Why I started running: I’ve been running cross country since I was 10 years old, played rugby and football from age 8 to 24.

Favourite Run: Amazon Jungle Ultramarathon, Great Wall of China Marathon, Ring of Fire 135 miler, Reading Half Marathon.

Least Favourite Run: London Marathon

Worst Running Experience: Edinburgh Marathon 2006. This was the first long distance run back post-cancer. I thought I was ready, but the first 9 miles told me that I was most definitely not. I don’t remember finishing or have any memory after the 9-mile point. I’m told I crossed the finish line and collapsed.

Favourite distance: 50 miles

Least favourite distance: 5k or under

PB: I can’t get anywhere near them these days, but 5k 16 minutes, 10k 36 minutes, Half Marathon 1:16

Running Dislikes: Racing, running watches, mile marker

Why I Run: Running has saved my life, without it I would be dead

Running Goals: To use my love of running to raise essential funds to help anyone with a cancer diagnosis and their families during such a difficult time for them. To date, I have done 18 years of fundraising split between Testicular/Prostate Cancer, The Breast Cancer Unit at Singleton Hospital, Maggie’s Singleton Hospital, Children with Leukaemia, and Primary Bone Cancer

Why I first joined 3Ms: It was recommended by a friend, I went along to Penyrheol Leisure Centre and was made to feel so welcome. The club has supported, encouraged me, and improved my running and I will be forever grateful.

Odd Running Moments:

• Seeing the Teletubbies waving at me during the 2^nd night of Waunarlwydd 200 miler
• Getting lost during the Cotswold 100 miler when I was leading the run and ending up in a lovely lady’s back garden who came out to ask me if I was OK (I explained that I was very lost)
• During the St Illtyds Ultramarathon, I took the whole field the wrong way within the first half a mile on what was my 8^th ultramarathon in 8 consecutive days on the same course (during the race brief the organiser told everyone to follow me if they get lost)
• Thanking a tree for their support thinking it was a person at a checkpoint at the 115-mile mark during Ring of Fire Ultra

Most Awkward Running Memory: During the Swiss Alps Marathon, a runner I had been running with for a few miles shit himself (he blamed it on the altitude). Fair play, he didn’t stop but the smell was horrendous. It took me nearly 3 miles to get some distance between us because every time I passed him, he kept catching me up.

What it means to me to be part of 3Ms: The pleasure I get from running with a group of like-minded people puts a smile on my face. All I want to see is that they enjoy running for our club and are able to achieve their personal goals.

I joined the club back in 2011 and became Treasurer in 2018.

I am currently training to become a solicitor and I’m renovating my house, which is a long and expensive process!

I’d like to complete a marathon in the future.

I started running in 2017 I completed the C25K and I needed to have a focus and get fit. I joined You Jack Runners in January 2019 as I wanted company to feel safe to run in the evenings. I knew some runners from Swansea Bay Parkrun and by taking part in some running events. Running with YJR provided me with different running routes I would have never explored on my own.  

I joined 3Ms at the end of January 2020, but we soon were in lockdown. I joined the committee in May 2022 to shadow Fay Sharpe as secretary with a view to take over as Secretary in January 2024.

I ran my first marathon in October 2021, it was a virtual marathon starting from Ystalyfera running down Route 43 onto the Amazon loop before finishing off on Swansea seafront and returning back to the Secret. 3Ms, YJR and my family were along the route providing support and encouragement. I then ran my first proper marathon on 21^st April 2024 in London, an experience I will never forget.

Top 3 favourite runs to date:

1. Rhayader Round the Lakes: the hills, the views, the support bike and the snow blizzard all added to the experience. It’s a run I plan to repeat
2. MT10 us sadly no longer, but the camaraderie, terrain, banter and support of other runners was great
3. WCR 20 miles, a recent run which I learnt is not 10 miles uphill and 10 miles downhill but instead undulating both ways!

Top 3 memorable running events to date:

1. The Secret Half – I would tell you more, only it’s a secret! Needless to say the friends you run with really do enhance your life
2. Rhodes Half Marathon in the sunshine where the crowds provided encouragement by shouting ‘bravo’ as we ran along the coast. The run was in early May and thankfully we started early at 7am. The afternoon was spent by the pool in the sunshine with champagne and beers
3. Endurance Life Gower Half Marathon (actually 15 miles) – I course-checked this route on my own starting early, running (walking hills), from Hillend to Oxwich. I was out of my comfort zone course-checking on my own. The route was beautiful which we know about the Gower but be prepared for mud! As course checker (the first runner), the mud was minimal, but the runners and the course clearer (the last runner) has a completely different experience

I joined 3Ms in 2015 after losing over 6 stone from January 2014 through a combination of diet and exercise. This led me to start running, with my first race being the 2014 Swansea 10k, and I joined 3Ms a few months later. I love running and you will find me at most club sessions and Parkruns on a Saturday morning. I really enjoy travelling for running events including Disneyland Paris, Berlin, Iceland and New York.

PBs (not recent):

• 1 mile – 6:24
• 5k – 21:20
• 10k – 42:39
• ½ Marathon – 1:41:49
• Marathon – 4:01:44

Favourite race: Torfaen 10k

Worst race: 2023 Swansea Half Marathon due to the heat, 2018 Port Talbot Half Marathon as I didn’t prepare for the terrain

Most unusual race: 2019 Midnight Sun Half Marathon, Iceland. Starting 10pm and finishing in broad daylight

I’m a retired NHS GP and I took up running in my 50s with no previous sporting ability whatsoever. I like to pretend I can do it properly during 3M training sessions and the Grand Prix events and I’m equally happy on chatty social runs. I love cross country and enjoy being part of the team and scoring points for the club.

