Don Hale Blog

*The NWRRC team who Raced the Train last Wednesday (*back row l-r), Cai Roberts, Steve Bozier, Rachel Morris, Ben Hudson and Karl Morris, and (*front row) Kelly Alford, Hannah Griffith, Vicky Taylor and Sarah Hudson. Perfect night to ‘Race the Highland Train’ back from Dinas to Caernarfon for 300 runners... Report by Don Hale. Some photos courtesy of Kelly Alford.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   It proved to be another exciting dash from start to finish as nearly three-hundred mixed ability runners attempted to Race the Highland train from Dinas station to Caernarfon last Wednesday night. On a warm and almost perfect evening  Tomos Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the first athlete home in a fast time of just 14 minutes and 51 seconds over this interesting 5k course, with  Ifan Dafydd  (Eryri Harriers) 2nd in 14.55, and  John Higgs  3rd in 15.02. In addition,  Simon Cole (GOG Triathlon) finished in 5th place in 15.15. The 1st female runner was  Rachel

*The sheer joy of beating the Highland Train (*above) with Josh Mottram (*rear) and Ian Taylor following their dash back to Caernarfon Station. Josh and Ian ‘Raced the Train’ and hit their fundraising target for the Conwy Whales Swimming Club. Report by Don Hale.   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk Enthusiastic runners and charity fundraisers Josh Mottram and Ian Taylor kept their pledge by ‘Racing the Train’ at Caernarfon this week and beating their £500 target for a very worthy cause - the Conwy Whales Swimming Club! The dashing duo, who are also keen Conwy parkrun members, were in fine form last Wednesday night as they eventually out-ran the mighty Highland Railway train from Dinas back to its starting point at Caernarfon Station.  They were within a group of about three-hundred varied ability club and social runners who took part in this exciting annual challenge, yet surprisingly they also found themselves part of an elite section of athletes who act

*Fundraising athletes and Conwy parkrunners Ian Taylor (*above left) with Josh Mottram, are already on track with their fundraising to 'Race the Train.' Full steam ahead for Josh and Ian as they intend to 'Race the Train' to help raise funds for the Whales Swimming Club...   Special report by Don Hale .   https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk   Conwy parkrunners Ian Taylor and Josh Mottram have been given the green light to 'Race the Train' at Caernarfon next week (Wednesday 19th July), as they take on a most unusual challenge to help raise essential funds for the Whales Swimming Club. This enthusiastic pair are already on the right track to help raise at least £500 for a special club that provides swimming and teaching opportunities for people with additional needs. They are both regular entrants at  Conwy parkrun  most weekends, and now believe they can dash at full steam to try to out-run a mighty Welsh locomotive back to its base! 

*A passenger's view (*above) of runners as they attempted to 'Race the Train,' at Caernarfon last  Wednesday night. Fast dash to ‘Race the Train’ at Caernarfon. Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Steve Jeffery. The popular ‘Race the Train’ event proved to be an enjoyable summer dash for two hundred and fifty-eight runners last Wednesday night with more than half the starters finally managing to beat the Highland locomotive and its entourage back to the start at Caernarfon. The unique 5k course in perfect weather conditions led to a very fast downward dash for a mixed entry of local elite club and social runners with seventeen athletes dipping under 17-minutes, and 47 people in total beating the magic 20-minute mark. The race was eventually won by  Luke Northall  (Wrexham AC) in 15 minutes and one-second, and he was just 7-seconds ahead of rival  Tom Roberts  (Meirionnydd) in 15.08, and  Math Roberts  from hosts (Eryri Harriers) in 15.24.  North Wales Road Runners  ente