The Beautifully Brutal Pen Llyn 50m Summer Ultra Marathon ~ Leg 2 of Dave's Welsh Triple Challenge

Since completing the Weymouth Ironman back in 2016 and getting a message from Chas one of the lifeboat crew who rescued me back in 2007, an ultra runner himself, suggesting I try an Ultra Marathon, this has been on my bucket list!

A 50 mile trail run looping the beautiful Llyn Peninsular.

A very early but spectacular start at Aberech Beach with AC/DC blasting from sound systems and flares lit along the beach made for a fab start!

Running clockwise around the peninsular along the beach, around Pwllheli Marina and onwards along the coastal path towards Llanbedrog and the first real climb of the day to reach the Tin

Man monument at the summit of Llanbedrog head. It was here I met that very same Chas from the Abersoch crew who rescued me all those years ago! Just time for a quick selfie before he bounded off.

It's funny how you fall in to a pace with other runners and strike up conversations and friendships.

Around Pwllheli I met Helen. Helen was taking on the 75m event
but we ran together for the first 12 miles until separating at Abersoch Land and Sea, by which time we'd pretty much exchanged lief stories and cleared the seemingly never ending stretch of Warren Beach! A really nice portion of the race for me :-)

From Abersoch it was another significant climb up to the heights of Mynytho to the first pit stop. Here the route took us further inland and up hill with spectacular views out to Aberdaron.

I mainly ran this stretch on my own, passing paths occasionally with runners and chatting along the
way. Lots of good motivation going on, picking up the 'honesty book' pages on route to prove you've not taken a short cut, through to the next well stocked pit stop.

As we reached the highest point of the run over Garn Fadryn, a thick sea mist enveloped us obscuring the path across the moorland. Having to rely pretty much on my Garmin Sat Nav to follow the route I ended up running from here on in with Clemmie and Beth. This was Clemmie's first marathon and Beth's 350th!?!! A lovely pair!

Undoubtedly the camaraderie between us worked well to pull each other along (well Beth pulling Clemmie and I
along! ;-). Eventually we reached the North coast of the Llyn Peninsular and a very welcome pit stop at the world famous Ty Coch pub, which also happens to be my local where my daughter Lucie works!

It was difficult getting going again but once running along Morfa Nefyn Beach and up on to the coastal path around Nefyn I soon got in to my stride again on what felt very much like home turf, being a stretch I regularly run.

For me one of my favourite bits of the run here along some stunning coastal path over to Nant Gwrtheyrn before the very brutal climb up towards Yr Eifl (The Rivals). Truly leg sapping but with the reward of a five mile downhill stretch after tipping over teh peak.

The rest of the rune was undoubtedly the toughest part of the run, really having to dig deep on very tired legs along high topped single tack country lanes with only very occasional glimpses of the sea. It was on this stretch that Clemmie really was on a mission to keep us all running! :-)

The final meanderings around the back of Pwllheli and Aberech through back on to Aberech beach
and the final punishing mile across a shingle beach to the finish line! Without doubt one of the loveliest routes I've ever done and deserving it's Beautifully Brutal title!

The fourth annual RNLI #ThreeShires Cycle Sportive - £8,900 raised for the RNLI

 I'm immensely proud of how this event has evolved over the past few years, maintaining a steady participation of around 550 riders a year and generating around £9,000 for the RNLI. It's not only one of their biggest sporting fundraising events but it also helps put Sandbach firmly on the map as the jewel in Cheshire's crown.


The Crewe, Nantwich and South Cheshire fundraising guild of

volunteers are supported by an array of volunteers from the local area including our hosts Sandbach Rugby Club, the Alsager RNLI fundraising guild who host the pitstop there and also the volunteers of the RNLI Audlem Lass who operate the pit stop at Overwater Marina. Also a huge shout out to the
ladies of Crewe Golf Club who bolster our Marshalls on the day. A fantastic team effort which makes for a great day out.

2019 also saw  new milestone, with our first Wheelchair rider.
We've always striven to make this an inclusive event for all ages and abilities and we'd love to see more wheelchair riders at future events!

The weather didn't let us down and again it was a day of blue skies and sunshine :-).

Always the best part of the event for me after the frenetic first few hours of registration and start line organisation to get the riders out on the roads is the rider return.

Folk return full of pride at their own personal achievements. Happy,
smiling and celebrating with a crowd of similarly happy folk in the Rugby Club outside bar area! I really love the fantastic community feel of the event and it's low key fundraising element for the RNLI without the usual sponsorship pressures that sometimes come with such events...

Long may it continue! :-)