Don Hale Blog

*Pictured above - over 400 people joined in with the fun at the Rhos parkrun. No sand, so fast times and plenty of visiting athletes at Rhos parkrun...plus other parkrun results... Report by Don Hale. Conwy photos by Michael Finnie.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There was another very good turn-out at the new Y Promenade, Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun last Saturday where, following the council clear-up of the sand last week on parts of the course, two new event records were smashed, whilst other entrants recorded 114 new personal best times in total amongst the 406 finishers. There were some 226 newcomers to this popular fourth event, with many wearing festive attire to add to the usual warm and friendly atmosphere of this fast and furious parkrun. Talented visiting Wrexham AAC athlete  Connor Rogers  set a new record on his course debut as the first overall finisher in just 16-minutes and one second over this flat 5k and picturesque route, and the first female finis...

*Pictured above and below - some of the fun runners at the Mental Elf events. Mental Elf 2k and 5k races proved a huge success at Eirias Park, Colwy Bay last Sunday... Report by Don Hale. Pictures by Caitlin Faye Photography. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 John Hatton, who was one of the charity event organisers at last weekend’s Mental Elf races at Eirias Park, was delighted by the fun frolics and the great public response, plus the generous funds raised for such a worthy cause. Sponsored by Jennings , participants were told that they could either walk, jog, skip or run whilst soaking up the festive spirit, and whilst supporting Conwy and the Vale of Clwyd Minds, with a Mini Elf 2k fun run, and 5k event. After the event, John confirmed:  “A massive thank you to all the volunteers last Sunday at the Mental Elf 2k & 5k, held at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay.  What a day, and it began at 8am setting up the course. It was white everywhere, and a hailstorm was incredible. “The weathe...

MENTAL ELF – Festive Fun Run. Sunday 30th November at 11am for Conwy Mind at Eirias Events Centre. Put on your Elf hat and join our Festive Fun Run. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   There are two choices to choose from: - A 5k Mental Elf, or a 2k Mini Elf.   Join us on Sunday 30th November 11am at Eirias Events Centre, Colwyn   Bay  for a day of fun and fundraising.  Walk, jog, skip or run while soaking up the festive spirit and supporting Conwy and Vale of Clwyd Minds. Together, we can go the extra mile for mental health! Mini Elf 2k Fun Run: A new event this year! Mini elves can join in the fun too with a 2km fun run packed full of all the jingling fun. A Free National Trust pass for every participant*   This year, Mind is partnering with the National Trust. If you take part or volunteer in a local  Mental Elf event, you’ll receive a free family access pass to National Trust sites! It’s our way of thanking   you for supporting mental health ...

*Pictured above - Mark Davies who has just  launched an appeal for HEADWAY. Mountain  runner Mark Davies launches a unique fundraiser for Headway - the brain injury charity association. Introduction by Don Hale.  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Mark Davies is an inspirational and popular athlete from Llandudno, who has won numerous athletic awards, and set some extraordinary records for his incredible mountain and fell running exploits over the years, but now he is about to face his ultimate challenge to test his amazing recovery powers!   In January 2023 however, he was the victim of a hit and run incident and suffered a traumatic brain injury which completely changed his life. Now, through sheer determination, hard work, and generous support, his is slowly recovering and re-learning to talk, walk and run.   Mark has now entered the gruelling  Conwy half-marathon  in November over a challenging route that also includes a circuit of the  Grea...

*Gareth Southworth  and his wife Kath inside the stadium in Melbourne. North Wales athlete and parkrunner Gareth went ‘Down Under’ to compete in the Melbourne half-marathon...plus parkrun results round up... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Popular North Wales athlete and parkrunner Gareth Southworth continued his running exploits in Australia over the weekend by competing in the Melbourne half-marathon on Sunday. Gareth, who was representing   Cybi Striders , is enjoying a break ‘Down-Under’ with his wife Kath and enjoyed a good run in 1 hour 43 minutes and 56 minutes, and he was 15th in his VM60-64 age cat (1773rd) overall amongst over 12,154 finishers. This event was part of the  Melbourne Marathon Festival  and after his run, Gareth commented: “It was an unreal experience to finish inside the iconic MCG Stadium.” This latest result followed his performance the day before in the  Parkville parkrun  in Princes Park, Melbourne, wher...

*Emily Carr (*above left) with Sarah  Corkish-Brown - at the Bodreinallt Surgery at Castle Street in Conwy, where they are preparing for their epic charity trek. Conwy surgery duo all set for a hot 100k Sahara Desert Trek for St David’s Hospice... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Two daring  members of the Bodreinallt doctors’ surgery team at Conwy are busy preparing to take part in an amazing Sahara Desert Charity  Trek, which is a gruelling 100k event across the hot Sahara Desert in just 5 days, to help raise funds for St David’s Hospice. Practice manager  Sarah Corkish-Brown and Practice Nurse Emily Carr  have signed up for this huge undertaking, which is scheduled to take place in Morocco between  1st-8th  November. The event organisers claim entrants can ‘r ediscover true adventure in the awe-inspiring Sahara Desert.’ The five-day trek covers 100km passing through Morocco’s forbidding landscape punctuated by peaks...