If you need to discuss any problems or concerns about your own welfare or that of any other club members, I am available in person at training sessions and club events, or you can speak to any of the committee members or coaches and they will let me know and I will contact you. I can also be contacted via the club welfare email welfare@3Mgorseinonrr.co.uk

My first memory of running was at the tender age of 7, being chased by my mother and brother running away from the dentist. After that, I joined Swansea Harriers at the age of 9 with Paul Pilot Rees, my distances being 800 and 1500 metres. At age 11, we moved to Lincoln and I joined Lincoln Harriers and ran for them and my school. But after being picked for Lincoln City Schoolboys football team while living there, that took over my life and I went on to play football for the next 30 years.

I joined 3Ms in around 2021 after meeting up with Paul Rees after all that time at his circuit training and he invited me to join. It’s the best thing I’ve done and I’ve enjoyed every minute. I started off being quite competitive but more recently (due to knee issues) I’ve become more of a social runner and only run when I can. If I’m not running or coaching, I will always be supporting at training sessions, Grand Prix events and Cross Country competitions. 

I have found that 3Ms is more like a family than a running club, and everyone within the club supported me through the loss of my wife 2 years ago. The support and friendship I’ve received has been second to none. 

As I’m the Male Welfare Officer, I try to be visible and available for everyone who needs any kind of support, and alongside Lee, I take part in the Male Walk and Talk get-togethers.

I started running in 1985, mainly trying to impress my husband who was a runner! I have since completed running races up to a Marathon distance and triathlons up to a Half Ironman distance.

I joined 3Ms in 1992 and started coaching in 1993 (qualified 1994). Over the years, I have held several positions on the committee, most recently that of Secretary which I have now passed on to the capable hands of Nic Rowe and I’m enjoying being a general dogsbody.

My running days are probably nearly over but I haven’t given up yet! I still have a few things I want to achieve as an older runner. I will keep going for as long as I can and when I can’t do it anymore, I’ll continue to coach and remain very much part of the social side of 3M Gorseinon Road Runners.

I have been in 3Ms for about 20 years, I enjoy the friendly atmosphere of the club and support everyone gives each other.

I also enjoy cycling and walking, and the torture of circuits that Paul Rees puts us through every week!

I love to travel, whether abroad or in the UK, and I work as a Diabetes / Heart Disease Nurse.

I have been a member of 3M Gorseinon Road Runners since 2022. It is a very inclusive club of all abilities and purposes. I became a committee member in 2024 as I’m keen that no committee member should feel pressured into remaining in post if they no longer want to. In reality, I have not had to take over any role but would be prepared to if required.

As far back as I can remember, I always hated running. In fact, I would go as far as saying I hated all form of physical exercise and was quite content being a round child with a quite charming bowl haircut reminiscent of Tristram from George & Mildred (you young ‘uns will probably have to look him up if you are so inclined).

Fast forward to now, and it still amazes me how I ended up here. In my early 20s, I started going to the gym and just using the weights as I wanted to start to improve my fitness, but the word cardio was still foreign to me.

In 2017, my wife Katie and I went to support her brother who was taking part in Swansea Half Marathon, and we both decided we wanted a piece of that pie. Everyone there looked like they were having the time of their lives, and it was inspiring to see people of all ages making a positive impact on their lives and charities. That afternoon we went home, strapped on a pair of random daps and went for a run around the block. That run around the block was about 2k (maybe a bit generous) and I was spent! We felt good though, and on the following weekend, we went to our first Parkrun where the love affair with Parkrun (and running in general) came to fruition.

It’s a hobby that is never dull. I say hobby but let’s be honest, it’s more of a lifestyle. Some days you can feel on top of the world, running with a smile on your face and loving life, while other days you want to give up as soon as you’ve started. The downs are completely eclipsed by the incredible highs.

After a while, I wanted to up my game and start taking part in races. Afterall, this is what inspired me in the first place. I signed up for a bunch of 10k races. First was Swansea Bay 10k and Richard Burton 10k was shortly after. And of course, the half marathons came next.

It was around the time I signed up for my first half that I decided to join a club. A few of my friends were already members of 3M and I had of course seen the vests around. I came to my first 3M session at the Felindre Park and Ride on 9th May 2018 and I was hooked! Being part of this club has improved my running and the community here is something special.

Training with the club means that you will do things that you would normally never do if you were just to go out and run while having others there to feed off. Since I joined the club, I have travelled the globe taking part in races of all distances with great friends.

Stand out moments for me have been New York Marathon, Berlin Marathon and of course, nothing beats taking part in London Marathon. A race where, when my siblings and I watched it, we always tried to run around my crescent, normally giving in halfway round.

My start in running has come relatively late and I wish I had started earlier but it’s a decision I’m delighted I made. My health has never been better, and I have friends for life that want the same as me. As well as running, I’m a keen triathlete. I’ve always been comfortable in the water and can ride to some degree, so I like to take part in triathlons and aquathlons with Swansea Vale Tri.

I hope to see a lot more of you at club sessions and sporting your vests all around the globe. It’s a pleasure to be on the 3M committee and I hope to give something back to this club that has given me so much over the years.