Don Hale Blog

*Event organiser Dave Munday (*second from the right) with his North Wales group at the Father Collins parkrun near Dublin last Saturday. North Wales parkrun group trip to Dublin report from Saturday 11th April 2026... Special update from Dave Munday – the trip organiser - and the editor from parkrun North Wales. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog *Flying the flag (*above) for North Wales with a group including people who have competed all the regional parkruns, and (*below right) Andrew and Nan Roberts pictured at the Malahide parkrun. It was an early start as the ferry left Holyhead at 4a.m! The smiling faces from the parkrun tourists started to arrive and we were all in high spirits as we boarded the ferry and found somewhere to get our heads down for a few hours’ sleep, before we arrived in Dublin at 7am . Different groups were heading to different parkruns with Fairview, Father Collins and Malahide being the main three that people were heading towards. I was with a...

*Pictured above - flashback to a previous start at the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun. 10,000th finisher milestone possible at Rhos this week? donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Report by Dave Munday, the organiser of the parkrun North Wales Facebook site.   As you all know this site is about promoting the 17 North Wales parkruns and especially the stats and figures that they produce. One thing other regions flag up is milestones on overall attendances since the parkrun started. In North Wales our highest overall attendance is Conwy parkrun with 111,614 finishers, it was such a shame that this site was not going for the 100,000th finisher, as that would have been great to capture that, and who was it that crossed the line, I will work it out and contact the Conwy parkrun team. This year, we will have different parkruns hitting different milestones and I will post up on here. The 1st one could be this weekend as  Y Promenâd parkrun, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos...

Another update on the Dublin trip on Saturday April 11th from Dave Munday, who runs the parkrun North Wales website... Quite a few people now booked on the ferry, different groups doing different Dublin parkruns, just for info St Anne’s is cancelled, Darndale is also cancelled for Saturday, thats 2 that are close to the port. Please see below this was one of the six closest to the ferry port and one that was suggested as a possible for this trip. The plan is still to get your parkrun done, get plenty of photos and post up on the parkrun group, so far some people are doing Fairview, Father Collins and Malahide so plenty of choice and then if you want to meet up for drinks or food, we are heading to the Church Cafe in the centre of Dublin. Details on previous post of Location and timing. Still places available on the ferry to Dublin, if you fancy joining us please get booked on the ferry is just £12 return Holyhead to Dublin. Everyone Will be made welcome to join the group. *Further deta...

donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog Dave Munday from parkrun North Wales has provided details of a unique series of events including one that's available in North Wales in June! Cowfest 2026 We are delighted to announce the four locations for Cowfest 2026 on 20th June. What is a Cowfest?! It's an annual gathering for UK tourists.  Curious to learn more? Search this page for highlights and details from previous years!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739 Scotland - Crathes Castle South - Dinton Pastures Wales - Erddig North - Ushaw Historic House You will find each event listed in the events section, where we will be sharing the latest updates and information for every location. We look forward to seeing you at Cowfest on 20th June 2026. Dave Munday:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739/user/1239379759

*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah Hudson after completing the Pulford 10k Most terrifying 10k race ever for North Wales couple. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A North Wales ultra-distance couple took part last Sunday in what they described as ‘the most terrifying 10k race they have ever run!’ NWRRC members Ben and Sarah Hudson competed in the  Pulford 10k race  on Sunday, which now has a very challenging cut-off time of just 50-minutes!  Ben eventually finished in 375th place in 43 minutes and 19 seconds, whilst Sarah was under extreme pressure to beat the clock but successfully ran home in 48.53. Sarah later explained:  “ I came 443rd out of 462. It’s a rapid race, and there were 399 guys who finished and only 63 women!  I can officially say that was the most terrifying 10k race I have ever run, with a 50-minute time cut off.  "It always used to be for sub-45 runners and they have opened it wider.. we got places after ...

*Pictured above - Ben and Sarah Hudson after their wet and windy race Tough Trimpell 20-mile challenge for Ben and Sarah...Plus Liverpool half marathon results Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   North Wales endurance couple Ben and Sarah Hudson travelled to Lancaster last Sunday to compete in the tough Trimpell 20-mile race through the spectacular Lune Valley in cold, wet, and blustery conditions. Ben was in good form despite the challenge, and he was 153rd overall out of 346 finishers with an excellent time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 44 seconds. Sarah however said she was a bit off colour on the day, but she still rallied well to finish in 220th place in 3.05.21. After the race, Sarah confirmed:  “Did the Trimpell 20 miler today… great race! Ben was awesome on 2:46, and I did 3:05. It’s not chipped timed. Bit of a crazy, wet, and windy one, but it brightened up before the end.  I have had a stinking cold so was not even sure about doin...

