Don Hale Blog

Welsh fell runner Mark Davies wins ‘Special Achievement’ award for tackling the daunting Swiss Peaks 360 mountain race…   Introduction by Don Hale. Photos by Mark Davies.   North Wales Road Runners were successful in three separate categories at the Sport Conwy awards night on (25/11/22) including endurance athlete Mark Davies who won the ‘Special Achievement’ award for his incredible performance in the Swiss 360 mountain ultra-running race. Earlier this year I asked Mark if he would recall the highlights from his epic challenge. Mark now provides an exclusive, unique, and very personal account of his incredible challenge, and it is understood that he was the first Welshman and UK based finisher in this race. I entered this race ten-months ago as I needed a massive challenge, the distance (236 miles), elevation (83,000ft), so the difficulty of the course ticked all the boxes.  I'm now lying in my bed however, with legs like an elephant, and wondering what had just happened, and how

*John Dalzell (*above) completed the tough West Highland's Way race. SOME GREAT RESULTS ON THE ROAD FROM NWRRC ATHLETES: *Scotland: John Dalzell  took part in the  ‘Devil O the Highlands’  footrace. John was the 2nd Welsh finisher, and he was 146th out of 274 runners who eventually completed this tough 68k plus ultra-event in an amazing time of 9 hours 18 minutes and 30 seconds.  After the race, John confirmed: “West Highland Way done in two shifts. Today’s effort was an easy 21-miles in the rain, the second 21 starting with the Devil’s staircase, which I’m sure was steeper and longer than last time, followed by the undulating military road. The legs weren’t impressed, but I kept smiling.” *Steve Bozier (*above left) and Steve Poupart ran in the Coastal Marathon. *Anglesey:  Two NWRRC endurance athletes took part in the  Cybi Coastal Marathon  on Saturday, but both struggled with injuries.  Steve Bozier  battled with a hip problem after 15-miles but still finished well in 18th plac

Ben and Sarah (*above) completed gruelling Chester Ultra 50-mile charity challenge. Report by Don Hale.   Husband and wife athletes Ben and Sarah Ferguson Hudson completed the gruelling Chester Ultra 50-mile challenge last weekend. Hosted by GB Ultras, this major endurance event completed its 6th edition this year and allowed supporters to track individual runners online with a live GB race tracker via six key checkpoints and along some of the very best and most beautiful natural trails in the region, including 849m of ascent. The route was said to involve well-marked ultra-marathon linked trails along the North Cheshire Way, and the Sandstone Trail, taking in Helsby Hill, Delamere Forest and Frodsham. The experienced and intrepid endurance team-duo, who are both members of North Wales Road Runners, were amongst nearly three-hundred hardy athletes who tackled this incredible race, which tested physical and mental abilities to the limit.  Ben and Sarah both ran and finished together in

*Karl Morris (*above) performed well in the Pen Llyn Ultra run over 37.5 miles. Tough running at Pen Llyn Winter Ultra event. Report by Don Hale.   Three NWRRC endurance athletes competed in the gruelling Pen Llyn Winter Ultra trail race last Saturday.  Run over a challenging and undulating 37.5-mile course out and back from Pwllheli golf club, with over 5,000 ft of elevation, the event attracted 218 intrepid starters and 129 hardy finishers. Local runners included  Marc Davies  finished 14th overall and he was the 12th U50 cat in 6 hours 35 minutes 37 seconds, and  Karl Morris  was 33rd and the 26th U50 runner in 7.08.56, with  Jon Dalzell  67th overall and the 40th U50 cat in 7.55.18. After the race, Karl Morris confirmed ‘A great route with a fair-few climbs. I ran a strong race – all 37-miles of it! Thanks to Huw Williams and all the team for putting on a great race.’ And his colleague Jon Dalzell described the event as ‘brutal.’ *The race winner was Jon Shield in 5.25.19, with 2nd