at Conwy parkrun, with Gemma Moore, the first female finisher, and Elin  Jones, who finished third with a PB. *The ladies event was also a close fought contest with  Gemma Moore  (Eryri Harriers) eventually claiming the top spot (5th overa...