VETERAN North Wales Road Runner Lesley Goodson made her successful debut in a very challenging ultra-distance event last Saturday during the Pen Lyn Coast to Coast Winter Ultra race on Pwllheli.

Lesley covered an incredible distance of over 60kms in an overall time of 10 hours, two minutes, and 14 seconds, to finish a highly respectable 106th, and she was fifth in her VW50 age cat.

Afterwards, Lesley modestly explained just how tough this race really was: “This was my first attempt at an ultra-distance.

“It was very muddy and slippery, and my legs are shot now, but wow! What a day. Pen Llyn Coast to Coast Ultra. Almost 38 miles and 5,000 ft of elevation.

“My first attempt at the ultra-distance, and the sun gods came out to play, and the views were stunning, but underfoot, the rain over the past few days made for some interesting terrain. “

Road Running duo celebrate team success at international cross-country race in Glasgow

Two veteran North Wales Road Runners formed part of the Welsh Masters athletic team that competed well at the British and Irish Masters Cross-Country International staged at Tollcross Park, Glasgow on Saturday.

Martin Green ran in Race 4 for athletes aged between M35-49, and he finished in 78th place in 29 minutes and 21 seconds and was 27th overall in his individual M45 age category.

And his club colleague Will Williams made his Welsh Masters XC debut and ran in Race 3 for athletes between M50-64, and he was very pleased with his overall performance finishing 45th in 30.09, and 25th in his M50 age cat.

After the race, Martin Green said: “It was a very high standard as usual, but a lovely day and the course was in good shape.”

And an emotional Will Williams added: “Four years in the making. A huge honour to make my Welsh Masters debut today. I never dreamt this was even possible. I have so many people to thank for this journey and too many to list, but I hope you know who you are?

“Today taught me there are levels to this sport even at master’s level but I’m also super-proud of how I ran, and I held my own within a field of top British MV50 runners, and I now know I have what it takes to step-up to those levels. So, this is not a one off but the start of my new master’s journey.”

Elizabeth Driscoll finishes seventh in Falkland Islands half-marathon

North Wales Road Runner Elizabeth Driscoll took part in the Falkland Islands Stone half-marathon last weekend, and ran well to finish in 7th place overall, despite a potential injury problem, and a subsequent lack of training.

Elizabeth, who is a RAF flight controller, is currently working on secondment in the Falkland Islands and has previously competed in some parkruns, a marathon, and several other running events during her stay.

She later admitted: "I hardly had any training as my Achilles has been niggling again, so very pleased to finish in 1 hour 58 minutes and 18 seconds. It was a beautiful sunny day and almost no wind (unheard of down here). Summer is on its way!"

*Dublin: Kevin Higgins travelled overseas this week to compete in the Dublin 10k race, and to chalk-up a unique club milestone.

Kevin later confirmed: “Ran in the Raheny 10k in Dublin on Sunday in 55.03, and it was my 450th race for North Wales Road Running Club.

“And to make my day, I finished 3rd in my MV60 age cat, and this was where I first started racing about 48-years ago when I was about fourteen years old and lived in Dublin.”

*Llangollen: Three NWRRC members travelled to the Old Railway Trail parkrun at Llangollen last Saturday, and they all performed well, recording two age category wins and one second placing.

Cheryl Frost finished as the 3rd female athlete, and she claimed the 2nd spot in her VW55 age cat in 13th place overall in a fast time of 22.51.

Kay Hatton gave chase and finished 15th in 23.30, and she won her VW60 age cat as the 4th female, whilst master veteran Mike Hayton also won his VM70 age cat in 35th place in 28.01.

After the event Kay said: “A new one for Cheryl and me today. A nice course on the old railway route, but muddy and lots of leaves on the course today. We all enjoyed it though.”

Five age cat wins for the Road Runners at another puddle-filled Conwy parkrun

A dozen Road Runners took part in another puddled-filled parkrun event at Conwy last Saturday, where despite the awful conditions underfoot, they still managed to win five respective age categories, plus one second placing, and one third.

During an unusually bright and sunny morning, Steve Mason led the NWRRC team home with a determined performance over this near waterlogged 5k course in 4th place overall in 19 minutes and 32 seconds and won his VM45 age cat.

Will Evans then celebrated a new course PB, but finished just six-seconds, and one place behind Steve, but won his VM40 cat in 19.38, with Harry Driscoll 9th in 20.07, and he also won his SM20 age cat. Master veteran Don Hale knocked another 30-seconds off last week’s improving time to finish in 63rd place in 25.11, and he too won his VM70 cat, with Richard Scamans hot on Don’s heels in 65th place in 25.15.

Karen Butler continued her steady progress in 80th place, and she won her VW65 cat in 25.51, with veteran Rob Fryer 90th in 26.41. Ceri Jones finished in 104th place, and she was 3rd in her VW40 cat in 27.25, with Nia Lister 107th, with a great new PB of 27.27.

And it was good to see Gethin Wyn Jones back at parkrun after a long break, and he finished 116th in 27.42, with veteran John O’Shea 125th in 28.09, and master vet Mark Mason despite a fall during his run, battled his way round to finish in 134th place, and he was 2nd in his VW70 age cat in 28.57.