  The GOG Triathlon - Triathlon Dewi - GOG AQUATHON, will take place on Sunday 1st March at Eirias Park in Colwyn Bay. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 This exciting fundraising event includes options for both junior and senior athletes, and the cost is only £5.00 for adults, and just £1 for juniors. The organisers say it is ideal for beginners. JUNIORS:  *25K POOL SWIM and a 400M TRACK RUN. *150M POOL SWIM and a 2k TRACK RUN. *300M POOL SWIM and a 300M TRACK RUN. ADULTS: *150M POOL SWIM and a 2K TRACK RUN. *300M POOL SWIM and a 4K TRACK RUN.

*Pictured above - Colwyn Bay AC runner Josh Mottram at the Conwy race. Runaway success at the Conwy Mountain Race Report by Don Hale. Photos courtesy of Sean Gavin. donhaleblog.blogsport.com/2025 The Conwy Mountain Race proved to be a runaway success once again and attracted a record entry of some 167 experienced fell and mountain athletes to this challenging course, which was the first fixture in this tough North Wales Series. The race over 5-miles with a climb of 1650ft, was eventually won by Gavin Roberts (Eryri Harriers) in 43 minutes and 33 seconds and he was the first M40 runner.  In second place was Chris McLean (Meirionnydd RC) and he was the first Male Open age cat winner in 44.39, with Rhys Jones (Hebog) third, and he was second in the same age cat as Chris in 45.20. The First Lady was Miranda Grant (Eryri Harriers) in 54.55 and she won her F40 cat, and the same club claimed the first three female finishing places, and they were all F40 age cat athletes, with Tess E...

Welcome to parkrun North Wales Dave Munday launches an exciting new online site for NW parkrunners. Special report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   This an exciting new initiative from the well-known, popular parkrunner and local  athlete Dave Munday, who is ready to provide a regular summary of all North Wales parkruns. He explained this week:  " This is the site I am using for the round-up of all 17 North Wales parkruns, stats on numbers attending etc.  "The parkruns are continuing to grow in North Wales, and this group is for regular local parkrunners and visitors to our wonderful events throughout the region.  "Weekly stats and information will be shared, but please use it to tell your own parkrun journey, achievements and milestones, and also to connect with other parkrunners." *For more details please check out this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193251831088739

Parkrun rowers in pace challenge with athletes at Llandrillo yn Rhos..,plus other parkrun reports... Report by Don Hale. Most photographs by Michael Finnie. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 The Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun team welcomed some surprise members from  Colwyn Bay Rowing Club  to their event last Saturday morning – AKA the ‘parkrun rowers’ - who waited just offshore and set a challenge to try to keep pace with some of the tail walkers along the adjacent but very sandy promenade course as they headed towards the Porth Eirias turn point. *Pictured above and top - the Llandrillo yn Rhos parkrun rowers, and  (*below), the 5K Your Way, Move Against  Cancer Group on the promenade at Rhos on Sea last Saturday morning. The event also greeted the  5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer group,  who attended Rhos parkrun as part of their regular monthly meeting. The first four finishers at Rhos were all visitors, and they were amongst about fifty newcomers to this exc...

*Pictured above left - Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones with her running friend Tanya Beattie after completing the challenging Delamere trail half marathon. Charlotte braved the ice and mud in the Delamere Forest half marathon...plus a night out at the Conwy Urban race. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   NWRRC member Charlotte Rose Wilton Jones competed in the tough Delamere Forest half marathon trail event last weekend in her first race back after having her twins. Charlotte ran with her running friend  Tanya Beattie  and recorded a good time of 2 hours 14 minutes and 40 seconds over a very icy, muddy, and slippery course, and after the race she confirmed: “Last Sunday,  I ran the Delamere Half Marathon. My first race back since having my twins in August last year. It felt great to be back racing, even though the cold, icy and muddy conditions made it tough, and my legs struggled at times.” And last Thursday night,  Charlotte quickly recovered to ta...