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...

*Jonathan  Kettle  (*above) enjoyed an easy run at Conwy. Bumper turn-out at Conwy parkrun despite saturated course...plus other results. Report by Don Hale. Photos by Steve Jeffery. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   Ten North Wales Road Runners were amongst a bumper turn-out of over three-hundred entrants at the Conwy parkrun last Saturday with the usual numbers boosted due to a local half-marathon event the following day.  This popular annual race, well organised by  RunWales , always attracts a massive following and ensures this particular parkrun date records one of the busiest days of the year, as many athletes utilise this event as an ideal warm-up.  After the parkrun however, it was hoped that most of the participants had a change of footwear available, as once again, this saturated riverside 5k course dominated proceedings, and made the narrow, twisty, riverside route quite a challenge, especially with so many visiting runners. NWRRC members were r...

*Ben and Sarah Ferguson at the Chester 100-mile Ultra race. Volunteers are always welcome at a variety of events. Report by Don Hale. *Ben and Sarah Hudson (below) on route checking duty at the Chester Ultra race and (above) a section of the picturesque course on the 100-mile  challenge. Being a runner is not just about turning out for a race, taking part, and then going home; there are many, many, times when volunteers or marshals are desperately needed to support a particular race and/or a local parkrun or cross-country event. It was good to see two North Wales Road Runners helping out at the Chester 100-mile Ultra event last week and doing whatever task was required. They were amongst many others who gave up their valuable time to support this exciting Ultra Challenge. Ben and Sarah Ferguson are regular competitors at a variety of events, including endurance and ultra races, and they welcomed the opportunity to pay back some of the generous assistance offered to them in the...