Don Hale Blog

*NWRRC athlete Gwen Charlton (*above right), heads towards the finish line at the London Marathon. Some personal stories by North Wales athletes in the London and Manchester Marathons... Special Marathon’s sporting feature: Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   This is a brief sporting spotlight featuring a number of the many North Wales based athletes who took part in last weekend’s London or Manchester Marathons, with a few even overcoming personal tragedies in order to compete, and most also raising some much-needed funds for local charities. It would be impossible of course, to mention everyone who took part, but this article will at least give a voice to some key individuals who have made a determined effort with hard training throughout the winter to ensure they were ready to start and finish one of the most gruelling races ever, over 26.2 miles.  This is a summary of their personal challenges: Fast time at London for Martin Green. Martin Green, ...

*Pictured above - Llandudno undertaker and keen runner Tristan Owen will be competing in the Manchester Marathon for the Rotary Club'a charity appeal. Tristan Owen will be running in the Manchester Marathon and he is fundraising for the Rotary Club’s Community Chest Fun Appeal.   This is another special community-based story within a new series of unique features looking at the life, careers, hopes and ambitions, of many talented and dedicated athletes, sports people, and fundraisers within North Wales. *Tristan is shown (*above), second  from the left with his team mates.   Special sporting feature: Introduction by Don Hale. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com   This latest feature highlights the determination of a well-known local undertaker, businessman, and charity fundraiser  Tristan Owen , who first began his running journey about 18 months ago, after taking part in the  Conwy parkrun . Since then, the under-taker has fast become an over-taker, recording...

*Mal Preece (*above) had a great run at London Mixed emotions for Road Runners at the London Marathon..plus other race results. Report by Don Hale.   There were mixed emotions for several members of the North Wales Road Running team who tackled the varied challenges of the ever-popular London Marathon last Sunday as heavy rain and damp conditions caused a few problems for the 49,000 mixed ability entrants. Cramp and fatigue unfortunately played a role in the performances of several key athletes, and yet most still enjoyed the occasion, and the tremendous atmosphere and support provided by tens of thousands of supporters who cheered on the runners around some of London’s most famous landmarks. Martin Green  celebrated his hard preparatory work for this race with a tremendous run finishing in 152nd place in 2 hours 30 minutes and 43 seconds, and he also claimed the 3rd spot in his MV45 age category, leading home a team of nine fellow club runners. *Martin Green (*above) put in a...

*Stuart Culverhouse (*above) ran well at the Manchester Marathon. Road Runners tackled various Marathon challenges. Report by Don Hale.   Marathon mania returned to the streets of Manchester and elsewhere in the UK again last Sunday as tens of thousands of runners celebrated their long winter training slog in style by completing numerous and very personal 26.2-mile journeys. The events, which helped to raise many millions of pounds for various charities, always attract a wide variety of entrants ranging from top international stars to first time social runners and brought mass crowds out to cheer on their heroes. The Manchester race was eventually won by Lithuanian athlete  Ignas Brasevicius  in just 2 hours 16 minutes and 27 seconds, with  Naomi Mitchell  taking the plaudits as the 1st female finisher in 2.31.27. North Wales Road Runners  welcomed back various marathon challenges and entered seven members at Manchester, with two others competing at the...